How did John Ruskin criticize industrial capitalism?

John Ruskin criticized industrial capitalism by challenging the materialist and utilitarian ethical assumptions that underpinned it, particularly those found in classical economics. His critique was deeply rooted in his belief that art and architecture are direct expressions of the social conditions in which they are produced.12

Key aspects of his critique included:

• Dehumanization of Labor: In his influential chapter "The Nature of Gothic," Ruskin contrasted the creative freedom afforded to medieval craftsmen with the mechanical regularity of modern mass production. He argued that society should not take pleasure in objects that were not made with pleasure by the worker.2
• Moral Outrage: In works such as Unto This Last, he attacked the theories of Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill, arguing that their economic models ignored the human cost of industrialization.1
• Aesthetic and Environmental Degradation: Ruskin viewed industrial pollution as a blight on the environment and contrasted the beauty of medieval craftsmanship with the mass-produced, utilitarian designs of the modern era.1

Ultimately, Ruskin advocated for a neofeudalist social model, believing that a society less focused on industrial competition could lead to greater aesthetic and human fulfillment.1