From: Zeynep Tufekcioglu <zeynept-AT-turk.net>
Subject: Re: Economic field theory. Very good--but prob. no fun.
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 02:04:49 +0300


Carrol:
>I think it is very important to
>knock down most (and perhaps all) analogies between physics and
>economics, politics, etc.

I vote YES.

>Your occasional references to M2 every so often tempt me to subscribe
>to that list again. Could you give us just a "taste" (by no means a
>full meal) of what sort of fun this topic raised on that list?

I get M2. The most (maybe only) fun part is Rahul's exasparation, as he
tries, imo in vain, to tell M2'ers that they can't just pick terms they like
>from physics and math, interpret them as they wish.

The only physics I'd like to be incorporated into Marxist theory is
thermonuclear fusion. When learning the labor theory of value, I had thought
well, ok, nothing for nothing, something for something. Fair enough. But,
there *is* a surplus as labor power generates more than is required to
reproduce it. Go down the food chain, and the only outside input is from the
Sun, through photosynthesis. Of course, again something for something,
hydrogen burns into helium, releasing the energy. It does all start with
"Let there be light".

Technology, on the other hand, we should know more about. I think, for
example, computers have not caused a qualitative change in the operation of
capitalism - not denying their importance. This is so often claimed, but
imo, is not true due to the nature and function of the beasts, still chained
to Von Neumann architecture. I think, possibly bio-technology, or a new
source of energy would cause a revolutionary enough shock to completely
change the regime of accumulation. 

Just when I was first learning Marxist economic theory, the cold fusion buzz
dropped like a bomb, was 1989 I guess. I remember thinking, maybe a bit
naively as there would be a long process for this to be employed
technologically, this *could* have mean that hell breaks loose. 

Zeynep



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