Childhood and Education #13: College

Published in 1776, 'The Wealth of Nations' is Adam Smith's magnum opus that laid the groundwork for modern economics. The book critiques mercantilist economic theories and introduces the concept of the 'invisible hand,' which describes how individual self-interest leads to societal benefit. It emphasizes the division of labor, the accumulation of capital, and the importance of free markets. Smith argues that a nation's wealth is not measured by its gold and silver reserves but by the stream of goods and services it produces. The book also outlines the core functions of government, such as maintaining defense, enforcing civil law, and promoting education, while advocating for limited government intervention in market activities.

Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" is a seminal work of postcolonial theory that explores the psychological and social effects of colonialism on colonized peoples. Fanon argues that colonialism creates a system of oppression that dehumanizes and alienates the colonized, leading to violence and resistance. He analyzes the role of violence in the struggle for liberation, emphasizing its necessity in breaking the cycle of oppression. The book also examines the process of decolonization, highlighting the need for a complete transformation of society and the creation of new forms of social and political organization. Fanon's work remains highly influential in discussions of colonialism, decolonization, and the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice.

In 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals', Kant seeks to discover and establish the fundamental principle of morality. He argues that the only thing that is unconditionally good is a good will, and its goodness is not based on the results of actions but on the principle of volition itself. Kant introduces the concept of the categorical imperative, which states that one must act only according to maxims that could be willed to become universal laws. He derives this principle from ordinary moral thought and philosophical points about the nature of duty, emphasizing that moral laws are synthetic a priori judgments that apply to rational beings irrespective of contingent aspects of their nature.

In 'Discourse on Colonialism,' Aimé Césaire critiques the notion that colonialism was a civilizing mission. He argues that colonialism was inherently self-serving and economically exploitative, leading to the dehumanization of the colonized and the moral decay of the colonizers. Césaire emphasizes the hypocrisy of colonialism, pointing out that colonizers, in their actions, became the very 'savages' they claimed to civilize. He also draws parallels between colonial violence and the atrocities of Nazism, highlighting how colonial procedures were applied to non-European populations before being inflicted on Europeans. The essay is a foundational text of postcolonial literature and critiques the capitalist and racist underpinnings of colonialism.