In this episode, we dive into Dr. S. A. Hamed Hosseini’s thought-provoking paper, "Labour Redefined: Toward a Communist Value Theory of Labour Under and Beyond Capital."  We explore how capitalism has warped our understanding of labor and its intrinsic value, reducing it to mere market price and profit while ignoring deeper human and social dimensions.

Hosseini introduces the concept of "true value" versus "fetish value," revealing how capitalism commodifies creativity and disconnects it from its true purpose. Drawing on Aristotle’s four causes, we examine how our creative potential is shaped, exploited, and alienated under capitalist systems.

A key focus is the idea of "primary abstraction," where capitalism transforms inherently valuable creative potential into a tradable commodity, stripping it from the shared pool of human creativity—the creative commons. This process leads to alienation, severing our connection to our work, our potential, each other, and the products of our labor.

Ultimately, Hosseini’s work challenges us to rethink our relationship with labor and creativity. We explore how reclaiming our creative commons requires not only systemic change but also a shift in consciousness. By nurturing and sharing our creative potential, we can move toward a more just and fulfilling future.