It has come to my attention that the second part of Marilynne Robinson’s recent lecture (embedded in my previous post) is now in essay (long) form, and as “Is Poverty Necessary?” the cover title of the June edition of Harper’s Magazine. Maybe you are lucky enough to get the one free piece a month – or even luckier and be a subscriber.
Now should you have listened to these lectures, you may agree that they really are quite dense in subject matter and meaning; especially the second part which harks back to the roots of classical economics at the beginning of industrialisation and the accompanying (and colliding) emerging political theories of liberalism, capitalism, marxism …I dare say I forgot some other “ism”s! In this respect I am very grateful to have some written words for guidance and more stringent study – at leisure if not pleasure.
Also, a podcast of a discussion with the editor of the piece (who is also the executive editor of Harper’s Magazine), Christopher Beha, is enlightening and presumably available to all.