Date: Thu, 6 Feb 1997 22:47:48 -0500 (EST)
From: Viraj Fernando <viraj-AT-interlog.com>
Subject: M-I: [LNP]/Time, clocks and other details.


One thing I request of the readers of Louis' post in reference to me, is not
to use it as an excuse to settle personal scores. Louis has a point of view
which I appreciate, but there are other matters to consider as well. Louis
seems to think, the list has to be unidimensional and unidirectional
(restricted to "working class" politics). But working class politics are
multi-dimensional and multi-directional (I will deal with this in a separate
post).

Also your point Sohn-Rethel must be discussed in terms of working class
politics does not apply here. We are talking Real Abstraction. In money-form
or mathematical axiom we can not connect it up to to-days working class
politics. 

>In Marx's words: " The religious reflex of the real world can, in any case,
only then finally vanish, when practical relations of every-day life offer
to man none but perfectly intelligible and reasonable *relations* with
regard to his fellowmen and to *Nature*. - Capital Vol I pp.71-79 on
"Fetishism of commodities and the secret thereof".
>

Money-form appears as a Fetish, and since Abstract Human Labour is not
something empirically attestable. Although Marx derives it mathematically,
we can not prove it mathematically. Unless one accepts the concept of
Abstract Human Labour, this hangs in mid air. In "matters in relation to
nature", when we prove Marx's contention with empirically attestable facts,
it validates this very important contention of Marx mathematically, in a
manner which no scientist can deny. Thereby, by analogy it validates Marxian
contention of the money-form. This is of extreme importance. But if you
think all the writings that Marx did except those concerning direct class
struggles of the working are irrelevant, then that's a separate question. So
long as you accept Capital and other works are impotant, the matter
discussed is of vital importance, because it is something not easily
understood, but must be understood.

[As for Astro terminology used, if this was a leaflet or a book, I may have
considered giving a glossary, or notes of explanation. But, this is all
bound up with the computer, get into Encarta, and you have it all there. Or
if you do not have the Encarta, the internet is there. My trying to explain
these will make long articles longer. About the type of terminology other
people have used I can not answer]

Then pls consider the following:
1. When one becomes a subscriber, there is no general guidance, regarding
what the list is all about. One forms his own opinion what the purpose of
the list is and they use it according to their own interpretation of it.

2. For those who try to keep track of everything going on the list, it may
be quite a difficult task when strange topics with strange terminology pop
up, and also when they happen to be rather lengthy. I tried to follow this
way at the start (just one month back), but soon found how to pick and choose.

3. In my opinion there are a considerable number of anti-marxists, in the
sense that the views are distorted to such an extent that they harm marxist
thought than help consolidate it within the net. And there are subscribers
like David M Brown, who solely uses this list to attack marxism and he is
allowed to continue.

4. There are snipers who just like to make pot shots at anybody for fun.

5. There are people who are on the look out anytime to find some excuse to
make personal attacks on others.

6. There are sectarians, who wait till the otherside makes some slip, to
recite their sectarian version of the cathecism.

7. There are those who feel, that Marxist Philosophy can not be detached
>from all fields of knowledge. Not only that to focus on anything correctly
and to work out a marxist analysis, you must have your Marxist Philosophy
right. When such discussions take place
it is hoped that atleast a few others would follow, (there is no expection
for all to follow. And as for me, as in the case of today's post, I have on
the title itself addressed it to [Hobson Sherren]. This to indicate it is
"semi-private". If anybody is interested he can read it otherwise do not
even open it, that's my idea of including the name within brackets. Trash it.

As time goes on we will have to define the *purposes* of the net, and try to
eliminate the harmful destructive tendencies. We will have to develop some
codes etc., to indicate
the intention. Public, Semi-private, "Theoretical" in Louis' sense, etc.
These codes to appear on the title, so that the receipient has some idea
before opening the mail.

Also those who write long articles should be requested to give a summary at
the top. Read it first and if it generates interest, the main article is read.

Louis I can not agree that, "high theory" should go to Thaxis and Sciences.
In my view Marxism is an integral conception. You may not ever be interested
to discuss any of the matters, I may take an interest in. But, there may be
some other persons in whom some interest may be sparked. Like the sectarian
about his pet ideas, I strongly feel that Marxist Philosophy must take
command in all thinking, in marxists, and in this sense, I would try to
peddle it wherever possible. 

In my view, class struggles at the bases MUST be complemented by class
struggles at the superstructural level, in  "Philosophical, Juridical,
Political, Scientifc, Arts etc etc etc. The list can do a lot in this
sphere.(More later).

Best regards/ Viraj

You have misunderstood me.(Or I may have misunderstood you) I am not a
"learned man". And if you think I have some sort of a complex, to show off
"knowledge", that's not a correct conclusion. I do not know whether it
applies to others.
 

 





     --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---