Intellectual Work and Capitalist Development

Abstract

“Intellectual work and capitalist development” is a long article published in 1970 by Manfredo Tafuri. It does not exactly contain references to architecture and is, rather a dense reflection of a philosophical character on the nature of intellectual work as such, seen within the conditions established by the system of capitalist production. Tafuri s contribution coincided with the second year of his position at the University Institute of Architecture of Venice (IUAV) and it was expected that his reflections would define the focus of its recently founded Institute of History. In addition to analyzing the political context in which it was written, this article intends to recover Tafuri s concept of intellectual work as a great force in his argument, and as the reason for his radical criticism of architectural ideology.