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en:the-commodity-and-communism [2022/08/14 20:44]
eaustreum |
en:the-commodity-and-communism [2022/09/10 13:37]
eaustreum |
| ===== 1 Introduction ===== | ===== 1 Introduction ===== |
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| Capital is self-expanding value, dead labour that enslaves the living. It is therefore close at hand to make value and abstract labour the main target of social critique. If abstract labour is the root from which the categories of capital grow up -- wage labour, profit, etc. -- then it must be abolished for a classless state of things to be established. This could conceivably take place in a revolution where the means of existence are made available to all without restriction, since the compulsion to work for a wage then falls away. A social reorganisation that, on the contrary, relies on abstract labour would then constitute a dead-end or even a counter-revolutionary project. At least that was formerly the opinion of the undersigned.((See e.g. Peter Åström, "Crisis and communisation", //Sic// no. 1, 2011.)) | Capital is self-expanding value, dead labour that enslaves the living. It is therefore close at hand to make value and abstract labour the main target of social critique. If abstract labour is the root out of which the categories of capital grow up -- wage labour, profit, modern land rent, accumulation, etc. -- then it must be abolished for a classless state of things to be established. This could conceivably take place in a revolution where the means of existence are made available to all without restriction, since the compulsion to work for a wage then falls away. A social reorganisation that, on the contrary, relies on work as a distinct social activity would then constitute a dead-end. At least that was formerly the opinion of the undersigned.((See e.g. Peter Åström, "Crisis and communisation", //Sic// no. 1, 2011.)) |
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| Under the influence of the Arab Winter((That is the counter-revolution in the Middle East and North Africa from about 2012 and without end in sight. See | Under the influence of the Arab Winter((That is the counter-revolution in the Middle East and North Africa that began in 2012. See |
| [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Winter|Arab Winter]], //Wikipedia//.)), I came to abandon this perspective, which emphasises the radically anti-capitalist side of the revolution.((As Henriksson mentions, I reacted negatively to ”The suspended step of communisation”, //Sic// no. 1, 2011; see especially pp. 152ff and 164. The author of that article saw the introduction of communism as dependant on the immediate abolition of value, which he assumed require combating all //measuring of labour time//, any distinction between production and consumption as well as the notion of a //product//.)) I became convinced that the positive side must also be emphasised, not dismissed as mere speculation. Despite being completely unsustainable in the long term, the dynamic of the capitalist mode of production does in fact, in the normal case, satisfy basic human needs such as food, water and shelter. For communism to constitute a real alternative, it must therefore take seriously the question of how to secure material reproduction. Otherwise, one or the other reactionary perspective will surely be put forward instead, for example nationalism or religious fanaticism. | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Winter|Arab Winter]], //Wikipedia//.)), I came to abandon this perspective which emphasises the radically anti-capitalist side of the revolution.((As Henriksson mentions, I took issue with "The suspended step of communisation”, //Sic// no. 1, 2011; see especially pp. 152ff and 164. The author of that article saw the introduction of communism as dependant on the immediate abolition of value, which he assumed require combating all //measuring of labour time//, any distinction between production and consumption as well as the notion of a //product//.)) I became convinced that the positive side must also be emphasised, not dismissed as mere speculation. Despite being completely unsustainable in the long term, the dynamic of the capitalist mode of production does in fact, in the normal case, satisfy basic human needs such as food, water and shelter. For communism to constitute a real alternative, it must therefore take seriously the question of how to secure material reproduction. Otherwise, one or the other reactionary perspective will surely be put forward instead, for example nationalism or religious fanaticism. |
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| When, in the light of this revaluation, I returned to //Capital// and other writings, I made a discovery that should have been obvious from the very beginning: Marx does not take //value// as his point of departure but //the commodity//, which puts the question of the former in a very different light. This text, taking the commodity form as its point of departure, is an attempt to summarize important parts of Marx's analysis of capital so as to answer | When, in the light of this revaluation, I returned to //Capital// and other writings, I made a discovery that should have been obvious from the very beginning: Marx does not take //value// as his point of departure but //the commodity//, which puts the question of the former in a very different light. This text, taking the commodity form as its point of departure, is an attempt to summarize important parts of Marx's analysis of capital so as to answer |
| the journeymen, who are fully trained in the trade, will on average get more done than the apprentices in the same period of time and the master probably even more. When differences in work performance is not due to labour-saving //technology// implemented in the objective conditions of labour but, as here, | the journeymen, who are fully trained in the trade, will on average get more done than the apprentices in the same period of time and the master probably even more. When differences in work performance is not due to labour-saving //technology// implemented in the objective conditions of labour but, as here, |
| //skill//, i.e. a subjective factor, then the effect is the same as if work was performed with different | //skill//, i.e. a subjective factor, then the effect is the same as if work was performed with different |
| intensity.(("Simple average labour, it is true, varies in character in different countries and at different times, but in a particular society it is always given. Complex labour (skilled labour, travail qualifié) is only intensified simple labour, or rather, it is multiplied simple labour in that a given quantity of skilled labour corresponds to a greater quantity of simple labour." //Le Capital//, in MEGA II.7, p. 27 (my correction of the corresponding passage in MECW 35, p. 54.)) There are tasks, however, that neither the apprentice nor the journeyman but only the master tailor //can// perform. As long as these constitute //necessary labour// there will be a need for specially qualified labour. | intensity.((See //Le Capital//, in MEGA II.7, p. 27, MECW 35, p. 54 and MECW 33, pp. 384--385.)) There are tasks, however, that neither the apprentice nor the journeyman but only the master tailor //can// perform. As long as these constitute //necessary labour// there will be a need for specially qualified labour. |
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| Education or experience that contributes to a higher production output produces more labour per hour, so to speak, but only if the labour power is used | Education or experience that contributes to a higher production output produces more labour per hour, so to speak, but only if the labour power is used |
| proportionally higher values than unskilled labour does." MECW 35, p. 208. A master tailor creates more value exactly in his role as tailor master but not as a hand packer of finished trousers.)) So the apprentice, | proportionally higher values than unskilled labour does." MECW 35, p. 208. A master tailor creates more value exactly in his role as tailor master but not as a hand packer of finished trousers.)) So the apprentice, |
| the journeyman and the master tailor not only receive different amounts of remuneration, but they also //create different amounts of value// during | the journeyman and the master tailor not only receive different amounts of remuneration, but they also //create different amounts of value// during |
| the same time. So-called skilled labour capable of performing //complex labour// | the same time. Labour power capable of performing //complex labour// |
| has a higher, refined //use value//, just as dead things can have it (stainless | has a higher, refined //use value//, just as dead things can have it (stainless |
| versus ordinary steel, for example), and if its particular properties are socially necessary, all the labour that is socially necessary for its | versus ordinary steel, for example), and if its particular properties are socially necessary, all the labour that is socially necessary for its |