This question <69|189> overall <173|173-2> Wight: <132|173-2>.

Question 52: In [mecw29] 274 Marx writes “It is as if the different individuals had thrown their labor time together and allocated different portions of the labor time at their joint disposal to the various use values.” Why the formulation “It is as if?” Have they done it or haven't they?

[173-1] Wight: Marx uses the formulation “It is as if” to illustrate that the individuals had in fact done it, but it was not their intention to do it. They did it in sense unconsciously. Whether willing or not, none of them was a conscious participant in the deed. The individuals described here are interacting on the market in order to get the best outcome for themselves. This sort of competition has the same effect as what Marx describes here as all individuals throwing their labor time togerther and allocating at their joint disposal to various use values. In essence, the participants are perpetuating their own exploitation under the capitalist system, but don't even realize it. This competition created between the individuals drives the system and fools the participants into thinking they are acting in their own best interest and benefiting themselves.

Hans: Very well formulated, clear and crisp, and literally the same as you wrote in class. I especially like the implications for capitalist exploitation, which is a new element which was not discussed previously.

	Students enrolled for Econ 5080 in 2009fa are invited to give feedback to the above message Pseudonym:      UofU ID:   Text: