The bourgeoisie reframes exploitation as public service to justify it

Evidence

A true specimen of the bourgeois upper class is affected by the moral propaganda of his own class towards the rest of society in such a way that exploitation, and having people and material at his own free disposal, gives him no pleasure, according to his own ideology. Rather, it must be seen as a public service, as a social obligation, the fulfilment of a predestined path of life, so that he can profess his belief in it and approve of it. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 736

Categorization

• XREF: This is the classic ‘moralized domination’ figure — connects to Weber’s Protestant ethic and the broader Frankfurt School critique of bourgeois self-justification. — connects to: Wealth and power in bourgeois society come from fraud or force concealed as earnings — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 430; Capitalist exploitation is distinct because it is implicit — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 99; The bourgeoisie expropriated working-class games to legitimate its own rule — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 1254 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Capitalist exploitation is distinct because it is implicit #expands (0.80) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 99
• Bourgeois democracy renders invisible the class operation that produces consent #corroborates (0.80)
• Racial ideologies arise to justify exploitation already in place #corroborates (0.80)
• The bourgeoisie expropriated working-class games to legitimate its own rule #complicates (0.75) — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 1254
• The bourgeoisie expropriated popular culture to legitimize its rule #complicates (0.75)