[OPE-L:7356] RE: Re: Re: Re: interpreting Marx's texts

From: howard Engelskirchen (lhengels@igc.org)
Date: Thu Jun 06 2002 - 22:34:05 EDT


Fred,

>And what exactly is "real
> determination"?  How is "real determination" related to  "conceptual
> determination"?

If the determinations of science are causal, then "real determination"
would be a theoretical expression of causal relations;  a "conceptual
determination" would be theoretical, but might be logical only, not causal.

Howard



> [Original Message]
> From: Fred B. Moseley <fmoseley@mtholyoke.edu>
> To: <ope-l@galaxy.csuchico.edu>
 > Date: 6/6/2002 12:53:03 AM
> Subject: [OPE-L:7343] Re: Re: Re: interpreting Marx's texts
>
> 
> On Wed, 5 Jun 2002, Rakesh Bhandari wrote:
> 
> > re 7328
> > 
> > >
> > >What do others think about Shaikh's argument here, reproduced by
Rakesh?
> > >
> > >It makes no sense to me.  It has always seemed mystifying to me.  I do
not
> > >understand the distinction between "conceptual determination" and "real
> > >determination".  I thought conceptual determination (i.e. a theory) was
> > >supposed to explain the real determination (in reality).  If the "real
> > >determination" was that values determine the physical production
> > >quantities, then the  "conceptual determination" would explain how this
> > >happens, and how the specific quantities are determined.
> > 
> > Dear Fred,
> > I hesitate to reply because it would be wonderful if Anwar elaborated 
> > the argument himself. Please do note that I only quoted a small part 
> > of the argument, so consultation of the original is important.
> > 
> > Anwar seems to use conceptual determination and calculation
interchangeably.
> > I think the argument is clearer if we use only the latter term.
> > I offered an analogy which may have failed.
> > 
> > My simple point was that there can be methods of calculation which 
> > may give the right result which  do not lay bare the real process of 
> > determination.
> 
> 
> Rakesh, I have two questions of clarification for now:
> 
> 1.  What do you think is the difference between "conceptual
> determination" and "calculation"?  Why do you prefer "calculation" over
> "conceptual determination"?  And what exactly is "real
> determination"?  How is "real determination" related to  "conceptual
> determination"?
> 
> 2.  What would you say Marx was doing in the determination of prices of
> production in Part 2 of Volume 3: "real determination" or  "conceptual
> determination" or  "calculation"?  
> 
> 
> I look forward to your replies and to further discussion.
> 
> Comradely,
> Fred



--- ho



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jul 02 2002 - 00:00:04 EDT