| |
[51] Hans: Elementary misunderstanding. Both Goshen [45] and Vasco [49] make a basic mistake when
they say the coat symbolizes the value of the linen because it shows
what can be made out of linen. This is completely wrong (see p. 82 of
the Annotations). When Marx talks about the “value” of
linen he means its labor content, not its use-value. The only person
who knows this labor content is the linen weaver, and she is not
motivated to tell us the truth. But actions speak louder than words.
If the linen weaver agrees to exchange 20 yards of linen for one coat,
then this action gives information about it what the linen weaver
thinks her labor is worth. This is why the above equation is called
an expression of the value of the linen in the use-value of the coat.
Question 148 asks: is the coat in this equation a “symbol”
of the value of the linen? |
|