This question <131|144> overall <135|137> Hans: <128|140>.

Question 19: What does the study of commodities have to do with the classes in capitalist society (capitalist class and working class)?

[136] Hans: Commodity form of wealth.   The first sentence of chapter One is:

The wealth of those societies, in which the capitalist mode of production reigns, presents itself as an “immense heap of commodities.”

In his answer [131], Jimmie summarizes this sentence as follows: “Marx states that commodities provide the wealth of a capitalist society.” Earlier, in [45], Bob had said something similar: “Marx [states] the wealth of a capitalist society is the commodities within it.” Both are incorrect paraphrases of Marx. Material wealth, in capitalism as elsewhere, consists in use-values. In capitalism, these use-values take the form of commodities. The commodity form does not add to society's wealth; a Marxist would even say the commodity form is a hindrance which prevents certain kinds of wealth from being provided.

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