Marx’s Capital, Method and Revolutionary Subjectivity


Book Description

In Marx ́s Capital, Method and Revolutionary Subjectivity, Guido Starosta develops a materialist inquiry into the social and historical determinations of revolutionary subjectivity. Through a methodologically-minded critical reconstruction of the Marxian critique of political economy, from the early writings up to the Grundrisse and Capital, this study shows that the outcome of the historical movement of the objectified form of social mediation, which has turned into the very alienated subject of social life (i.e., capital), is to develop, as its own immanent determination, the constitution of the (self-abolishing) working class as a revolutionary subject. A crucial element in this intellectual endeavour is the focus on the intrinsic connection between the specifically dialectical form of social science and its radical transformative content.




In Marx's Laboratory


Book Description

In Marx’s Laboratory. Critical Interpretations of the Grundrisse provides a critical analysis of the Grundrisse as a crucial stage in the development of Marx’s critique of political economy. Stressing both the achievements and limitations of this much-debated text, and drawing upon recent philological advances, this volume attempts to re-read Marx’s 1857-58 manuscripts against the background of Capital, as a ‘laboratory’ in which Marx first began to clarify central elements of his mature problematic. With chapters by an international range of authors from different traditions of interpretation, including the International Symposium on Marxian Theory, this volume provides an in-depth analysis of key themes and concepts in the Grundrisse, such as method, dialectics and abstraction; abstract labour, value, money and capital; technology, the ‘general intellect’ and revolutionary subjectivity, surplus-value, competition, crisis; and society, gender, ecology and pre-capitalist forms. Contributors include: Chris Arthur, Luca Basso, Riccardo Bellofiore, George Caffentzis, Martha Campbell, Juan Iñigo Carrera, Howard Engelskirchen, Roberto Fineschi, Michael Heinrich, Fred Moseley, Patrick Murray, Geert Reuten, Tony Smith, Guido Starosta, Massimiliano Tomba, Jan Toporowski, Peter D. Thomas, Joel Wainwright, and Amy Wendling.




Capital


Book Description

This book is a critical analysis of political economy, meant to reveal the contradictions of the capitalist mode of production, how it was the precursor of the socialist mode of production and of the class struggle rooted in the capitalist social relations of production. Karl Marx (1818–1883) was a famous German philosopher, economist, historian, political theorist, sociologist, journalist and revolutionary socialist.




Understanding Marx’s Capital: A reader’s guide


Book Description

Marx's Capital was a book that revolutionised political economy and for the first time opened our eyes to the real workings of capitalism. It was, however, met with a wall of silence from the mainstream economists and the establishment. Despite this, Capital became regarded in the workers' movement as the Bible of the working class... The aim of this book, written by authors from the International Marxist Tendency, is to help guide readers through the pages of volume one of Capital; to bring out the main themes and ideas contained within it; and to discuss the relevance of this great Marxist classic in terms of understanding the crisis-ridden world around us today - and, most importantly, how we can radically transform it.




The Capital


Book Description

In 'Capital,' Karl Marx embarks on an incisive analysis of the capitalist system, embedding his work firmly within the tradition of socio-economic critique, yet departing radically in his philosophical approach. This magnum opus forges a dialectical path through often obtuse economic theory using a penetrating materialist lens. It builds upon and transcends previous economic theories posited by luminaries such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo, by elucidating the intricate mechanisms of capital accumulation and the labor theory of value. The work's meticulous dissection of the bourgeois economy, expressed through a potent blend of rigorous methodology and biting critique, challenges readers to consider the profound impact of economic structures on human relations and societal progression. Karl Marx, foremost among the 19th century intellectuals, brought to bear his extensive knowledge of history and economics, coupled with his experiences amid burgeoning industrial Europe. His personal journey, academic pursuits, and political activism, especially through seminal works like 'The Communist Manifesto,' paved the way for his trenchant critique encapsulated in 'Capital.' The prodigious influence of Marx's thought on subsequent generations can be seen in a myriad of academic fields, as well as in practical revolutionary movements around the globe. To engage with 'Capital' is to plunge into a deep well of historical and economic understanding, one that rewards its reader with a thorough comprehension of the manifold dimensions of capitalistic society. This text is recommended not only to students of economics and history but also to anyone with a vested interest in the genealogy of contemporary socio-economic systems. Marx's 'Capital' remains a testament to the enduring relevance of critical theory - a beacon that continues to illuminate the contradictions and challenges of economic inequalities as much today as at the time of its writing.




How to Read Marx's Capital


Book Description

An accessible companion to Karl Marx's essential Capital With the recent revival of Karl Marx's theory, a general interest in reading Capital has also increased. But Capital—Marx’s foundational nineteenth-century work on political economy—is by no means considered an easily understood text. Central concepts, such as abstract labor, the value-form, or the fetishism of commodities, can seem opaque to us as first-time readers, and the prospect of comprehending Marx’s thought can be truly daunting. Until, that is, we pick up Michael Heinrich’s How to Read Marx's Capital. Paragraph by paragraph, Heinrich provides extensive commentary and lucid explanations of questions and quandaries that arise when encountering Marx’s original text. Suddenly, such seemingly gnarly chapters as “The Labor Process and the Valorization Process” and “Money or the Circulation of Capital” become refreshingly clear, as Heinrich explains just what we need to keep in mind when reading such a complex text. Deploying multiple appendices referring to other pertinent writings by Marx, Heinrich reveals what is relevant about Capital, and why we need to engage with it today. How to Read Marx's Capital provides an illuminating and indispensable guide to sorting through cultural detritus of a world whose political and economic systems are simultaneously imploding and exploding.







On Marx


Book Description

On Marx introduces readers to the greatest intellect of the last millennium. On Marx also enables readers to distinguish between the real genius of Marx ‘s thought and a range of ideas that have been erroneously attributed to him and which, unfortunately, have clouded many people’s judgement of Marx.




THE CAPITAL - Karl Marx


Book Description

Capital: Critique of Political Economy, commonly known as Das Kapital, is a foundational theoretical text in communist philosophy, economics, and politics by Karl Marx. The first volume was published in 1867, with subsequent volumes published posthumously by Engels based on Marx's notes. Structure and Content Capital is divided into three volumes, each addressing different aspects of capitalist production and economics: Volume I: The Process of Production of Capital - This volume focuses on the production process of capital. It introduces key concepts such as commodity, value, surplus value, and the role of labor in creating value. Marx analyzes how commodities are produced and exchanged, and how the exploitation of labor leads to the accumulation of capital by the bourgeoisie. Volume II: The Process of Circulation of Capital - Published posthumously in 1885 by Engels, this volume examines the circulation process of capital. It explores the dynamics of how capital moves through various stages, including money capital, productive capital, and commodity capital. Marx discusses the circulation of commodities and money, the role of credit, and the impact of these processes on the economy. Volume III: The Process of Capitalist Production as a Whole - Also published posthumously by Engels in 1894, this volume integrates the findings of the first two volumes and presents a comprehensive analysis of capitalist production as a whole. It addresses topics such as the tendency of the rate of profit to fall, the formation of an average rate of profit, and the interplay between different sectors of the economy. Style and Narrative Marx's writing in Capital is characterized by its rigorous and detailed analysis of economic concepts and processes. His style combines theoretical exposition with empirical evidence, drawing on historical examples and contemporary economic data. Marx employs dialectical reasoning to explore the contradictions inherent in capitalist production and to demonstrate how these contradictions drive the dynamics of the system.




Capital: Volume One


Book Description

Capital: Volume One by Karl Marx is a classic of political economics and was described by Friedrich Engels, the author's friend and collaborator, as "the bible of the working class." Thirty years in the making, this 1867 publication was the first in the three-part Das Kapital series and the only volume published during Marx's lifetime. The polemic asserts that society is advancing from primitive economic systems toward the utopian state of communism. It remains a work of tremendous importance and influence and offers an astute critique of capitalism, exploring commodities, value, money, and other factors related to the system's historic origins and contemporary functions. The examination of these elements forms the basis of Marxist doctrine: the system is irredeemable, a revolution is imperative, and a socialist system is the only viable alternative, providing a structure in which production serves the needs of all rather than the enrichment of the elite. AUTHOR: Philosopher and radical thinker Karl Marx (1818-74) was expelled from Germany and France after publishing controversial material, including The Communist Manifesto, which he co-wrote with Friedrich Engels. In 1848, he was exiled to London, where he wrote Das Kapital and resided for the remainder of his life.