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[61] Phil: Labor-Time. Labor is measured in time as opposed to discomfort, or output, not
only because it is the easiest and some would say fairest way to
measure (as has already been discussed by many in the class). The
entire labor pool only has a specific amount of time that it can give
to production. This being the amount of each individual's life that
the individual can devote to working. While it would maybe be a better
judge to measure labor in output or discomfort, it would not
accurately reflect the remaining labor left in the pool. Also, as Hans
said [42], some labor can be joyful, so if measuring discomfort those
people would not be compensated for their work the way somebody who
doesn't enjoy their work would. This is clearly not a good solution
because many times discomfort in labor can be attributed to the wrong
individual doing the specified task. Measuring output is not the best
way either. Marx uses the example of wheat production to point out
that external events (in this case the time of year) can increase or
decrease the output for the same amount of labor. By measuring only
output you would not take this into account and could not give the
true value of the labor involved (that being the amount of labor taken
out of the collective pool). This leaves us only able to measure labor
in time, as imperfect as it may be, in order to give the true social
value of the labor in a capitalist system. |
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