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Paul Cockshot writes:
This seems relevant to the debate we had some time ago on value
creation under slavery. Marx is here saying that capital exists
under slavery, and that the same distinction between productive
and unproductive labour as exists under capitalism existed under slavery.
Paul, forgive me if I'm chiming in late to a discussion that has already
moved on, but my understanding is that capital is a social relation that is
specific to capitalis (it springs from the surplus value obtained from waged
labor) and thus doesn't exist under slavery. By the same token,
"productive" labor is also socially specific (productive of surplus value)in
contrast some "institutional" notions of productive and unproductive labor
(that designate certain job categories -- like 'we' accountants -- as
intrinsically "unproductive").
Tony Tinker
Professor
Co-Editor:Critical Perspectives on Accounting
Co-Editor: Accounting Forum
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Cockshott" <wpc@dcs.gla.ac.uk>
To: <ope-l@galaxy.csuchico.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2000 11:12 AM
Subject: [OPE-L:3564] Slavery and capital and unproductive labour
> >In the slave system, the money-capital invested in the purchase
> >of labour-power plays the role of the money-form of the fixed capital,
> >which is but gradually replaced as the active period of the slave's
> >life expires. Among the Athenians therefore, the gain realised by a
slave
> >owner directly through the industrial employment of his slave, or
> >indirectly by hiring him out to other industrial employers (e.g., for
> >mining), was regarded merely as interest (plus depreciation allowance)
> >on the advanced money-capital, just as the industrial capitalist
> >under capitalist production places a portion of the surplus-value plus
> >the depreciation of his fixed capital to the account of interest and
> >replacement of his fixed capital. This is also the rule with capitalists
> >offering fixed capital (houses, machinery, etc.) for rent. Mere
> >household slaves, whether they perform necessary services or are kept as
> >luxuries for show, are not considered here. They correspond to
> >the modern servant class. Vol II chap 20 part 12
>
> This seems relevant to the debate we had some time ago on value
> creation under slavery. Marx is here saying that capital exists
> under slavery, and that the same distinction between productive
> and unproductive labour as exists under capitalism existed under slavery.
>
>
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