We explain what capital is and what are the ways to obtain it. Furthermore, the meanings of this term in various areas.
What is capital?
The term capital comes from latin capitalis. The concept of capital has various meanings, depending on the context and the discipline that is used.
In terms of economics the term capital is referred to as value. At first it was used as a synonym for money. As this money is invested, it becomes one of the factors of the production process, just like the labor force and the land.
Some examples of capital in the production process could be materials, machinery, computers, raw materials, real estate among others. In turn, capital is used to access the labor force.
Other authors prefer to define capital as the total assets or assets, whether state, private, industrial, etc. It fulfills the function of producing new wealth or profits, either through investment or loans.
There are various ways to access capital, one of the means is through the surplus of production, another is thanks to the work carried out in the natural environment, for example the exploitation of forests or lakes. Another means of access is thanks to savings and from Marx's conception of surplus value.
Many times when the concept of capital is used it is to refer to one of the works of the aforementioned thinker, Karl Marx. The treaty Capitalis a criticism of political economy. In it are defined the relations between social classes which Marx defines as the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. At the same time, it explains how the second acts dominantly over the first. This book has been essential to understand the functioning of the capitalist system. It is also studied not only from economics, but also by political scientists, philosophers, sociologists, etc.
Authors such as Pierre Bourdieu affirm that capital exceeds the material, that is, money and goods, which he calls symbolic and cultural capital. This term includes values such as generosity, honesty and, above all, acquired knowledge.
The way to access said capital is diverse. In some cases it may be through experience and on other occasions it is acquired through institutions, for example educational. This capital is used as a means of power to be able to preserve and increase one's own capital.
See also: Capitalism
Other types of capital
From the physical political point of view, it is understood that a capital is the head and principal city of either a national or provincial state. Normally these cities are characterized by being the economic and political centers of said states. They tend to be the cities with the largest population. Many times capitals are used as one of the symbols and constituted elements of nations.
In the Catholic Church It is related to the concept of capital with the seven deadly sins. These are understood as sins that give rise to the others. These seven are: gluttony, greed, lust, pride, wrath, laziness and envy. Catholicism understands that these vices are totally contrary to the morals and teachings of Christianity, which is why it openly repudiates them.
