Friday, 20 July 2012
David Harvey's Volume II
David Harvey's Volume II Video Lectures are available online if you haven't already checked them out...
http://davidharvey.org/2012/01/reading-marxs-capital-vol-2-class-01/
Monday, 9 May 2011
'Machinery and Modern Industry'
1) Volume I Group: 'Machinery and Modern Industry'
The previous Volume I reading session introduced by Dan Swain on 'Relative Surplus-value, Co-operation, the Division of Labour & Manufacture' is available here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/455178841/KCLReadingCapital_28_Mar_2011.mp3
Our next session will be on Chapter 15: 'Machinery and Modern Industry'. The discussion will be introduced by Tony Phillips - All welcome!
Wednesday 11th May
6:30pm
Room C16, German Dept.
Strand Campus
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapter 15 for this session.
"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?"
"The machine, which is the starting-point of the industrial revolution, supersedes the workman, who handles a single tool, by a mechanism operating with a number of similar tools, and set in motion by a single motive power, whatever the form of that power may be. Here we have the machine, but only as an elementary factor of production by machinery."
"An organised system of machines, to which motion is communicated by the transmitting mechanism from a central automaton, is the most developed form of production by machinery. Here we have, in the place of the isolated machine, a mechanical monster whose body fills whole factories, and whose demon power, at first veiled under the slow and measured motions of his giant limbs, at length breaks out into the fast and furious whirl of his countless working organs."
- - -
2) Upcoming events:
Marxism Festival PROGRAMME NOW AVAILABLE:
Marxism 2011 Festival, Central London, 30 June to 4 July
The full timetable for this year’s Marxism is now online.
Check it out at http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/2011/timetable%20grid.pdf
With over 200 workshops, panels, film showings and rallies Marxism is by far the biggest event of its kind in Britain, and one of the biggest in the world. Forward this timetable to friends, contacts and colleagues to give them a sense of what a great event Marxism is.
For more updates and information follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/marxismfest and
Twitter: www.twitter.com/marxismfestival
Over 2,000 people have already booked for Marxism. Have you? Go to www.marxismfestival.org.uk to book now.
The previous Volume I reading session introduced by Dan Swain on 'Relative Surplus-value, Co-operation, the Division of Labour & Manufacture' is available here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/455178841/KCLReadingCapital_28_Mar_2011.mp3
Our next session will be on Chapter 15: 'Machinery and Modern Industry'. The discussion will be introduced by Tony Phillips - All welcome!
Wednesday 11th May
6:30pm
Room C16, German Dept.
Strand Campus
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapter 15 for this session.
"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?"
"The machine, which is the starting-point of the industrial revolution, supersedes the workman, who handles a single tool, by a mechanism operating with a number of similar tools, and set in motion by a single motive power, whatever the form of that power may be. Here we have the machine, but only as an elementary factor of production by machinery."
"An organised system of machines, to which motion is communicated by the transmitting mechanism from a central automaton, is the most developed form of production by machinery. Here we have, in the place of the isolated machine, a mechanical monster whose body fills whole factories, and whose demon power, at first veiled under the slow and measured motions of his giant limbs, at length breaks out into the fast and furious whirl of his countless working organs."
- - -
2) Upcoming events:
Marxism Festival PROGRAMME NOW AVAILABLE:
Marxism 2011 Festival, Central London, 30 June to 4 July
The full timetable for this year’s Marxism is now online.
Check it out at http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/2011/timetable%20grid.pdf
With over 200 workshops, panels, film showings and rallies Marxism is by far the biggest event of its kind in Britain, and one of the biggest in the world. Forward this timetable to friends, contacts and colleagues to give them a sense of what a great event Marxism is.
For more updates and information follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/marxismfest and
Twitter: www.twitter.com/marxismfestival
Over 2,000 people have already booked for Marxism. Have you? Go to www.marxismfestival.org.uk to book now.
Friday, 11 March 2011
'The Working Day' & Upcoming Events
1) Volume I Group: 'The Working Day'
The previous Volume I reading session introduced by Tony Phillips on 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/450488365/KCLReadingCapital_23_Feb_2011.mp3.
Our next session will be on "The Working Day": the chapter in which Marx analyses the class struggle over the length of the working day and the process that gave rise to the factory acts.
The discussion will be intoduced by Simon Behrman (author of Shostakovich: Socialism, Stalin and Symphonies) - All welcome!
Monday 14th March
6:30pm
Room S2.31
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapter 10 for this session.
"The capitalist has his own views of this ultima Thule [the outermost limit], the necessary limit of the working-day. As capitalist, he is only capital personified. His soul is the soul of capital. But capital has one single life impulse, the tendency to create value and surplus-value, to make its constant factor, the means of production, absorb the greatest possible amount of surplus-labour."
"Capital is dead labour, that, vampire-like, only lives by sucking living labour, and lives the more, the more labour it sucks. The time during which the labourer works, is the time during which the capitalist consumes the labour-power he has purchased of him."
"We see then, that, apart from extremely elastic bounds, the nature of the exchange of commodities itself imposes no limit to the working-day, no limit to surplus-labour. The capitalist maintains his rights as a purchaser when he tries to make the working-day as long as possible, and to make, whenever possible, two working-days out of one. On the other hand, the peculiar nature of the commodity sold implies a limit to its consumption by the purchaser, and the labourer maintains his right as seller when he wishes to reduce the working-day to one of definite normal duration. There is here, therefore, an antinomy, right against right, both equally bearing the seal of the law of exchanges. Between equal rights force decides. Hence is it that 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."
- - -
2) Volume II Group:
The Volume II group is moving on to read Part III on 'The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital'. We will not be holding fortnightly meetings for the time being, but hope to return with a special event later in the year.
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- REVOLUTION IN THE 21st CENTURY
A special event on the Arab revolts with Gigi Ibrahim, Wassim Wagdy, Alex Callinicos, Peyman Jafari, Judith Orr & Mohamed Tonsi
http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/2011/rev21info.html
Sunday 13 March
11am – 4pm
The Camden Centre, Judd Street, London WC1H 9LZ
Nearest tubes: King’s Cross & Euston
£10 waged / £5 unwaged
Hosted by the Socialist Workers Party in association with Marxism 2011
Plenary sessions:
· Eyewitnesses to the revolutions
· Revolution in the 21st Century
Workshops:
· Imperialism and the Arab states
· Permanent revolution
· Prospects for Iran
· Palestine and the Arab revolts
Gigi Ibrahim – Egyptian activist. She was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on the BBC’s Newsnight, leading to the memorably exchange: Paxman: “Do you have an ideology?” Gigi: “Of course. I'm a revolutionary socialist.” Watch the interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ptu7rnk2IQ
Mohamed Tonsi – Eyewitness to both the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.
Wassim Wagdy – Egyptian activist. Wassim’s speeches on the Egyptian revolution have been widely circulated online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hBV0ApIh_4
Alex Callinicos – Professor of European Studies at Kings College London & editor of International Socialism www.isj.org.uk Alex is the author of several books, including Imperialism and Global Political Economy, Bonfire of Illusions: The Twin Crises of the Liberal World, An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto and Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx.
Judith Orr – Editor of Socialist Worker www.socialistworker.co.uk who wrote eyewitness reports on the revolution from Tahrir Square. Judith is also the author of Sexism and the System: A Rebel’s Guide to Women’s Liberation.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
- Education Activist Network: TEACH-IN FOR THE RESISTANCE
Wednesday 16 March 4-8pm
KCL & LSE
After the increase in tuition fees and abolition of EMA, a mass demonstration on 26 March could reinvigorate the fight for education – as could a lecturers’ strike, and protests and student action on Budget Day. But our movement also faces new challenges.
Universities have accepted blood money from dictators and invested heavily in the arms trade - and a student occupation has forced the LSE to use the money it accepted from Saif Gaddafi into a scholarship fund for Libyan students http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/mar/01/lse-libya-scholarship-fund. Multiculturalism is under attack by those who would divide and undermine our movement, and students have been the target of horse charges, dawn raids, pepper spray and kettling for daring to protest for education.
Join students, education workers, academics, journalists and campaigners to debate the challenges facing our movement and the strategies to overcome them.
4pm The fight for Education – Learning from Wisconsin– LSE
Live video link-up with student and teacher from Wisconsin. Doors open 3:30pm
5pm Workshops – KCL
- Defending the Right to Protest
Hosted by Stop Kettling Our Kids and Defend the Right to Protest – includes Alfie Meadows and a speaker from Liberty
- The role of social media in the movement
Panel debate with Laurie Penny (journalist), Richard Seymour (blogger) and Aaron Peters (UK Uncut)
- Defending Multiculturalism
Don’t let David Cameron divide us! With Liz Fekete, Institute for Race Relations and Martin Smith, Love Music Hate Racism
- Building Universities of International Solidarity
With speakers from the LSE occupation in solidarity with Libya and the campaign for BDS in support of Palestine.
6:30pm Rally – KCL Lucas Theatre
- March 26th – Building for our Day of Anger
With Fightback author Guy Aitchinson, Egyptian revolution eyewitness Wassim Wagdy, activists from UCU and the Villiers School student strike and Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary.
Download a poster and leaflet for the event that you can print, copy and distribute – and don’t forget to join the event on Facebook.
http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/march-16-poster.pdf
http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/march-16-leaflet.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129712310434156
The previous Volume I reading session introduced by Tony Phillips on 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/450488365/KCLReadingCapital_23_Feb_2011.mp3.
Our next session will be on "The Working Day": the chapter in which Marx analyses the class struggle over the length of the working day and the process that gave rise to the factory acts.
The discussion will be intoduced by Simon Behrman (author of Shostakovich: Socialism, Stalin and Symphonies) - All welcome!
Monday 14th March
6:30pm
Room S2.31
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapter 10 for this session.
"The capitalist has his own views of this ultima Thule [the outermost limit], the necessary limit of the working-day. As capitalist, he is only capital personified. His soul is the soul of capital. But capital has one single life impulse, the tendency to create value and surplus-value, to make its constant factor, the means of production, absorb the greatest possible amount of surplus-labour."
"Capital is dead labour, that, vampire-like, only lives by sucking living labour, and lives the more, the more labour it sucks. The time during which the labourer works, is the time during which the capitalist consumes the labour-power he has purchased of him."
"We see then, that, apart from extremely elastic bounds, the nature of the exchange of commodities itself imposes no limit to the working-day, no limit to surplus-labour. The capitalist maintains his rights as a purchaser when he tries to make the working-day as long as possible, and to make, whenever possible, two working-days out of one. On the other hand, the peculiar nature of the commodity sold implies a limit to its consumption by the purchaser, and the labourer maintains his right as seller when he wishes to reduce the working-day to one of definite normal duration. There is here, therefore, an antinomy, right against right, both equally bearing the seal of the law of exchanges. Between equal rights force decides. Hence is it that 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."
- - -
2) Volume II Group:
The Volume II group is moving on to read Part III on 'The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital'. We will not be holding fortnightly meetings for the time being, but hope to return with a special event later in the year.
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- REVOLUTION IN THE 21st CENTURY
A special event on the Arab revolts with Gigi Ibrahim, Wassim Wagdy, Alex Callinicos, Peyman Jafari, Judith Orr & Mohamed Tonsi
http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/2011/rev21info.html
Sunday 13 March
11am – 4pm
The Camden Centre, Judd Street, London WC1H 9LZ
Nearest tubes: King’s Cross & Euston
£10 waged / £5 unwaged
Hosted by the Socialist Workers Party in association with Marxism 2011
Plenary sessions:
· Eyewitnesses to the revolutions
· Revolution in the 21st Century
Workshops:
· Imperialism and the Arab states
· Permanent revolution
· Prospects for Iran
· Palestine and the Arab revolts
Gigi Ibrahim – Egyptian activist. She was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on the BBC’s Newsnight, leading to the memorably exchange: Paxman: “Do you have an ideology?” Gigi: “Of course. I'm a revolutionary socialist.” Watch the interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ptu7rnk2IQ
Mohamed Tonsi – Eyewitness to both the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.
Wassim Wagdy – Egyptian activist. Wassim’s speeches on the Egyptian revolution have been widely circulated online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hBV0ApIh_4
Alex Callinicos – Professor of European Studies at Kings College London & editor of International Socialism www.isj.org.uk Alex is the author of several books, including Imperialism and Global Political Economy, Bonfire of Illusions: The Twin Crises of the Liberal World, An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto and Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx.
Judith Orr – Editor of Socialist Worker www.socialistworker.co.uk who wrote eyewitness reports on the revolution from Tahrir Square. Judith is also the author of Sexism and the System: A Rebel’s Guide to Women’s Liberation.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
- Education Activist Network: TEACH-IN FOR THE RESISTANCE
Wednesday 16 March 4-8pm
KCL & LSE
After the increase in tuition fees and abolition of EMA, a mass demonstration on 26 March could reinvigorate the fight for education – as could a lecturers’ strike, and protests and student action on Budget Day. But our movement also faces new challenges.
Universities have accepted blood money from dictators and invested heavily in the arms trade - and a student occupation has forced the LSE to use the money it accepted from Saif Gaddafi into a scholarship fund for Libyan students http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/mar/01/lse-libya-scholarship-fund. Multiculturalism is under attack by those who would divide and undermine our movement, and students have been the target of horse charges, dawn raids, pepper spray and kettling for daring to protest for education.
Join students, education workers, academics, journalists and campaigners to debate the challenges facing our movement and the strategies to overcome them.
4pm The fight for Education – Learning from Wisconsin– LSE
Live video link-up with student and teacher from Wisconsin. Doors open 3:30pm
5pm Workshops – KCL
- Defending the Right to Protest
Hosted by Stop Kettling Our Kids and Defend the Right to Protest – includes Alfie Meadows and a speaker from Liberty
- The role of social media in the movement
Panel debate with Laurie Penny (journalist), Richard Seymour (blogger) and Aaron Peters (UK Uncut)
- Defending Multiculturalism
Don’t let David Cameron divide us! With Liz Fekete, Institute for Race Relations and Martin Smith, Love Music Hate Racism
- Building Universities of International Solidarity
With speakers from the LSE occupation in solidarity with Libya and the campaign for BDS in support of Palestine.
6:30pm Rally – KCL Lucas Theatre
- March 26th – Building for our Day of Anger
With Fightback author Guy Aitchinson, Egyptian revolution eyewitness Wassim Wagdy, activists from UCU and the Villiers School student strike and Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary.
Download a poster and leaflet for the event that you can print, copy and distribute – and don’t forget to join the event on Facebook.
http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/march-16-poster.pdf
http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/march-16-leaflet.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129712310434156
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Egypt/Tunisia Meeting & Next Volume I group
1) Volume I Group: 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital'
Last week's Volume I reading session introduced by Ruth Lorimer on 'The Transformation of Money into Capital' is available at:
http://rapidshare.com/files/447362601/KCLReadingCapital_09_Feb_2011.mp3
Next week we have Tony Phillips intoducing a discussion on 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital' - All welcome!
Wednesday 23rd February
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 7-9 for this session.
"The labour-process, resolved as above into its simple elementary factors, is human action with a view to the production of use-values, appropriation of natural substances to human requirements; it is the necessary condition for effecting exchange of matter between man and Nature; it is the everlasting Nature-imposed condition of human existence, and therefore is independent of every social phase of that existence, or rather, is common to every such phase."
"The labour-process, turned into the process by which the capitalist consumes labour-power, exhibits two characteristic phenomena. First, the labourer works under the control of the capitalist to whom his labour belongs...Secondly, the product is the property of the capitalist and not that of the labourer, its immediate producer."
"It must be borne in mind, that we are now dealing with the production of commodities, and that, up to this point, we have only considered one aspect of the process. Just as commodities are, at the same time, use-values and values, so the process of producing them must be a labour-process, and at the same time, a process of creating value."
"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."
- - -
2) Volume II Group:
Our previous session discussing Vol.II chapter 17: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value' will be available on the blog soon.
The Volume II group is moving on to read Part III on 'The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital'. We will not be holding fortnightly meetings for the time being, but hope to return with a special event later in the year.
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- Egypt, Tunisia and Revolution in the 21st Century
International Socialism seminar - hosted by the quarterly journal of socialist theory
Revolution in the 21st century is a reality. In less than two months, two dictators have been overthrown. In both revolutions, the entrance of the working class onto the stage of history proved decisive. The myths that the Arab world is incapable of democracy and that regime change can be achieved only through foreign intervention lie in tatters.
with Gilbert Achcar
(Professor SOAS, author of The Arabs and the Holocaust and The Clash of Barbarisms)
and Anne Alexander
(Research fellow Cambridge, author of Nasser: His Life and Times and contributor to Egypt: the Moment of Change)
Tuesday 22 February, 6.30pm
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church,
235 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London, WC2H 8EP
Near Tottenham Court Road Tube (http://www.bloomsbury.org.uk/about/location.html)
Free entry - All welcome
www.isj.org.uk
- Birkbeck Reading Capital Meeting:
Friday February the 18th at 6:30 pm
Nicole Pepperell (author of a forthcoming book on Marx's Capital and of the blog roughtheory.org and researcher at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology).
Her paper will discuss, among other things, Marx’s “standpoint of critique” – that is, whether and how Marx is able to engage immanently with the object of critique. It will touch lightly on the narrative structure of the first four chapters of Volume I of Capital and give us the latest on Nicole's research for her forthcoming book.
There will be some wine served up. Could you let samdolbear@gmail.com know know if you would like to attend?
- Eric Hobsbawm on his latest book:
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism.
7pm, Friday 25th February 2011.
Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Send your details to Stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk to confirm your place.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
- - -
Best,
KCL Reading Capital
Last week's Volume I reading session introduced by Ruth Lorimer on 'The Transformation of Money into Capital' is available at:
http://rapidshare.com/files/447362601/KCLReadingCapital_09_Feb_2011.mp3
Next week we have Tony Phillips intoducing a discussion on 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital' - All welcome!
Wednesday 23rd February
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 7-9 for this session.
"The labour-process, resolved as above into its simple elementary factors, is human action with a view to the production of use-values, appropriation of natural substances to human requirements; it is the necessary condition for effecting exchange of matter between man and Nature; it is the everlasting Nature-imposed condition of human existence, and therefore is independent of every social phase of that existence, or rather, is common to every such phase."
"The labour-process, turned into the process by which the capitalist consumes labour-power, exhibits two characteristic phenomena. First, the labourer works under the control of the capitalist to whom his labour belongs...Secondly, the product is the property of the capitalist and not that of the labourer, its immediate producer."
"It must be borne in mind, that we are now dealing with the production of commodities, and that, up to this point, we have only considered one aspect of the process. Just as commodities are, at the same time, use-values and values, so the process of producing them must be a labour-process, and at the same time, a process of creating value."
"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."
- - -
2) Volume II Group:
Our previous session discussing Vol.II chapter 17: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value' will be available on the blog soon.
The Volume II group is moving on to read Part III on 'The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital'. We will not be holding fortnightly meetings for the time being, but hope to return with a special event later in the year.
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- Egypt, Tunisia and Revolution in the 21st Century
International Socialism seminar - hosted by the quarterly journal of socialist theory
Revolution in the 21st century is a reality. In less than two months, two dictators have been overthrown. In both revolutions, the entrance of the working class onto the stage of history proved decisive. The myths that the Arab world is incapable of democracy and that regime change can be achieved only through foreign intervention lie in tatters.
with Gilbert Achcar
(Professor SOAS, author of The Arabs and the Holocaust and The Clash of Barbarisms)
and Anne Alexander
(Research fellow Cambridge, author of Nasser: His Life and Times and contributor to Egypt: the Moment of Change)
Tuesday 22 February, 6.30pm
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church,
235 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London, WC2H 8EP
Near Tottenham Court Road Tube (http://www.bloomsbury.org.uk/about/location.html)
Free entry - All welcome
www.isj.org.uk
- Birkbeck Reading Capital Meeting:
Friday February the 18th at 6:30 pm
Nicole Pepperell (author of a forthcoming book on Marx's Capital and of the blog roughtheory.org and researcher at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology).
Her paper will discuss, among other things, Marx’s “standpoint of critique” – that is, whether and how Marx is able to engage immanently with the object of critique. It will touch lightly on the narrative structure of the first four chapters of Volume I of Capital and give us the latest on Nicole's research for her forthcoming book.
There will be some wine served up. Could you let samdolbear@gmail.com know know if you would like to attend?
- Eric Hobsbawm on his latest book:
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism.
7pm, Friday 25th February 2011.
Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Send your details to Stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk to confirm your place.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
- - -
Best,
KCL Reading Capital
Friday, 4 February 2011
Next Sessions & Upcoming Events
1) Volume I Group: 'The Transformation of Money into Capital'
We are pleased to announce that the next Volume I reading session will be introduced by Ruth Lorimer on 'The Transformation of Money into Capital'. All welcome, especially as this is a good place to join us if you have missed the first couple of sessions (N.B. Some people will be attending the Contemporary Marxist Seminar immediately prior to this, see Upcoming Events below).
Wednesday 9th February
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
"Value therefore now becomes value in process, money in process, and, as such, capital. It comes out of circulation, enters into it again, preserves and multiplies itself within its circuit, comes back out of it with expanded bulk, and begins the same round ever afresh."
"In order to be able to extract value from the consumption of a commodity, our friend, Moneybags, must be so lucky as to find, within the sphere of circulation, in the market, a commodity, whose use-value possesses the peculiar property of being a source of value, whose actual consumption, therefore, is itself an embodiment of labour, and, consequently, a creation of value. The possessor of money does find on the market such a special commodity in capacity for labour or labour-power."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 4-6 for this session.
- - -
2) Volume II Group: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value'
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 17: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value':
Monday 14th February
6pm
Ground Floor Room 3
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be rading chapter 17 of Vol.II for this discussion.
Recordings of our previous two sessions are now available here and on the blog:
http://rapidshare.com/files/445183678/KCLReadingCapital_17_Jan_2011.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/445886503/KCLReadingCapital_31_Jan_2011.mp3
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- MARXISM & PHILOSOPHY Society
Workshop on the Notes on James Mill
2-6pm, Saturday 5 February 2011
The London Knowledge Lab, 23-29 Emerald Street, London WC1
Andrew Chitty and Martin McIvor will lead a discussion of this fascinating early text by Marx.
English and German parallel text of the Notes on James Mill [Word].
- LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
9th February, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Marxism: A Realism of the Abstract?
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos: alex.callinicos [at] kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis: stathis.kouvelakis [at] kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas: PeterD.Thomas [at] brunel.ac.uk
- MARXISM IN CULTURE
Friday 11 February
The Marxism of Raymond Williams
Peter Thomas (Brunel University)
5.30pm, Wolfson Room, Institute of Historical Research
Senate House, Malet St, London.
For further information, contact Warren Carter, at: w.carter@ucl.ac.uk
or Esther Leslie at: e.leslie@bbk.ac.uk
- Eric Hobsbawm on his latest book:
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism.
7pm, Friday 25th February 2011.
Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Send your details to Stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk to confirm your place.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
We are pleased to announce that the next Volume I reading session will be introduced by Ruth Lorimer on 'The Transformation of Money into Capital'. All welcome, especially as this is a good place to join us if you have missed the first couple of sessions (N.B. Some people will be attending the Contemporary Marxist Seminar immediately prior to this, see Upcoming Events below).
Wednesday 9th February
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
"Value therefore now becomes value in process, money in process, and, as such, capital. It comes out of circulation, enters into it again, preserves and multiplies itself within its circuit, comes back out of it with expanded bulk, and begins the same round ever afresh."
"In order to be able to extract value from the consumption of a commodity, our friend, Moneybags, must be so lucky as to find, within the sphere of circulation, in the market, a commodity, whose use-value possesses the peculiar property of being a source of value, whose actual consumption, therefore, is itself an embodiment of labour, and, consequently, a creation of value. The possessor of money does find on the market such a special commodity in capacity for labour or labour-power."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 4-6 for this session.
- - -
2) Volume II Group: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value'
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 17: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value':
Monday 14th February
6pm
Ground Floor Room 3
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be rading chapter 17 of Vol.II for this discussion.
Recordings of our previous two sessions are now available here and on the blog:
http://rapidshare.com/files/445183678/KCLReadingCapital_17_Jan_2011.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/445886503/KCLReadingCapital_31_Jan_2011.mp3
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- MARXISM & PHILOSOPHY Society
Workshop on the Notes on James Mill
2-6pm, Saturday 5 February 2011
The London Knowledge Lab, 23-29 Emerald Street, London WC1
Andrew Chitty and Martin McIvor will lead a discussion of this fascinating early text by Marx.
English and German parallel text of the Notes on James Mill [Word].
- LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
9th February, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Marxism: A Realism of the Abstract?
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos: alex.callinicos [at] kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis: stathis.kouvelakis [at] kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas: PeterD.Thomas [at] brunel.ac.uk
- MARXISM IN CULTURE
Friday 11 February
The Marxism of Raymond Williams
Peter Thomas (Brunel University)
5.30pm, Wolfson Room, Institute of Historical Research
Senate House, Malet St, London.
For further information, contact Warren Carter, at: w.carter@ucl.ac.uk
or Esther Leslie at: e.leslie@bbk.ac.uk
- Eric Hobsbawm on his latest book:
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism.
7pm, Friday 25th February 2011.
Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Send your details to Stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk to confirm your place.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
Friday, 7 January 2011
Welcome back - All welcome
1) Welcome back - All welcome:
Here's hoping that everyone had a relaxing holiday and perhaps found some time to read! Please feel free to come along to any of our meetings this term, whether you want to join the reading groups themselves (Are you thinking about reading Capital? Have a look at the links below), or come to one of the meetings organised by the Contemporary Marxist Theory Seminar (Full timetable available at http://www.kclreadingcapital.blogspot.com)
Wage Labour and Capital:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/wage-labour/index.htm
Capital Volume I:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/
Capital Volume II:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1885-c2/index.htm
- - -
2) Volume II Group: 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Ricardo' & 'The Working Period, Time of Production and Time of Circulation'
The recording of the discussion from our last meeting on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Smith and the Physiocrats' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/438786805/KCLReadingCapital_20_Dec_2010.mp3.
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 11-14 on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Ricardo' & 'The Working Period, Time of Production and Time of Circulation':
Monday 17th January
6pm
Ground Floor Room 3
Strand Building
King's College London
"It is evident at the outset that the definition of capital invested in labour-power as circulating or fluent capital is a secondary one, obliterating its differentia specifica in the process of production. For in this definition, on the one hand, the capitals invested in labour are of the same importance as those invested in raw material, etc. A classification which identifies a part of the constant capital with the variable capital does not deal with the differentia specifica of variable capital in opposition to constant capital."
- - -
3) Volume I Group: 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities'
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
The Volume I reading group will return on Wed 26th Jan 6:30pm, Room S3.32, with a discussion on 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities':
Wednesday 26th January
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
"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."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 2-3 for this session.
- - -
4) LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
"In Search of the Young Marx's Politics"
- David Leopold (University of Oxford)
- Stathis Kouvelakis (King's College, London)
19th January, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos: alex.callinicos [at] kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis: stathis.kouvelakis [at] kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas: PeterD.Thomas [at] brunel.ac.uk
- - -
5) Internation Socialism Journal 129 out now:
- A quarterly journal of socialist theory -
Analysis
The student revolt and the crisis
Mad as hatters? The Tea Party movement in the US
Megan Trudell
Police killings and the law
Simon Behrman
Labourism and socialism: Ralph Miliband’s Marxism
Paul Blackledge
...and more.
http://www.isj.org.uk/
Here's hoping that everyone had a relaxing holiday and perhaps found some time to read! Please feel free to come along to any of our meetings this term, whether you want to join the reading groups themselves (Are you thinking about reading Capital? Have a look at the links below), or come to one of the meetings organised by the Contemporary Marxist Theory Seminar (Full timetable available at http://www.kclreadingcapital.blogspot.com)
Wage Labour and Capital:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/wage-labour/index.htm
Capital Volume I:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/
Capital Volume II:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1885-c2/index.htm
- - -
2) Volume II Group: 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Ricardo' & 'The Working Period, Time of Production and Time of Circulation'
The recording of the discussion from our last meeting on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Smith and the Physiocrats' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/438786805/KCLReadingCapital_20_Dec_2010.mp3.
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 11-14 on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Ricardo' & 'The Working Period, Time of Production and Time of Circulation':
Monday 17th January
6pm
Ground Floor Room 3
Strand Building
King's College London
"It is evident at the outset that the definition of capital invested in labour-power as circulating or fluent capital is a secondary one, obliterating its differentia specifica in the process of production. For in this definition, on the one hand, the capitals invested in labour are of the same importance as those invested in raw material, etc. A classification which identifies a part of the constant capital with the variable capital does not deal with the differentia specifica of variable capital in opposition to constant capital."
- - -
3) Volume I Group: 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities'
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
The Volume I reading group will return on Wed 26th Jan 6:30pm, Room S3.32, with a discussion on 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities':
Wednesday 26th January
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
"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."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 2-3 for this session.
- - -
4) LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
"In Search of the Young Marx's Politics"
- David Leopold (University of Oxford)
- Stathis Kouvelakis (King's College, London)
19th January, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos: alex.callinicos [at] kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis: stathis.kouvelakis [at] kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas: PeterD.Thomas [at] brunel.ac.uk
- - -
5) Internation Socialism Journal 129 out now:
- A quarterly journal of socialist theory -
Analysis
The student revolt and the crisis
Mad as hatters? The Tea Party movement in the US
Megan Trudell
Police killings and the law
Simon Behrman
Labourism and socialism: Ralph Miliband’s Marxism
Paul Blackledge
...and more.
http://www.isj.org.uk/
LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
In Search of the Young Marx's Politics
19th January, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
David Leopold (University of Oxford)
Stathis Kouvelakis (King's College, London)
The global economic and financial crisis has witnessed a deepening of
interest in different forms of critical and radical thought and
practice. This seminar will explore the new perspectives that have
been opened up by interventions of contemporary Marxist theory in this
political and theoretical conjuncture. It involves collaboration among
Marxist scholars based in several London universities, including
Brunel University, King’s College London, and the School of Oriental
and African Studies. 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.
2010/11 Seminar Series
9th February, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Marxism: A Realism of the Abstract?
23rd March, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, room TBA
Esther Leslie (Birkbeck College)
Flat Screens and Liquid Crystals: On the Politics of Aesthetics and
Vice Versa
18th May, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, K.3.11 Raked Lecture Theatre
Gail Day (University of Leeds)
Dialectical Passions: Art Theory, Art History and Marxism
Additional seminars in Spring 2011 will be announced in due course.
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos, European Studies, King's: alex.callinicos [at]
kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis, European Studies, King's: stathis.kouvelakis [at]
kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas, Economics, SOAS: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas, Politics and History, Brunel: PeterD.Thomas [at]
brunel.ac.uk
19th January, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
David Leopold (University of Oxford)
Stathis Kouvelakis (King's College, London)
The global economic and financial crisis has witnessed a deepening of
interest in different forms of critical and radical thought and
practice. This seminar will explore the new perspectives that have
been opened up by interventions of contemporary Marxist theory in this
political and theoretical conjuncture. It involves collaboration among
Marxist scholars based in several London universities, including
Brunel University, King’s College London, and the School of Oriental
and African Studies. 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.
2010/11 Seminar Series
9th February, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Marxism: A Realism of the Abstract?
23rd March, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, room TBA
Esther Leslie (Birkbeck College)
Flat Screens and Liquid Crystals: On the Politics of Aesthetics and
Vice Versa
18th May, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, K.3.11 Raked Lecture Theatre
Gail Day (University of Leeds)
Dialectical Passions: Art Theory, Art History and Marxism
Additional seminars in Spring 2011 will be announced in due course.
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos, European Studies, King's: alex.callinicos [at]
kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis, European Studies, King's: stathis.kouvelakis [at]
kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas, Economics, SOAS: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas, Politics and History, Brunel: PeterD.Thomas [at]
brunel.ac.uk
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Last session before Holidays
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.
- - -
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
- - -
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.
- - -
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
- - -
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)
- - -
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
- - -
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)
- - -
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
- - -
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
- -
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
- - -
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.
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