Claudio Napoleoni e i sentieri interrotti della critica in economia

Abstract

This essay reflects on the intellectual journey of Claudio Napoleoni, highlighting the discontinuities and shifts in his thought. By identifying both "dead ends" and "interrupted paths," the author analyses the aporetic outcomes of Napoleoni’s research, such as his later return toward Keynesian perspectives in the Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren. Conversely, the study emphasises the enduring validity of the perspective of liberation of labor developed in the early 1970s. Moving beyond a mere historical reconstruction, the essay engages in a personal dialogue that seeks to move "with, against, and beyond" Napoleoni. It addresses crucial themes including value theory, nature and labor, the distinction between emancipation and liberation. Ultimately, the article calls for a radical theoretical refoundation to address contemporary challenges in economic and social critique.