The jargon of productivity. An inquiry into the capture of critical thought by political economy

Abstract

This article investigates the ongoing domination of philosophical vocabulary and imagina-tion by political economy, focusing specifically on the views of Marxism and Critical Theory. Drawing particularly on a reconsideration of Jean Baudrillard’s critique of productivism with in Marxism, as presented in The mirror of production, the paper departs from Baudrillard’s argument to explore the relationship between language, theory and its authors. Inspired by Theodor Adorno’s critique of the jargon of authenticity, the paper introduces the concept of “the jargon of productivity”. Herbert Marcuse’s reflections on labour serve as a key example. By tracing the connections between the jargon of productivity and the jargon of authenticity, the article uncovers the hidden obsessions and blockages that hinder emancipatory processes. The concluding reflections emphasise the necessity of scrutinising the interplay between language and the socio-economic forces it both reflects and reinforces within philosophical and critical endeavours. This article goes on to lay the groundwork for future research into the role of economic language in psychoanalysis and post-structuralism, offering insights into how these fields engage with economic discourse.