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
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
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)
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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
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