Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 10:31:53 -0500 (EST)
From: Gerald Levy <glevy-AT-pratt.edu>
Subject: Re: M-TH: A Question re: DK


Russell Pearson wrote:

> In this there is the singular of the intrinsic and the multiple of uses-
> surely a contradiction- or is it one that can be dialectically overcome...?

Whether a commodity actually has use-value is determined on the market
under capitalism. Unless a product is shown to have use-value, it can have
neither exchange-value or value and can therefore not be a commodity.

In other words, capitalist production proceeds under the assumption that
the products produced will have use-value, exchange-value, and value. Yet,
it is only in the market where capitalists know whether a product is a
commodity with these inherent properties and whether they will be able to
recover the money capital advanced in the previous period of production
and realize surplus-value and profit. Uncertainty and risk are therefore
characteristic features of the circulation and reproduction of capital.

Jerry



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