What is Money?

This is an unusual book, consisting as it does of a discussion held in 1984 between the artist Joseph Beuys, two professors of economics and a banker. Beuys is best known for his contention that every person is a special kind of artist, but here he extends the economic work of Rudolf Steiner by insisting that we question the operation of the principle of money and formulate a new system that is more closely allied to other ideals such as freedom, equality and fraternity. The editor provides an afterword explaining in more detail Beuys' concepts of money and capital within the context of modern industrial culture - real capital, he insists, is human capacity. The economy should sit within culture rather than the other way round. The discussion is very lively and is dominated by Beuys - at a time when people are beginning to question the nature and future of money, this is a stimulating contribution.