| This question <58|163> overall <161|163> Poppy: <74|172>. |
| Question 82: Is Marx's concept of “value material” attached to commodities, but separate from their physical material, a metaphor? Is it a phantasy, an invention, which Marx needs to hold his labor theory of value together? Is Marx going overboard here? Or does it really exist? |
| [162] Poppy: 1000 lbs of Feathers = 1000 lbs of Gold. Marx is separating the “value materials” of commodities from their physical material, and using it as a metaphor to show that his labor of value theory does hold merit. Marx disregards the exchange relationship of commodities, and the use-value of the commodities, to have product of labor to only remain. For example, Barbon states “One sort of wares are as good as another, if the value be equal. There is no difference of distinction in things of equal value. One hundred pounds worth of lead or iron is of as great a value as one hundred pounds worth of silver and gold.” |
| The above quote of Barbon makes sense to me and clarifies what Marx true reasoning is behind separating “value Material” of commodities and physical material. As Barbon mentioned, before humans came along, every medium on earth had the same value. i.e. 1000 pounds of iron = 1000 pounds of diamonds. The only reason why now diamonds or gold are worth so much more, is because humans put a labor value into those commodities, which now give it a material exchange value. This shows how the exchange value and use value are born from the labor value. |
| I don't think Marx is going overboard here, it is just driving home his labor theory of value. Yes it does really exist. |
| Hans: You misunderstand the Barbon quote. One hundred pounds worth of lead is not the same as one hundred pounds of lead. Rather, it is that amount of lead one can buy for one hundred pounds Sterling, the British currency. |
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