This question <252|61> overall <56|58> Dannymangum: <723|138>.

Question 89: Why is labor measured here by labor-time, and not by counting how many movements were made, or by the drops of sweat of the laborer, or by the discomfort of the laborer?

[57] Dannymangum: Labor Time.   In assessing value we look at the amount of value-constituting substance found in the article. The value-constituting substance is labor, because it is the one input that all commodities have in common, as it pertains to production. In our measure of labor we look at the total labor that went into the commodity, not just the final product. Since we must calculate every ounce of labor that went into the commodity to determine its value, measuring anything other than duration of time spent would be extremely problematic. Each stage of production has different areas of difficulty, whether that be physically taxing or of a more intricate nature. The only measurable aspect that all commodities have in common is time. The other pro time measuring argument would be the ease in which it can be obtained. While counting beads of sweat or movements would take painstaking measures to produce. Time is relatively easy to collect as well as an effective source of measurement for our intents and purposes.

Hans: Instead of saying that time is the only feasible measurement, you should have said that time is the only thing these labors have in common, and markets look for that what is equal in all labor (because they set the products equal).

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