What arguments against classical economics did John Ruskin make in Unto This Last?

In his work Unto This Last, John Ruskin directed a sharp critique against the classical economics championed by figures such as Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill.1

Rather than offering a technical economic analysis, Ruskin expressed profound moral outrage regarding the ethical foundations of the field. His primary arguments centered on the following points:

• Rejection of Materialism: Ruskin challenged the extent to which materialist and utilitarian assumptions had become accepted as the normative standard for understanding human behaviour.1
• Moral Critique: He argued that the prevailing economic theories ignored the essential moral dimensions of society, prioritizing cold utility over human welfare and aesthetic fulfillment.1
• Anticapitalist Vision: The work served as a vehicle for his broader social model, which advocated for a more humane, neofeudalist order that stood in direct opposition to the dehumanizing effects of industrial capitalism.1

Ultimately, Ruskin viewed these economic assumptions as a degradation of the cultural condition, seeking to replace them with values rooted in righteousness and social responsibility.1