Finding a Way Out of the Anthropocene: The Theory of ‘Radical Needs’ and the Ecological Transition

Through advertisement, planned obsolescence, and the financialization of daily life, capitalism constantly creates ‘artificial’ needs. These needs are not only alienating for individuals, they are also unsustainable from an ecological standpoint, because they encourage consumerism, which puts excessive pressure on ecosystems. They are at the root of the environmental crisis. Hence, transitioning to a sustainable, postcapitalist, society implies, among other things, being able to separate ‘real’ from ‘artificial’ needs. This article reflects on this inextricably theoretical and political challenge. To do so, it elaborates a ‘Marxist theory of needs’, drawing from insights from Marx himself, Agnes Heller and Andre Gorz. It concludes with a few reflections on the actuality of the Marxist theory of needs for our present political conjuncture. The concept of need is not only an analytical tool, it is also a political one.