“The ultimate condition of production is the reproduction of the conditions of production.”
What this quote means
Althusser points out that for a production system to function, it is not enough to produce goods: one must also reproduce the conditions that enable that production, such as labor power and social relations. This involves institutions (school, family, media) that perpetuate the established order. An invitation to look beyond economics to understand how a system sustains itself.
How to apply it daily
Examine a consumption habit and trace its production chain. Reflect on the social and material conditions that make it possible and are upheld by your choice.
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