| This question <7|50> overall <29|31> Gonzalez: <328-5|75>. |
| Question 68: What is the difference between labor and labor power? |
| [30] Gonzalez: It would appear that Marx has separated labor and labor power by a distinction of labor powers abstract ability be the sum total of expended labor. Labor power is defined by the learning and time invested in obtaining a certain labor skill. The problem in definition of labor power is that it is difficult to quantify labor power upon the basis of the time to learn the task and the value that it performs. |
| Regardless of how labor power is defined there will always be a difference in the separate individuals application of that knowledge. It would seem that labor power of equal individual output would even the value that society is afforded from each individual. That is to say that labor can be seen as equal tasks that are measured by the time and expended effort of each laborer. |
| Marx describes the idea of simple labor power in terms of undeveloped skills, whereby individual labor value is determined by the labor time. By placing a distinction on time and labor it would seem plausible to place a value upon individual labor power. Unskilled labor may not create the same use value as skilled labor, but the time that skilled labor is in training is time spent laboring by the unskilled group of labor. They in essence give the skilled laborer a chance to develop skills to improve the overall social fabric. This in essence could create a more equitable balance of the output each individual returns in a measured form to society. |
| Labor can be quantified by the value generated in the labor power, but for labor power to be created there must be down time in which the individual does not produce. It is in this space of time that skilled and unskilled labor can come closer to balance in a quantified theory of labor and its product. |
| Hans: I like your submission. It has good thoughts and it shows that you are thinking through the material on your own terms, rather than just regurgitating what you read. It also confronts the question of the difference between labor and labor power head on, something the earlier submission [7] about the same Question had not done. I think all you really need is some more practice to get your point through more clearly. Keep up the good work. |
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