1) Vol.II - Last Session before hols: 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Smith and the Physiocrats'
Unfortunately we did not record the discussion from our last meeting on 'Turnover and Time & Fixed and Circulating Capital'.
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 9-10 on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Smith and the Physiocrats':
Monday 20th December
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
"By thus establishing the definition of circulating capital as being the determinant of the capital value laid out for labour-power — this physiocratic definition without the premise of the physiocrats — Adam Smith fortunately killed among his followers the understanding that that part of capital which is spent on labour-power is variable capital. The more profound and correct ideas developed by him elsewhere did not prevail, but this blunder of his did."
The first Vol.II reading group after the hols will be Mon 17th Jan 6pm, Room tbc.
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2) Vol.I - Returning after hols: 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities'
The Volume I reading group will return after the holidays on Wed 12th Jan 6:30pm, Room tbc, with a discussion on 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities':
"All commodities are non-use-values for their owners, and use-values for their non-owners. Consequently, they must all change hands. But this change of hands is what constitutes their exchange, and the latter puts them in relation with each other as values, and realises them as values. Hence commodities must be realised as values before they can be realised as use-values."
We will be reading Vol.I chapters 2-3. The discussion from the previous session on 'The Fetishism of Commodities' is available to download here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/434577032/KCLReadingCapital_01_Dec_2010.mp3
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Thursday 16 December 2010
Sunday 28 November 2010
'The Fetishism of Commodities' & 'Turnover Time & Fixed and Circulating Capital'
1) Vol. I - Next Session: 'The Fetishism of Commodities'
The Volume I group continues this week (note later start time) with a discussion on 'The Fetishism of Commodities', introduced by Socialist Review Books Editor, Jack Farmer:
Wednesday 1st December
*** 7.30pm ***
Room S-1.08
Strand Building
King's College London
"A commodity is therefore a mysterious thing, simply because in it the social character of men’s labour appears to them as an objective character stamped upon the product of that labour; because the relation of the producers to the sum total of their own labour is presented to them as a social relation, existing not between themselves, but between the products of their labour..."
"...This I call the Fetishism which attaches itself to the products of labour, so soon as they are produced as commodities, and which is therefore inseparable from the production of commodities."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I, Chapter 1, Section 4 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112044228861591
(The first meeting on 'Commodities and Values' can be downloaded here:http://rapidshare.com/files/430908198/KCLReadingCapital_RobJacksonVolI_November_10_2010.mp3)
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2) Vol.II - Next Session: 'Turnover Time & Fixed and Circulating Capital'
The discussion from our last meeting on 'Times & Costs of Circulation' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/432540457/KCLReadingCapital_22_Nov_2010.mp3
Our next session will be discussing chapters 7-8 on 'Turnover Time & Fixed and Circulating Capital':
Monday 6th December
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
"From the point of view of the capitalist, the time of turnover of his capital is the time for which he must advance his capital in order to create surplus-value with it and receive it back in its original shape."
"[The] portion of the capital-value fixed in the instrument of labour circulates as well as any other. We have seen in general that all capital-value is constantly in circulation, and that in this sense all capital is circulating capital. But the circulation of the portion of capital which we are now studying is peculiar. In the first place it does not circulate in its use-form, but it is merely its value that circulates, and this takes place gradually, piecemeal, in proportion as it passes from it to the product, which circulates as a commodity. During the entire period of its functioning, a part of its value always remain fixed in it, independently of the commodities which it helps to produce. It is this peculiarity which gives to this portion of constant capital the form of fixed capital. All the other material parts of capital advanced in the process of production form by way of contrast the circulating, or fluid, capital."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.II Chapters 7-8 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173865585976269
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3) Upcoming Events:
London Seminar on Contemporary Marxist Theory:
15th December, 5pm King's College London, Strand Campus, K.3.11 Raked Lecture Theatre
Peter D. Thomas (Brunel University) Contours of Contemporary Western Marxism
The Volume I group continues this week (note later start time) with a discussion on 'The Fetishism of Commodities', introduced by Socialist Review Books Editor, Jack Farmer:
Wednesday 1st December
*** 7.30pm ***
Room S-1.08
Strand Building
King's College London
"A commodity is therefore a mysterious thing, simply because in it the social character of men’s labour appears to them as an objective character stamped upon the product of that labour; because the relation of the producers to the sum total of their own labour is presented to them as a social relation, existing not between themselves, but between the products of their labour..."
"...This I call the Fetishism which attaches itself to the products of labour, so soon as they are produced as commodities, and which is therefore inseparable from the production of commodities."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I, Chapter 1, Section 4 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112044228861591
(The first meeting on 'Commodities and Values' can be downloaded here:http://rapidshare.com/files/430908198/KCLReadingCapital_RobJacksonVolI_November_10_2010.mp3)
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2) Vol.II - Next Session: 'Turnover Time & Fixed and Circulating Capital'
The discussion from our last meeting on 'Times & Costs of Circulation' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/432540457/KCLReadingCapital_22_Nov_2010.mp3
Our next session will be discussing chapters 7-8 on 'Turnover Time & Fixed and Circulating Capital':
Monday 6th December
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
"From the point of view of the capitalist, the time of turnover of his capital is the time for which he must advance his capital in order to create surplus-value with it and receive it back in its original shape."
"[The] portion of the capital-value fixed in the instrument of labour circulates as well as any other. We have seen in general that all capital-value is constantly in circulation, and that in this sense all capital is circulating capital. But the circulation of the portion of capital which we are now studying is peculiar. In the first place it does not circulate in its use-form, but it is merely its value that circulates, and this takes place gradually, piecemeal, in proportion as it passes from it to the product, which circulates as a commodity. During the entire period of its functioning, a part of its value always remain fixed in it, independently of the commodities which it helps to produce. It is this peculiarity which gives to this portion of constant capital the form of fixed capital. All the other material parts of capital advanced in the process of production form by way of contrast the circulating, or fluid, capital."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.II Chapters 7-8 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173865585976269
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3) Upcoming Events:
London Seminar on Contemporary Marxist Theory:
15th December, 5pm King's College London, Strand Campus, K.3.11 Raked Lecture Theatre
Peter D. Thomas (Brunel University) Contours of Contemporary Western Marxism
Sunday 14 November 2010
Next sessions & previous recordings
1) Vol. I - Next Session: 'The Fetishism of Commodities'
The Volume I group began last week with a discussion on 'Commodities and Values', (which can be downloaded here: http://rapidshare.com/files/430908198/KCLReadingCapital_RobJacksonVolI_November_10_2010.mp3).
Our sessions on Volume I will be every 3 weeks. The next (1st Dec) will be a discussion on 'The Fetishism of Commodities', introduced by former KCL student, Jack Farmer:
Wednesday 1st December
6.30pm
Room tbc
Strand Building
King's College London
'A commodity is therefore a mysterious thing, simply because in it the social character of men’s labour appears to them as an objective character stamped upon the product of that labour; because the relation of the producers to the sum total of their own labour is presented to them as a social relation, existing not between themselves, but between the products of their labour...'
'...This I call the Fetishism which attaches itself to the products of labour, so soon as they are produced as commodities, and which is therefore inseparable from the production of commodities.'
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I, Chapter 1, Section 4 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112044228861591
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2) Vol.II - Next Session: 'Time & Costs of Circulation'
The introduction and discussion from our last meeting on 'Circuits of Capital' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/429870086/KCLReadingCapital_JonnyJones_November_8_2010.mp3.
As the material was quite lengthy we will be doing a further session discussing chapters 1-4 as well as reading and discussing the 'Time & Costs of Circulation':
Monday 22nd November
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
"We have seen that the movement of capital through the sphere of production and the two phases of the sphere of circulation takes place in a series of periods of time. The duration of its sojourn in the sphere of production is its time of production, that of its stay in the sphere of circulation its time of circulation. The total time during which it describes its circuit is therefore equal to the sum of its time of production and its time of circulation."
N.B. We will be re-capping Vol.II, Chapters 1-4, and reading Chapters 5-6 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117738471623262
The Volume I group began last week with a discussion on 'Commodities and Values', (which can be downloaded here: http://rapidshare.com/files/430908198/KCLReadingCapital_RobJacksonVolI_November_10_2010.mp3).
Our sessions on Volume I will be every 3 weeks. The next (1st Dec) will be a discussion on 'The Fetishism of Commodities', introduced by former KCL student, Jack Farmer:
Wednesday 1st December
6.30pm
Room tbc
Strand Building
King's College London
'A commodity is therefore a mysterious thing, simply because in it the social character of men’s labour appears to them as an objective character stamped upon the product of that labour; because the relation of the producers to the sum total of their own labour is presented to them as a social relation, existing not between themselves, but between the products of their labour...'
'...This I call the Fetishism which attaches itself to the products of labour, so soon as they are produced as commodities, and which is therefore inseparable from the production of commodities.'
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I, Chapter 1, Section 4 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112044228861591
- -
2) Vol.II - Next Session: 'Time & Costs of Circulation'
The introduction and discussion from our last meeting on 'Circuits of Capital' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/429870086/KCLReadingCapital_JonnyJones_November_8_2010.mp3.
As the material was quite lengthy we will be doing a further session discussing chapters 1-4 as well as reading and discussing the 'Time & Costs of Circulation':
Monday 22nd November
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
"We have seen that the movement of capital through the sphere of production and the two phases of the sphere of circulation takes place in a series of periods of time. The duration of its sojourn in the sphere of production is its time of production, that of its stay in the sphere of circulation its time of circulation. The total time during which it describes its circuit is therefore equal to the sum of its time of production and its time of circulation."
N.B. We will be re-capping Vol.II, Chapters 1-4, and reading Chapters 5-6 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117738471623262
Tuesday 9 November 2010
Volume I Group begins:
Have you been thinking, 'Well, Volume II sounds very interesting, but I haven't read Volume I yet'? Now is your chance to do something about it. The Capital Volume I reading group begins next week with a discussion on 'Commodities and Values', (assuming London's Universities haven't been shut down by the UCU/NUS demo earlier that day! - http://www.demo2010.org/)
Wednesday 10th November
6.30pm
Room S-1.08
Strand Building
King's College London
'The wealth of those societies in which the capitalist mode of production prevails, presents itself as “an immense accumulation of commodities,” its unit being a single commodity. Our investigation must therefore begin with the analysis of a commodity'
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I, Chapter 1, Sections 1-3 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126093377447424
Wednesday 10th November
6.30pm
Room S-1.08
Strand Building
King's College London
'The wealth of those societies in which the capitalist mode of production prevails, presents itself as “an immense accumulation of commodities,” its unit being a single commodity. Our investigation must therefore begin with the analysis of a commodity'
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I, Chapter 1, Sections 1-3 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126093377447424
Wednesday 27 October 2010
Next Session: 'Circuits of Capital'
1) Vol.II - Next Session: 'Circuits of Capital'
The Reading Group had a very interesting discussion last Monday on Ernest Mandel's Introduction to Volume II, which can be downloaded here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/427153667/KCLReadingCapital_NickBeech_October_25_2010.mp3
For our next session, Jonny Jones, deputy-editor of International Socialism Journal, will be presenting a short introduction on 'Circuits of Capital', followed by a discussion. Room details now below:
Monday 8th November
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
"The two forms assumed by capital-value at the various stages of its circulation are those of money-capital and commodity-capital. The form pertaining to the stage of production is that of productive capital. The capital which assumes these forms in the course of its total circuit and then discards them and in each of them performs the function corresponding to the particular form, is industrial capital, industrial here in the sense it comprises every branch of industry run on a capitalist basis."
"Money-capital, commodity-capital and productive capital, do not therefore designate independent kinds of capital whose functions form the content of likewise independent branches of industry separated from one another. They denote here only special functional forms of industrial capital, which assumes all three of them one after the other."
N.B. We will be reading Chapters 1-4 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119774294751013
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2) Upcoming Events & Information:
a) 'Crisis and Critique': Historical Materialism Annual London Conference 2010:
HM London 2010 aims to serve as a forum for dialogue,
interaction and debate between different strands of critical-Marxist theory.
Central London, Thu 11th-Sun 14th November
Registration and Provisional Programme Now Available online: http://www.historicalmaterialism.org/conferences/annual7
b) London Seminar on Contemporary Marxist Theory:
This seminar will explore the new perspectives that have been opened up Marxist theory. It involves collaboration among Marxist scholars based in several London universities. Guest speakers from both Britain and abroad will include a wide range of thinkers engaging with many different elements of the various Marxist traditions, as well as with diverse problems and topics. The aim of the
seminar is to promote fruitful debate and to contribute to the development of more robust Marxist analysis. It is open to all.
9th November, 5pm King's College London, Strand Campus, S-1.04, Raked Lecture Theatre
Massimiliano Tomba (University of Padua) The Historical Materialist at work: Re-reading 'The Eighteenth Brumaire'
15th December, 5pm King's College London, Strand Campus, K.3.11 Raked Lecture Theatre
Peter D. Thomas (Brunel University) Contours of Contemporary Western Marxism
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos, European Studies, King's:
alex.callinicos@kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis, European Studies, King's:
stathis.kouvelakis@kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas, Economics, SOAS:
cl5@soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas, Politics and History, Brunel:
PeterD.Thomas@brunel.ac.uk
c) Education Activist Network Conference:
The EAN conference is an opportunity for students and education workers to discuss how to defeat the cuts in higher, further and adult education and fight for another vision of education.
Among the highlights will be workshops with strikers and student occupiers and a forum on the resistance in Europe with activists from France and Greece. This is a chance to organise for French-style resistance in Britain. Visit the link below to register online.
Education Activist Network National Conference
Sunday 31st October 11am-5pm
King’s College London & London School of Economics
Supported by NUS, London Region UCU and others
http://educationactivistnetwork.wordpress.com/national-conference-31st-october/
d) International Socialism 128 Out Now:
In this issue...
Palestine and Israel
Jamie Allinson analyses Hamas, the Islamist movement that has emerged as the pivotal force in the Palestinians’ struggle for national liberation.
Crisis and resistance
Panos Garganas in Greece speaks from the front line of the struggle there, Christakis Georgiou looks at the crisis in the eurozone and Jane Hardy surveys the forms taken by the Great Recession in Central and Eastern Europe. Also...
Jairus Banaji, on insurgency in rural India, Neil Davidson on struggles in the global South & Trotsky’s theory of permanent revolution, John Molyneux on Marxism & Michelangelo. Simon Pirani defends his interpretation of the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, Jess Edwards differs with the view of sex work put forward by Gareth Dale and Xanthe Whittaker in our last issue.
To order copies, email isj@swp.org.uk, call 020 7819 1177 or send £5.50 to ISJ, PO Box 42184, London SW8 2WD
www.isj.org.uk
- - -
3) Volume I & Highlights:
More information coming soon on the Volume I discussion group.
The Reading Group had a very interesting discussion last Monday on Ernest Mandel's Introduction to Volume II, which can be downloaded here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/427153667/KCLReadingCapital_NickBeech_October_25_2010.mp3
For our next session, Jonny Jones, deputy-editor of International Socialism Journal, will be presenting a short introduction on 'Circuits of Capital', followed by a discussion. Room details now below:
Monday 8th November
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
"The two forms assumed by capital-value at the various stages of its circulation are those of money-capital and commodity-capital. The form pertaining to the stage of production is that of productive capital. The capital which assumes these forms in the course of its total circuit and then discards them and in each of them performs the function corresponding to the particular form, is industrial capital, industrial here in the sense it comprises every branch of industry run on a capitalist basis."
"Money-capital, commodity-capital and productive capital, do not therefore designate independent kinds of capital whose functions form the content of likewise independent branches of industry separated from one another. They denote here only special functional forms of industrial capital, which assumes all three of them one after the other."
N.B. We will be reading Chapters 1-4 for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119774294751013
- - -
2) Upcoming Events & Information:
a) 'Crisis and Critique': Historical Materialism Annual London Conference 2010:
HM London 2010 aims to serve as a forum for dialogue,
interaction and debate between different strands of critical-Marxist theory.
Central London, Thu 11th-Sun 14th November
Registration and Provisional Programme Now Available online: http://www.historicalmaterialism.org/conferences/annual7
b) London Seminar on Contemporary Marxist Theory:
This seminar will explore the new perspectives that have been opened up Marxist theory. It involves collaboration among Marxist scholars based in several London universities. Guest speakers from both Britain and abroad will include a wide range of thinkers engaging with many different elements of the various Marxist traditions, as well as with diverse problems and topics. The aim of the
seminar is to promote fruitful debate and to contribute to the development of more robust Marxist analysis. It is open to all.
9th November, 5pm King's College London, Strand Campus, S-1.04, Raked Lecture Theatre
Massimiliano Tomba (University of Padua) The Historical Materialist at work: Re-reading 'The Eighteenth Brumaire'
15th December, 5pm King's College London, Strand Campus, K.3.11 Raked Lecture Theatre
Peter D. Thomas (Brunel University) Contours of Contemporary Western Marxism
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos, European Studies, King's:
alex.callinicos@kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis, European Studies, King's:
stathis.kouvelakis@kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas, Economics, SOAS:
cl5@soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas, Politics and History, Brunel:
PeterD.Thomas@brunel.ac.uk
c) Education Activist Network Conference:
The EAN conference is an opportunity for students and education workers to discuss how to defeat the cuts in higher, further and adult education and fight for another vision of education.
Among the highlights will be workshops with strikers and student occupiers and a forum on the resistance in Europe with activists from France and Greece. This is a chance to organise for French-style resistance in Britain. Visit the link below to register online.
Education Activist Network National Conference
Sunday 31st October 11am-5pm
King’s College London & London School of Economics
Supported by NUS, London Region UCU and others
http://educationactivistnetwork.wordpress.com/national-conference-31st-october/
d) International Socialism 128 Out Now:
In this issue...
Palestine and Israel
Jamie Allinson analyses Hamas, the Islamist movement that has emerged as the pivotal force in the Palestinians’ struggle for national liberation.
Crisis and resistance
Panos Garganas in Greece speaks from the front line of the struggle there, Christakis Georgiou looks at the crisis in the eurozone and Jane Hardy surveys the forms taken by the Great Recession in Central and Eastern Europe. Also...
Jairus Banaji, on insurgency in rural India, Neil Davidson on struggles in the global South & Trotsky’s theory of permanent revolution, John Molyneux on Marxism & Michelangelo. Simon Pirani defends his interpretation of the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, Jess Edwards differs with the view of sex work put forward by Gareth Dale and Xanthe Whittaker in our last issue.
To order copies, email isj@swp.org.uk, call 020 7819 1177 or send £5.50 to ISJ, PO Box 42184, London SW8 2WD
www.isj.org.uk
- - -
3) Volume I & Highlights:
More information coming soon on the Volume I discussion group.
Friday 22 October 2010
Nicholas Beech on Mandel's Introduction Vol.II
1) REMINDER: Volume II of Capital:
The Reading Group begins Volume II of Marx's Capital this week with Ernest Mandel's introduction to Volume II. For our first session, Nicholas Beech, a PhD student from UCL, will be presenting a short introduction followed by a discussion. Room details now below:
Monday 25th October
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading the Introduction to Vol.II by Ernest Mandel for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=116271315100098
- - -
2) Volume I Group:
We have now had sufficient numbers interested in reading Volume I of Capital to launch a group. If you have not already contacted us and would like to be involved in discussing when this meets please contact us on the usual email address kclreadingcapital@gmail.com.
The Reading Group begins Volume II of Marx's Capital this week with Ernest Mandel's introduction to Volume II. For our first session, Nicholas Beech, a PhD student from UCL, will be presenting a short introduction followed by a discussion. Room details now below:
Monday 25th October
6pm
Room S-3.18
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading the Introduction to Vol.II by Ernest Mandel for this meeting.
Facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=116271315100098
- - -
2) Volume I Group:
We have now had sufficient numbers interested in reading Volume I of Capital to launch a group. If you have not already contacted us and would like to be involved in discussing when this meets please contact us on the usual email address kclreadingcapital@gmail.com.
Wednesday 13 October 2010
John Weeks recording & Introduction to Volume II
1) John Weeks Recording:
Around 70-80 people came to King's last Monday evening for John Weeks' very interesting talk on 'Capital, Exploitation and Economic Crises'. For those who weren't able to come, there is a recording of the talk here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/424492618/JohnWeeks_11Oct2010.mp3
A copy of John's powerpoint presentation will also be available soon on kclreadingcapital.blogspot.com
- - -
2) Volume II of Capital:
The Reading Group continues this year with Volume II of Marx's Capital. Although, as Engels pointed out, Volume II does not contain 'much material for agitation', in describing the process by which the total social capital is reproduced and circulated, it occupies a crucial place in Marx's analysis of the capitalist mode of production. Volume II, centred around the market-place, explains not how value and surplus-value are produced, but how they are realised.
For our first session, Nicholas Beech, a PhD student from UCL, will be presenting a short introduction followed by a discussion on Ernest Mandel's Introduction to the Penguin edition of Volume II.
Monday 25th October
6pm
Strand Building, Room tbc
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading the Introduction to Vol.II by Ernest Mandel for this meeting.
- - -
3) Reading Marx:
A number of people have expressed an interest in attending one-off sessions around shorter works by Marx, such the Communist Manifesto, the Paris Manuscripts, etc. If you would like to take part in such sessions please contact us on usual email addresskclreadingcapital@gmail.com.
Also if you would like to be put in touch with others interested in reading Volume I of Capital likewise please email.
- - -
Regards,
KCL Reading Capital
Around 70-80 people came to King's last Monday evening for John Weeks' very interesting talk on 'Capital, Exploitation and Economic Crises'. For those who weren't able to come, there is a recording of the talk here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/424492618/JohnWeeks_11Oct2010.mp3
A copy of John's powerpoint presentation will also be available soon on kclreadingcapital.blogspot.com
- - -
2) Volume II of Capital:
The Reading Group continues this year with Volume II of Marx's Capital. Although, as Engels pointed out, Volume II does not contain 'much material for agitation', in describing the process by which the total social capital is reproduced and circulated, it occupies a crucial place in Marx's analysis of the capitalist mode of production. Volume II, centred around the market-place, explains not how value and surplus-value are produced, but how they are realised.
For our first session, Nicholas Beech, a PhD student from UCL, will be presenting a short introduction followed by a discussion on Ernest Mandel's Introduction to the Penguin edition of Volume II.
Monday 25th October
6pm
Strand Building, Room tbc
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading the Introduction to Vol.II by Ernest Mandel for this meeting.
- - -
3) Reading Marx:
A number of people have expressed an interest in attending one-off sessions around shorter works by Marx, such the Communist Manifesto, the Paris Manuscripts, etc. If you would like to take part in such sessions please contact us on usual email addresskclreadingcapital@gmail.com.
Also if you would like to be put in touch with others interested in reading Volume I of Capital likewise please email.
- - -
Regards,
KCL Reading Capital
Thursday 7 October 2010
Monday 27 September 2010
Welcome back, John Weeks & more...
1) Welcome:
http://kclreadingcapital.posterous.com/
The details are:
2) John Weeks Meeting:
'Capital, Exploitation & Economic Crises'
6.30pm
Room K4U.12,
Thursday 8 July 2010
Break over the summer:
Due to a variety of commitments, the Reading Group will now be having a break over the summer. Thanks to everyone who participated and spoke over the year in the discussion groups, and to the hundreds who attended our meetings on the 'Enigma of Capital' with David Harvey, and the 'Future of Capitalism' debate between Alex Callinicos and Martin Wolf. The group was even given props recently in the Guardian.
The break does of course mean that we will be finishing the final chapters of Volume I without meeting up, however if you have any questions or points to raise and/or would like to be included in a circular email discussion, please reply to kclreadingcapital@gmail.com.
Furthermore the Reading Group intends to return in the autumn reading Volume II of Capital, and with some special events and guest-speakers in the pipeline. Please get in touch if you are particularly interested in the former, or if you know others who might be interested in joining us.
- - -
A few links:
Here are a few links you might enjoy over the break:
http://www.resistancemp3.org.uk/
mp3 files of many meetings on Marxist economics can be found here.
http://marxists.org/subject/economy/index.htm
Collection of writings by Political Economists from 1651 to 1936, the works of Marx and beyond...
http://www.isj.org.uk/
The latest edition of the International Socialism Journal including a very important article on Marxism and feminism today by Judith Orr, the permanent arms economy and more...
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
The break does of course mean that we will be finishing the final chapters of Volume I without meeting up, however if you have any questions or points to raise and/or would like to be included in a circular email discussion, please reply to kclreadingcapital@gmail.com.
Furthermore the Reading Group intends to return in the autumn reading Volume II of Capital, and with some special events and guest-speakers in the pipeline. Please get in touch if you are particularly interested in the former, or if you know others who might be interested in joining us.
- - -
A few links:
Here are a few links you might enjoy over the break:
http://www.resistancemp3.org.
mp3 files of many meetings on Marxist economics can be found here.
http://marxists.org/subject/
Collection of writings by Political Economists from 1651 to 1936, the works of Marx and beyond...
http://www.isj.org.uk/
The latest edition of the International Socialism Journal including a very important article on Marxism and feminism today by Judith Orr, the permanent arms economy and more...
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Tuesday 29 June 2010
RE-SCHEDULED: 'The Production of Absolute and of Relative Surplus-Value':
A quick reminder of the next session (TUES) (re-scheduled and now at Strand campus)...
‘The Production of Absolute and of Relative Surplus-Value'.
Tuesday June 29th
6pm
Room S-1.29 Strand Campus KCL
"From one standpoint, any distinction between absolute and relative surplus-value appears illusory. Relative surplus-value is absolute, since it compels the absolute prolongation of the working-day beyond the labour-time necessary to the existence of the labourer himself. Absolute surplus-value is relative, since it makes necessary such a development of the productiveness of labour, as will allow of the necessary labour-time being confined to a portion of the working-day. But if we keep in mind the behaviour of surplus-value, this appearance of identity vanishes. Once the capitalist mode of production is established and become general, the difference between absolute and relative surplus-value makes itself felt, whenever there is a question of raising the rate of surplus-value."
N.B. We will be reading Part V (chapters 16-18) for this session.
Joseph Choonara, former deputy-editor of International Socialism Journal, will introduce a discussion on:
‘The Production of Absolute and of Relative Surplus-Value'.
Tuesday June 29th
6pm
Room S-1.29 Strand Campus KCL
"From one standpoint, any distinction between absolute and relative surplus-value appears illusory. Relative surplus-value is absolute, since it compels the absolute prolongation of the working-day beyond the labour-time necessary to the existence of the labourer himself. Absolute surplus-value is relative, since it makes necessary such a development of the productiveness of labour, as will allow of the necessary labour-time being confined to a portion of the working-day. But if we keep in mind the behaviour of surplus-value, this appearance of identity vanishes. Once the capitalist mode of production is established and become general, the difference between absolute and relative surplus-value makes itself felt, whenever there is a question of raising the rate of surplus-value."
N.B. We will be reading Part V (chapters 16-18) for this session.
Thursday 20 May 2010
Next Session: 'The Production of Absolute and of Relative Surplus-Value':
Joseph Choonara, former deputy-editor of International Socialism Journal, will introduce a discussion on:
‘The Production of Absolute and of Relative Surplus-Value'.
Tuesday May 25th
6pm
F-WB 2.80 Waterloo Campus KCL
"From one standpoint, any distinction between absolute and relative surplus-value appears illusory. Relative surplus-value is absolute, since it compels the absolute prolongation of the working-day beyond the labour-time necessary to the existence of the labourer himself. Absolute surplus-value is relative, since it makes necessary such a development of the productiveness of labour, as will allow of the necessary labour-time being confined to a portion of the working-day. But if we keep in mind the behaviour of surplus-value, this appearance of identity vanishes. Once the capitalist mode of production is established and become general, the difference between absolute and relative surplus-value makes itself felt, whenever there is a question of raising the rate of surplus-value."
N.B. We will be reading Part V (chapters 16-18) for this session.
Monday 3 May 2010
'Machinery and Modern Industry'
Nicholas Beech, a PhD student from University College London, and Ken Kobayashi of the Reading Capital group will introduce a discussion on:
‘Machinery and Modern Industry'.
Tuesday May 11th
6pm
F-WB 2.80 Waterloo Campus KCL
"John Stuart Mill says in his “Principles of Political Economy":
“It is questionable if all the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day’s toil of any human being.”
That is, however, by no means the aim of the capitalistic application of machinery. Like every other increase in the productiveness of labour, machinery is intended to cheapen commodities, and, by shortening that portion of the working-day, in which the labourer works for himself, to lengthen the other portion that he gives, without an equivalent, to the capitalist. In short, it is a means for producing surplus-value.
In manufacture, the revolution in the mode of production begins with the labour-power, in modern industry it begins with the instruments of labour. Our first inquiry then is, how the instruments of labour are converted from tools into machines, or what is the difference between a machine and the implements of a handicraft? We are only concerned here with striking and general characteristics; for epochs in the history of society are no more separated from each other by hard and fast lines of demarcation, than are geological epochs."N.B. We will be reading chapter 15 for this session.
Facebook event at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114369608599776&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/event.
Saturday 1 May 2010
David Harvey - The Enigma of Capital - King's College London 27 April 2010
David Harvey - The Enigma of Capital - Kings College from swpUkTv on Vimeo.
Between two and three hundred people came to King's College London last Tuesday 27 April to hear Marxist geographer David Harvey speak on 'The Enigma of Capital' and the crisis of capitalism. The meeting was jointly hosted by the King's Reading Capital Society and the Centre for European Studies.Wednesday 14 April 2010
DAVID HARVEY AT KING'S COLLEGE - TUES 27 APRIL
The Centre for European Studies & KCL Reading Capital present...
The Enigma of Capital
A talk by the world's most cited academic geographer
DAVID HARVEY
Author of 'A Companion to Marx's Capital'
Tuesday 27 April. 6.30pm. Free.
Great Hall, Strand, King's College London
Please arrive early to avoid disappointment (Doors open 6pm).
For more info contact kclreadingcapital@gmail.com
With grateful thanks to
Bookmarks Bookshop
Facebook event at:
- - -
David Harvey is a Distinguished Professor at the City University of New York (CUNY), and author of numerous books including 'The Limits to Capital', and 'A Brief History of Neo-liberalism'. His most recent works are 'The Enigma of Capital' and 'A Companion to Marx's Capital', which aims to get "you to read a book by Karl Marx called Capital, Volume 1, and to read it on Marx’s own terms…”. The latter book is based on his hugely popular on-line lectures at www.davidharvey.org. They have been viewed over 700,000 times in 187 countries since June 2008.
David has been teaching Karl Marx's Capital for nearly 40 years. His work has contributed greatly to a resurgent interest in Marx's critique of global capitalism. He continues to bring his insights to these new debates about the economic crisis, social class and the continuing relevance of the methodological tools passed on to us by Marx. Join this discussion on TUESDAY 27 April in the Great Hall, Strand, King's College London.
Wednesday 17 March 2010
‘The Division of Labour and Manufacture'
Nicholas Beech, a PhD student from University College London, will introduce a discussion on:
‘The Division of Labour and Manufacture'
Tuesday April 13th (NOTE New date! - Giving everyone extra time to read this section)
6pm
F-WB 2.80
Waterloo Campus KCL
"That co-operation which is based on division of labour, assumes its typical form in manufacture, and is the prevalent characteristic form of the capitalist process of production throughout the manufacturing period properly so called. That period, roughly speaking, extends from the middle of the 16th to the last third of the 18th century."
"The organisation of manufacture has two fundamental forms which, in spite of occasional blending, are essentially different in kind, and, moreover, play very distinct parts in the subsequent transformation of manufacture into modern industry carried on by machinery. This double character arises from the nature of the article produced. This article either results from the mere mechanical fitting together of partial products made independently, or owes its completed shape to a series of connected processes and manipulations."
"An increased number of labourers under the control of one capitalist is the natural starting-point, as well of co-operation generally, as of manufacture in particular. But the division of labour in manufacture makes this increase in the number of workmen a technical necessity."
"The knowledge, the judgement, and the will, which, though in ever so small a degree, are practised by the independent peasant or handicraftsman, in the same way as the savage makes the whole art of war consist in the exercise of his personal cunning these faculties are now required only for the workshop as a whole. Intelligence in production expands in one direction, because it vanishes in many others. What is lost by the detail labourers, is concentrated in the capital that employs them."
N.B. We will be reading chapters 14 for this session.
Facebook event at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49539959005&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=375361080676&ref=mf
‘The Division of Labour and Manufacture'
Tuesday April 13th (NOTE New date! - Giving everyone extra time to read this section)
6pm
F-WB 2.80
Waterloo Campus KCL
"That co-operation which is based on division of labour, assumes its typical form in manufacture, and is the prevalent characteristic form of the capitalist process of production throughout the manufacturing period properly so called. That period, roughly speaking, extends from the middle of the 16th to the last third of the 18th century."
"The organisation of manufacture has two fundamental forms which, in spite of occasional blending, are essentially different in kind, and, moreover, play very distinct parts in the subsequent transformation of manufacture into modern industry carried on by machinery. This double character arises from the nature of the article produced. This article either results from the mere mechanical fitting together of partial products made independently, or owes its completed shape to a series of connected processes and manipulations."
"An increased number of labourers under the control of one capitalist is the natural starting-point, as well of co-operation generally, as of manufacture in particular. But the division of labour in manufacture makes this increase in the number of workmen a technical necessity."
"The knowledge, the judgement, and the will, which, though in ever so small a degree, are practised by the independent peasant or handicraftsman, in the same way as the savage makes the whole art of war consist in the exercise of his personal cunning these faculties are now required only for the workshop as a whole. Intelligence in production expands in one direction, because it vanishes in many others. What is lost by the detail labourers, is concentrated in the capital that employs them."
N.B. We will be reading chapters 14 for this session.
Facebook event at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49539959005&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=375361080676&ref=mf
Wednesday 3 March 2010
Surplus-Value, Relative Surplus-Value & Co-operation
Lorenzo Fusaro, Jonny Jones (deputy-editor of International Socialism Journal), and John Cooper of the Reading Capital group will introduce a discussion on chapters 11, 12 and 13 respectively:
‘Surplus-Value, Relative Surplus-Value & Co-operation’.
Tuesday March 9th
6pm
F-WB 2.80 Waterloo Campus KCL
"At first, capital subordinates labour on the basis of the technical conditions in which it historically finds it. It does not, therefore, change immediately the mode of production. The production of surplus-value — in the form hitherto considered by us — by means of simple extension of the working day, proved, therefore, to be independent of any change in the mode of production itself. It was not less active in the oldfashioned bakeries than in the modern cotton factories."
"The object of all development of the productiveness of labour, within the limits of capitalist production, is to shorten that part of the working-day, during which the workman must labour for his own benefit, and by that very shortening, to lengthen the other part of the day, during which he is at liberty to work gratis for the capitalist."
"...the sum total of the mechanical forces exerted by isolated workmen differs from the social force that is developed, when many hands take part simultaneously in one and the same undivided operation... Not only have we here an increase in the productive power of the individual, by means of co-operation, but the creation of a new power, namely, the collective power of masses."
"Just as the social productive power of labour that is developed by co-operation, appears to be the productive power of capital, so co-operation itself, contrasted with the process of production carried on by isolated independent labourers, or even by small employers, appears to be a specific form of the capitalist process of production."
N.B. We will be reading chapters 11, 12 and 13 for this session.
‘Surplus-Value, Relative Surplus-Value & Co-operation’.
Tuesday March 9th
6pm
F-WB 2.80 Waterloo Campus KCL
"At first, capital subordinates labour on the basis of the technical conditions in which it historically finds it. It does not, therefore, change immediately the mode of production. The production of surplus-value — in the form hitherto considered by us — by means of simple extension of the working day, proved, therefore, to be independent of any change in the mode of production itself. It was not less active in the oldfashioned bakeries than in the modern cotton factories."
"The object of all development of the productiveness of labour, within the limits of capitalist production, is to shorten that part of the working-day, during which the workman must labour for his own benefit, and by that very shortening, to lengthen the other part of the day, during which he is at liberty to work gratis for the capitalist."
"...the sum total of the mechanical forces exerted by isolated workmen differs from the social force that is developed, when many hands take part simultaneously in one and the same undivided operation... Not only have we here an increase in the productive power of the individual, by means of co-operation, but the creation of a new power, namely, the collective power of masses."
"Just as the social productive power of labour that is developed by co-operation, appears to be the productive power of capital, so co-operation itself, contrasted with the process of production carried on by isolated independent labourers, or even by small employers, appears to be a specific form of the capitalist process of production."
N.B. We will be reading chapters 11, 12 and 13 for this session.
Tuesday 16 February 2010
The Working Day
Tony Phillips will introduce a discussion on
‘The Working Day’.
Tuesday 23rd February
6pm
Room 2.80 F-WB
Waterloo Campus, KCL
“Capital is dead labour, that, vampire-like, only lives by sucking living labour, and lives the more, the more labour it sucks.”
“…in the history of capitalist production, the determination of what is a working-day, presents itself as the result of a struggle, a struggle between collective capital, i.e., the class of capitalists, and collective labour, i.e., the working-class”
N.B. We will be reading chapters 10 in preparation for this discussion.
‘The Working Day’.
Tuesday 23rd February
6pm
Room 2.80 F-WB
Waterloo Campus, KCL
“Capital is dead labour, that, vampire-like, only lives by sucking living labour, and lives the more, the more labour it sucks.”
“…in the history of capitalist production, the determination of what is a working-day, presents itself as the result of a struggle, a struggle between collective capital, i.e., the class of capitalists, and collective labour, i.e., the working-class”
N.B. We will be reading chapters 10 in preparation for this discussion.
Monday 8 February 2010
Apologies
Apologies to those looking to download the seminar on Climate Change. The seminar was unfortunately posted by the group against the wishes of Jonathan Neale and Gareth Dale. Jonathan's contribution was a work in progress for a piece he is writing for the International Socialism Journal and he would rather people read this upcoming work as his contribution than refer to the seminar. Respecting these wishes we have taken the recording down from the blog.
KCL Reading Capital
- - -
Jonathan and Gareth's previous works are available at:
KCL Reading Capital
- - -
Jonathan and Gareth's previous works are available at:
Gareth's article from International Socialism 116, available online: http://www.isj.org.uk/?id=369
Jonathan's recent articles on Copenhagen (http://www.swp.org.uk/23/12/2009/copenhagen-betrayal-jonathan-neale and http://www.swp.org.uk/23/12/2009/copenhagen-new-movement-jonathan-neale )
Jonathan's book is available from Bookmarks for the reduced price of £10: http://www.bookmarksbookshop.co.uk/cgi/store/bookmark.cgi?review=new&isbn=9781905192373&cart_id=9137614.28572
Monday 1 February 2010
Valorization and the Labour Process
Jonny Jones, deputy-editor of International Socialism Journal, and Adam Fabry of the Reading Capital group will introduce a discussion on
‘Valorization and the Labour Process: Surplus Value, Constant Capital & Variable Capital’.
Tuesday February 9th
6pm
F-WB 2.80 Waterloo Campus KCL
"A spider conducts operations that resemble those of a weaver, and a bee puts to shame many an architect in the construction of her cells. But what distinguishes the worst architect from the best of bees is this, that the architect raises his structure in imagination before he erects it in reality. At the end of every labour-process, we get a result that already existed in the imagination of the labourer at its commencement."
"That part of capital then, which is represented by the means of production, by the raw material, auxiliary material and the instruments of labour does not, in the process of production, undergo any quantitative alteration of value. I therefore call it the constant part of capital, or, more shortly, constant capital.
‘Valorization and the Labour Process: Surplus Value, Constant Capital & Variable Capital’.
Tuesday February 9th
6pm
F-WB 2.80 Waterloo Campus KCL
"A spider conducts operations that resemble those of a weaver, and a bee puts to shame many an architect in the construction of her cells. But what distinguishes the worst architect from the best of bees is this, that the architect raises his structure in imagination before he erects it in reality. At the end of every labour-process, we get a result that already existed in the imagination of the labourer at its commencement."
"That part of capital then, which is represented by the means of production, by the raw material, auxiliary material and the instruments of labour does not, in the process of production, undergo any quantitative alteration of value. I therefore call it the constant part of capital, or, more shortly, constant capital.
On the other hand, that part of capital, represented by labour-power, does, in the process of production, undergo an alteration of value. It both reproduces the equivalent of its own value, and also produces an excess, a surplus-value, which may itself vary, may be more or less according to circumstances. This part of capital is continually being transformed from a constant into a variable magnitude. I therefore call it the variable part of capital, or, shortly, variable capital. The same elements of capital which, from the point of view of the labour-process, present themselves respectively as the objective and subjective factors, as means of production and labour-power, present themselves, from the point of view of the process of creating surplus-value, as constant and variable capital."
N.B. We will be reading Chapters 7-9 in preparation for this discussion.
Monday 11 January 2010
Capitalism, Class and Climate Change
Welcome back - Reading Capital continues this semester with a special event organised by the Internation Socialism Journal and supported by KCL Reading Capital:
Jonathan Neale, author of Stop Global Warming: Change the World and secretary of the Campaign against Climate Change (pc)
Gareth Dale and Jonathan Neale on 'Capitalism, Class and Climate Change'
Gareth Dale, author of "Corporations and climate change" and several books on East Germany
Jonathan Neale, author of Stop Global Warming: Change the World and secretary of the Campaign against Climate Change (pc)
In the wake of the fiasco at Copenhagen, Gareth and Jonathan will be presenting an in-depth discussion of climate change, ranging from the science behind it through to the role of the working class in preventing it. This seminar will be of real benefit to all those concerned about climate change, whether new to the subject or a longstanding campaigner.
7pm, Monday 25 January, Kings College Waterloo Campus
(F-WB Classroom 2.40, 2nd floor of the Franlkin-Wilkins building)
Map: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/campuses/waterloo.html
Map: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/campuses/waterloo.html
As background for the discussion, you may want to read:
Gareth's article from International Socialism 116, available online: http://www.isj.org.uk/?id=369
Jonathan's recent articles on Copenhagen (http://www.swp.org.uk/23/12/2009/copenhagen-betrayal-jonathan-neale and http://www.swp.org.uk/23/12/2009/copenhagen-new-movement-jonathan-neale)
Jonathan's book is available from Bookmarks for the reduced price of £10: http://www.bookmarksbookshop.co.uk/cgi/store/bookmark.cgi?review=new&isbn=9781905192373&cart_id=9137614.28572
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