This question <68|53> overall <46|48> Kitty: <595|149>.

Question 133: How does Marx's statement in 138:2/o that a commodity's value material “does not contain a single atom of physical matter” relate to his other statement in 177:3-4 that “no chemist has ever discovered exchange-value in pearl or diamond.” Do they say the same thing or something different?

[47] Kitty: Marx is saying the same thing in the two statements. The value of things exchanged is not dependent upon how useful or how much labor was put into producing the commodity. Even the elements necessary to produce this final commodity (such as the individual ingredients needed to bake cookies) have no value on their own, compared to the commodity as a whole. The value of the commodity is based on the relationships the commodities have with one another. These relationships are determined by the social status of the item, or what is most socially desirable.

Hans: Intermediate products have both use-value and value just like finished products.

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