This question <17|60> overall <52|54> Stxian: <52|168>.  
  Question 24: Why does Marx say that use values are the “material carriers” of exchange value?   
  [53] Stxian: The reason why Marx say that use values are the “material carriers” of exchange value is because that use values represented a paticular commodity's usefulness, in another word, human's desire to acquire such commodity and human's motive or objective behind the desire and needs. In general, use values are closely associated with a commodity's exchange value. Because through people's need and want of that commodity and some other commodity, people usually trade with each other in ancient societies. Both sides wanted to trade something that are usefulness, that is both sides wanted a commodity with a use value and is exactly what he needs. This means that people trade X good a to Y good b, so, X=Y, this function is the exchange value of both good a and good b. This is what Marx meant by use value as a material carrier to exchange value. A commodity has to have a use value first, then it can be traded or exchanged, and in terms, use value itself serves as a material carrier.   
  Hans: You are saying that the use value is the source of the exchange value, that the exchange value comes from the use value, because the utility of something affects how much people want it and therefore arewillingto pay for it. Marx says that the exchange value is determined by forces “behind the back” of the individuals. The use value has a much more subordinate function in it, that of a “carrier”.   
 
 
 
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