From: Andrew Brown (A.Brown@LUBS.LEEDS.AC.UK)
Date: Thu Sep 01 2005 - 11:37:15 EDT
Jerry, Thanks - hadn't thought of it that way before. Still, for me, the problem with thinking in terms of capitalist 'self-interest' in Vol. 1 is that it suggests that there is an analysis of, or at least reference to, the intentions of the capitalist, albeit a very 'thin' reference, in Vol. 1 (a suggestion that I take to be in line with Tony Smith's 1990 classic book). But this seems to contradict the continual point made in Vol.3 that it is *only* by the time we reach this level (introducing profit), that we reach the level of the consciousness of individual capitalists. And only then do we see the illusory nature of this consciousness therefore. I labour this point because it provides a basis on which, these days, I disagree with Tony's discussion of structure and agency in capital. Tony has used this to debate with Elster and others I think. Instead of taking Tony's line of argument I'd instead emphasise that we don't really get to the level of consciousness of individuals (self-interest) until Vol. 3. This is why I'd disagree with many attempts at 'modelling' say simple commodity production or basic Vol 1 level exploitation because such models attribute self-interest to agents at the vol. 1 level when this can't be done until vol. 3. Relatedly, Marx doesn't really go into details about competition in Vol. 1 - whenever he mentions it he stresses that it is really a topic to be deferred until later, until, that is, we have introduced profit in Vol 3. Many thanks Andy
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