| This question <83|178> overall <172|174> Poppy: <172|437>. |
| Question 141: If the first chapter is such a systematic discussion of value, why is it then called “Commodities” and not “Value”? |
| [173] Poppy: The first Chapter of Capital is called “Commodities” despite the heavy focus and discussions on value. This is because Marx wants to introduce his strong theory/view of what the relationship between both Commodities and Value truly is. His viewpoint is new and somewhat liberating to what other economists and possibly most people first assume when comparing the two. Previously and currently the relationship is thought to be linked to its exchange-worth, however this is contradictory to what Marx tell us. A commodity's value heavily depends on what service or need it provides, not necessarily on what its exchange proportion is. Thus, making the importance of a commodity is its relationship to its value. They go hand in hand. |
| Because it is too easy, and can be quickly comprehended, that the relationship between commodities and value is determined by its exchange-proportion to other commodities, it was important that Marx introduced this book with A: commodities, and by B: strongly associating them to their values, and explaining exactly what their value really meant. |
| Hans: You are right that Marx distinguishes between value and exchange-value, but value in his theory is not determined by importance but by labor content. |
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