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    Accumulation Paper - Final

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    Bobt Looe «A oe 1 Bne Ashley Bobman \ wove WA Bn ‘Accumulation Paper \ ‘The Best Capitalists | ‘Throughout this course, we have thrown around a lot of terms authentic pirate [copy citizen], modemity, Western code, pirate code all of which share a key point of -ommonality: a capitalistic approach to life. Capitalism is an économie system in which the market i grently operatee by private Owners who either makeup part of modemity (and thus hold great power) or r eventually end up feeding modemit Capitalism is rooted in self-interest, |). thus a capitalist is aiiyone who secks treasure of any form. Obfaining treasure requites the use ofl the commodities one already possesses 10 accumulate ev ‘This occurs on a day-to-day , basis. Even the poorest people own at feast they constantly implement ACLU"\—\ inher hunt for ealia~ thee self People regularly Yoo Pheir bodies achiove or obtain @ additional value. Even the littlest things like nourishing if is atfint for treasure and the ale ‘satisfaction that comes with it, Thus, everyone is a capitallst-There’'s no one right way to be a Capitalist. However, various approaches to one’s capitalistic endeavors have differing outcomes for both the capitalist him/nerself and.other members of society. Truly, 40 be acapitalst isto be a Pirate, whether one realizes it or not, Pirates transaress codes, + the elite [and the monopolies " who aide them] (secret pirares) wanspress Whe Code Of those They label authentic pirates and the authentic pirates transgress the code of modemity- as do capitalists. Knowing that all capitalists a are pirates,' I cannot help wonder what approach to piracy makes for the best capitalist. From Orne ‘experiences with this course, I argue that the elite make the worst capitalists, while all authentic pirates make equally wonderful capitalists despite their varying violent tactics. 1% bat lh Before [attempt to argue this, I must first do justice to this seemingly absurd assumption that all capitalists are pirates. If an authentic pirate is anyone who plays the game of capitalism ina manner deemed unacceptable by modernity, then the powerful rich who are the constituents ‘of modernity clearly cannot be authentic pirates. Yet these elites are obviously capitalists. To be io \\, pirate, authentic oF not, a subjecting a code tol forede \ some form of violence, whether it be s0efal, economic, and/or physical: So if the powerful create. /. .~ aw .dernity’s code, how ean they be transgressing codes? By labeling members of society as (™™\ y Pirates! When modemity brands “PIRATE” onto people, they automatically remove them fiom their hegemony." which by default reates a second hegemony that modemity does not consider to exist under their code! In this manner, the elite act as secret, pirat he only reason they lack void A Pi However, because those with power isolac authentic pirates (by labeling thom) and tranggres ther supposedly different code, as well s steal treasure from society,” the elite secretly fall under the pirate label they created. Thus, I have assigned them “f \ label secret pirates. I too have included monopolies in this special class of pirates. Because the lite work s0 closely with monopolies in order to keep the majority of the wealth and power in 0) the hands of a select few, the monopolies are a su pirates — they are not labeled pirates because modemity requires their assistance and a partnership with them, However, I fel I ‘cannot do justice to an evaluation of their quality of piracy and thus their ranking as.a good | a capitalist because Ido not truly know how monepolies would fare as capitalist i they stood alone without moderiy’s protection yb John PAbd Bobman Certain pirates seem to maintain a successful piracy business more so in somé\ “\))) ‘environments and situations than in others. That is, some pirates adapt well to variot ines, alloy for mobility’, while others have to alter their surroundings rather than their own behavior in order to continue to profit from their piracy. One might assume that secret pirates, as the ones in power, would inherently be the best pirates because their status retention implics a preservation oftheir control over the capitalism hierarchy. However, of all pirates, secret pirates are the worst at adapting,” which is a problem considering the necessity of this trait for any good capitalist, When Succ with change tht threatens the “order they imposes.on sovicty-they Panic end have tp change trues and sends justin ey i power, While modmy snd is code imply that any physical violence employed by sea-faring pirates™ is wrong and immoral, this implication does not exist for the actions of intellectual/printing pirates who do not engage in these physical interactions, and thus are harder label. “Printing posed serious problems of politics and authority....It was in the process of grappling with those problems that they came up with notion of piracy. At their heart was the question of how to conform the new enterprise to their existing socitis.”™ What followed was a variety of reforms restrictions, and prohibitions that |” J exgatually paved the way forthe conyrich laws of today. = “NYS ‘These laws are not simply an attempt to exert power and remind citizens that the social areflection on the to adapt, then hierarchy the elite worked so hard to create will not be shifted; truly. DAM esatanand canny oft te Hadise V9 beh thee las as we i the term “pirates would likely not exist." When faced with changes or Us unexpected feedback tise ts copy erat ofaotied ye secret pirates must modify their code and assign more labels in order to continue achieving their capitalistic goals without losing power and status." To constantly redefine the code and incorporate the necessary accommodations requires a certain amount of skill, as the reforms and corresponding labels have to be expressed in a way that leads citizens to believe that they will benefit from the actions of the elite, Early in their sglemennnie patos foe not generally given for inventive originality as such, but, quite calculatedly, for initiatives of all kinds that promised to benefit the Igcal commonwealth. ..it formally compelled all inventors to reveal their inventions to the state, ‘hich was exempt from the patent restriction and could freely appropriate them.™"* While the tactics to properly enact these new laws and restrictions are carried out beautifully, history proves that they are ultimately ineffective. Because “intellectual property exists only insofar as it /)> »S~ is recognized, defended and acted upon...itis a piratical matter {taking} shape ...through - stipulation of Iaws and treaties.”"” A’ piracy grows and diversifies with time, aneven greater {W Lt“ conned fustry will always be required from the secrete pirates, dedicated to implementing antipiracy policies.™' A constant back and forth leaves the elite stuck in a never-ending cycle of - “necessary” reforms in response tothe quick-adjusting members of society who continuously act yr) ok as successful capitalists. These authentic, tantly maneuver around the elite’s tiresome /Y°~. altcrations to the code and thi ithentic pirates gontinue to profit in almost any —_ ‘ay ndy environment, OV dwn Fic Coy Soay wre MUN pied ( This game of cat and mouse demonstrates the inefYect irate." Not only are they strategically inefficient, but they manage to repeatedly behefit their elite clique }\ J wile decreasing the economic status and rank of almost everyone else or at least this appears 10 4 be their intent.*”" From the beginning the goal was clearly to keep the powerful from falling. “VU in amanner that “only made it more appli Bobman not infrequently skirted insolvency.” Secret pirates create the illusion of great capitalism ‘because of their ability to reap economic benefits and maintain elevation, but they do so by deceiving society. “A culture of piracy was one that could never be distinguished into two neat ‘camps of the honorable and the dishonorable." yet the elite assert that all authentic pirates are bad, immoral disgraces of society. According to the thentic pirates are nothing » more than criminals in search of money,™ ultimately'siphoning off from society. (<\()_, “However, inreality, the elite are the ohes siphoning of sasures, keeping the rich >. wealthy and the poor on the margin. Authentic pirates of all variations (sea-faring, intellectual and others) seek to reclaim some of this stolen wealth, and some (like with intellectual pirates = and Robin Hood) even return and reinvest some of this wealth into society. Secret pirates need to teal pirates as “ready to kill their victims on the principle that dead men tell tales" and yoy leave people with images of violence escalating to “raping, murdering and pillaging.”"*/ Sp | However, most pirates who use physical violence do so strategically, not with malicious intent (ihe aperapdedti | As a child, modemity reinforced the idea that physical violence is never the answer — it will not help resolve conflict nor will it get you far in life ~ because words hold more power than, a fist or a gun ever could. However, modemity failed to distinguish whit " violence are morally wrong: malicious physical violence, sadistic physical violence, or strategic - A \ Bobman physical violence. By assuming physical violence is always wrong and immoral, the elite imply that physical violence only occurs for evil purposes, that is, to imtentionaly inflict pain for various reasons. * However, cruelty and a potential sadistic enjoyment are not the only |! explanation forthe occurrence of physical attacks. Sometimes physical violence becomes a | “| . necessary strategy in an encounter." \ Nonerr Sea-faring pirates live by their own code after being rejected by modernity. This code is more lenient in its allowances for its pirate citizens. Pirates do not want to be violent; in fact, pirates understand that to “overwhelm victims without violence”®™" will benefit them to a ‘greater extent than resorting to raping and pillaging during every treasure-seek. “Their whole policy was directed toward taking prizes without having to fight for them’ because “violent conflict not only contributed to the cost side feof piracy expo fons but could diminish the revenue” 4 - sideas well”**" This approach demonstrates a rational, capitalistic train of thought, not an evil /24)~V" violent one. By rejecting the concept of violence intended to physically harm someone or to Sgvcik receive pleasure from someone’s pain, authentic pirates, as good capitalists, eliminate malicious and sadistic physical violence from their repertoire. Since authentic pirates only resort to physical violence when absolutely necessary, it acts solely as a form of strategy required by Ss some situations for a successful treasure hunt. Good capitalists do not use physical assertion in. (“”~ the form of cruelty like Murphy and modernity would like us to believe. By properly vk incorporating physical violence — through its strategic form — with social and economic violence, |, , -2~ even the “violent” authentic pirates find success. Thus, despite their very different set of skills,” both Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins find ways to be good capitalists while simultaneously \9\) iting acts of physical violence.pyy i (sila, Long John Silver is a unique authentic pirate as he not only tricks the sug authentic citizens®"" into believing that he too is prepared to mindlessly follow modemity, but he als sceesfly uss stratepe physeal violetee olan Ns tease. His witand knowledge of and thus Ability fo properly play the game allow him to immediately eam the respect of the crew." ‘Thea, as if in the blink of an eye, Silver transforms from a well-leamed man of society" to an authentic pirate ready to lead the crew in mutiny as he shifts his role to better his position in the game of capitalism. Silver's back and forth between the two codes demonstrates just how ready and clever," and versatile he truly is as he maneuvers this capitalistic world. Silver is poorly described as doubly a traitor, but in reality he is doubly a capitalist — understanding how to function under the pirate code and code of modernity, both of which are motivated by a desire for continuous procurement of treasure. By working under both, Silver ensures continuous success. His cunning is independent of his violent actions, although it is likely that his craftiness helps with the integration of violence in a manner that, by the end of the book, doesn't leave the reader angry at Silver.™" If anything, by only using strategic physical violence, instead of continuing to use physical violence when the situation allows for a beneficial alternative, Silver acts less malicious in his physical violence than the Captain, Squire, Doctor, and their reinforcements." While those under modermity’s code would not actually lose treasure by giving in to Silver, Silver would have experienced a significant loss in his treasure hunt if he accepted the Captain’s deal. Thus, Silver eofifinues physival violence strategically, while the Captain and followers do so unnecessatily.-Despite this) modémity would categorize Silver se under the stereotype that Murphy loves (o cliff to in order to bring about pirate haters, yet those siding with the Captain would remain ws of modernity." Thus, even when acting as an icing with Ne quiet See S a \ pnw nak Vey, Zz Bobman authentic pirate ilver takes the isa ra rational approach,” While the respected (supposed) ‘modernity-folloWers respond rudely and irrationally. Based on Murphy’s position, I would expect the exact opposite to occur. This inconsistency not only reveals some of the numerous holes in Murphy’s arguments, but italso demonstrates how the use of strategic physical violence does not detract from the esa os ei ps mi: ai the moa of their rocurement of capital. . é : LVI. Sept hetwert 4 Aechvem ‘Young Jimmy Hawkins x crosses béween the codes and successfully integrates (ur strategic physical violence that truly goes unpunished. However, innocent Jim did not intend for this constant switch when he embarked on this voyage. In a sense, Jim is an accidental authentic pirate, allowed only because his naivety blinds him. Jim remains somewhat obedient/submissive to the modemity throughout his time under the pirate code. Even so, he still manages to be a better capitalist than the secret pirates of society as he adapts quickly, even if he does so unknowingly. While this may be aided by the mentoring offered by Long John, his adaptability |, appears to come so naturally. His ultimate profit soon after this quick change to authentic piracy further demonstrates that secret piraies can’t readjust society's laws as quickly as the adapting capitalists of society can change EY poaicl apres ‘and thus the § re Pirates are not very | | {good capitalists in comparison. oy PMN, Groin Sey Accunning pirate clearly rnakes for a good capitalist," but not all cunning-pirates are equal peer societal changes aS WE Continue progressing. Similar to the , our hypothetical ods will will the methods of other pirates. To prove amethod effective, it must be flexible, allowing the pirate to function in numerous situations with success. Of course any good capitalist must retain an ability to adapt in the face of constantly changing barriers set up to prevent their “piracy.” Ideally, from perspective of the non-lite, the best capitalist will not only benefit him/herself, but one would hope that he/she ‘would feel morally inclined to avoid stealing from those already in the bottom ranks. In describing a hypothetical best capitalist, the defining factors of authentic pirates continually appear. Despite what the antagonists want us to believe, authentic pirates are not really the ones ‘exploiting society. Modemity and monopolies are exploiting the citizens, and authentie pirates just seck what is being unfairly taken as a result. Not only do secret pirates exploit society, but they do 30 in such a poor manner that they have to constantly alter their code and even still they cannot contol the millions of authentic pirates. Thus, these sere i t0 adapt avert néw obstacles repeatedly throughout history ‘they don’ how.|Asa result, they take a different approach, which has proven quite ineffective over long spans of time. Secrete pirates, are far from flexible in their craftiness, especially in cine to authentic pirates. Ultimately, pa the most flexible, cunning authentic pirates will make the best ¢apitalists. Foepiy Alelte Bobman Endnotes ' Even Stevenson hinted at this through Long John Silver's interpretation of “gentlemen of fortune" (Stevenson 47), By not only insinuating that pirates are some sort of , but by doing it through the words LIS who constantly jumps back and forth between the role of 4, (,..) gentlemen and authentic pirate, Stevenson is literally screaming at the readers that the term. pirates and the term gentleman (deemed legitimate by modernity) are both synonyms for capitalist "Or at least, they seek to remove them from the hegemony ~ whether or not they actually are is debatable sceing as the only true difference between the pirate hegemony and Westem hegemony is what is and is not deemed acceptable. But because the concept of “acceptable” is defined by the powerful wio have one main goal — to benefit themselves so that they maintain the power ~ there is no deeply rooted difference between the hegemonies. "They don’t want to risk damaging their elite status! Keeping the power is important. In fact, it may the most important thing in their lives! "Despite having convinced society that they, as “good citizens”, aet fo increase the overall wealth of society, in reality, the elite are pirates siphoning off wealth and taking from the poor ‘o keep them down and perpetually elevate themselves. * Within their own hegemony and between the two hegemonies that modemity works so hard to try and keep separate (not that they have much success with this). Secret pirates seem almost incapable of altering their behavior and approach to capitalism. ™ They claim to create order in society, but | do not think they actually provide that much (if any) order in society. ™ at least the elite and others such as Murphy associate these actions with authentic pirates, although occurrences involving these actions are usually taken out of context (by authentic pirate-haters like the elite and Murphy) in order to make authentic pirates appear evil * (Johns 8) “It is empirically true that the law of what we now call intellectual property has often lagged behind piratical practices, and indeed that virtually all its central principles, such as copyright, were developed in response to piracy” (Johns 6). * in the process of being labeled authentic pirates “i “Profound changes in the relation between creativity an commerce have certainly taken placi before” (Johns 15). We see this with printing and intellectual property in the 18" century and again in the 19" century, and “history suggest that a radical reconfiguration of what we now eall\. intellectual property may be approaching, driven on by antipiracy measures as much as by piracy)” itself” (Johns 15). If we wish to prevent this continual need for reforms, “then we will be wise 10 change the approach we take to piracy” (Johns 15). Of course, the modernity is not versatile | enough to do this, nor willing to risk any current or potential future wealth \ “Johns 20) ** (ohns 497) * Johns 498) *"! What they fail to explain is that this claim of antipiracy only applies to authentic pirates that are hurting the elite. These secrete pirates would never take a pledge to get rid of their piratical reign. "In fact, being the ones making the code kind of seems like it would suck, although lam hesitant to say this because naturally, as capitalists, being on top sounds like a good deal to most Bobman everyone (if not everyone — people just don’t like to admit to the greedy, treasure-hungry monster who lives within all of us). ”* What better way to remain rich and on top than to create rules that not only push you higher up the ladder that you already control than to also push everyone else a few pegs down? ** Johns 21) * Johns 48) * (Murphy 23) a *

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