Return-Path: Delivered-To: andy@mira.net Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 19:40:13 -0800 From: Lau Kam To To: Andy Blunden Subject: Re: essence and notion References: <199712230646.OAA26285@imsp074.netvigator.com> Andy Blunden wrote: > > Interesting how knowledge develops isn't it? > A young froend of mine has been saying to me: "Andy, generalised commodity > production is the Notion of capitalism, OK, but what is the essence of > capitalism? Some say that the essence of capitalism is production of surplus > value". > ============================================================================ Andy, I think commodity production and surplus-value are not unique to capitalism but only became prevalent in capitalism, the defining characteristic or "essence" of capitalism is "alienated labour" (to use Young Marx's term), labour selling their labour-power to capitalist under the "free" market of supply/demand but actually producing their own subsistance (wages) as well as the surplus value for the capitalist who owns the means of production. That is unique to capitalism. Alex