Date: Sun, 2 Feb 1997 19:46:05 -0700 (MST) From: Samantha-AT-pseud.pseud Subject: Re: M-INTRO: Abstract Labor On Sun, 2 Feb 1997 aussie-AT-pseud.pseud wrote: > Samantha-AT-pseud.pseud wrote: > > > > Although I have looked over some of Karl Marx material in the > > past, this is the first time I've actually studied his thoughts on a > > deeper level. To be honest, the material is rather confusing to someone > > like me. For my first assignment in my Marxian Economics class, I chose > > to answer the question, "What is abstract human labor?" I tried to give > > a sufficient answer, but I'm still not exactly sure what the correct > > answer is! When addressing another question about abstract labor, a > > student by the pseudonym of [36] Bandit wrote this: > > > > "When labor produces value, it is then called abstract labor > > which Marx explains as the 'expenditure of human brains, nerves, > > and muscles,' etc. Abstract labor is thus dependent on the > > creation of value, which in turn is dependent on the production > > of commodities. So without the creation of value, abstract > > labor had no meaning." > > > > When answering my question, "What is abstract human labor?" the > > professor did not want me to state its significance in a > > commodity-producing society. I think that Bandit has done a good job of > > explaining what abstract labor is. He defines abstract labor by giving > > the factors that it is determined by or the things it is dependent on. > > By giving the significance of abstract labor in a commodity-producing > > society, he makes it much easier to understand. > > I guess that my question is: How could abstract human labor be defined > > WITHOUT giving its significance in a commodity-producing society? If > > anyone out there has a clear answer to my question, I would love to hear > > it. (Because I could very easily be missing something here!) > > > > Thanks! > > > > --- from list marxism-intro-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- > Samantha -- > > I think that abstract human labor is simply how long it takes, on > average and given the current technology, to produce a given item. This > item does not need to be a commodity. For example, it takes my wife 6 > hours to make her cinnamon rolls (with rising and baking and stuff). It > takes me 1 day (because I burn them, they don't rise, whatever.) My > little girl takes 3 days to make them because she plays with the dough > and stuff and has the kitty help her. Assuming that we are the only > three people in the picture our cinnamon rolls contain 34 hours of > abstract labor. The amount of time it actually takes is concrete labor. > > Hope that helps --- and hope it's right, > > Aussie > > > > --- from list marxism-intro-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- > Aussie: Thanks so much for the response. Your simple explanation helped more than you may think (it would have helped even more when I did the first assignment!)... If only marx could translate his thoughts into a language that everyone could understand! Thanks! Samantha --- from list marxism-intro-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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