Slavoj Žižek on How Heatwaves Expose Capitalism's Flawed Logic
In June 2026, a record-breaking heatwave swept across Europe. Philosopher Slavoj Žižek, unable to sleep in his sweltering apartment, reflects on the capitalist response to the crisis. He argues that capitalism prioritizes exchange value over use value, forcing consumers to buy more cooling products as temperatures rise. The essay explores how market logic exacerbates environmental crises, benefiting corporations while individuals suffer. Žižek warns of catastrophic consequences if this dynamic remains unchecked.
Key facts
- June 2026 heatwave broke numerous records across Europe
- Slavoj Žižek wrote an essay for Freitag
- Žižek argues capitalism prioritizes exchange value over use value
- Heatwaves force increased consumption of cooling products
- Essay critiques capitalist market logic in environmental crises
- Žižek is a Marxist philosopher
- Heatwave caused sleeplessness for Žižek
- Essay titled 'Hitze: Slavoj Žižek schwitzte in seiner Wohnung – und erkannte etwas über den Kapitalismus'
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Freitag
Locations
- Europe