Ideologically, then, the term 'capitalism' can be understood to mean the rejection of the Marxist thesis. Ideological capitalism is the position that private individuals can legitimately own the means of production: sewing machines and spades, tractors and factories.
By this meaning, ideological capitalism is solidly in keeping with philosophical individualism, which rejects the very existence of "society" as the sort of entity that could own anything. Collective ownership -- in the ideological sense -- depends on philosophical collectivism.
bkMarcus, Reluctant Capitalist
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(Compare to ECONOMIC CAPITALISM.)
(Contrast with POLITICAL CAPITALISM.)
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