Re: [OPE-L] workers' needs, civilising moment, contemporary power of capital

From: glevy@PRATT.EDU
Date: Thu Apr 13 2006 - 13:15:41 EDT

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> I think Jurriaan or Jerry asked about this quote from the grundrisse
> (vintage, 287):
> Incidentally -- in so far as the whole thing is not a hypocritical
> phrase of bourgeois 'philanthropy', which consists in fobbing the
> worker off with 'pious wishes' -- each capitalist does demand that
> his workers should save, but only his own, because they
> stand towards him as workers; but by no means the remaining world of
> workers, for these stand towards him as consumers. In
> spite of all 'pious' speeches he therefore searches for means to spur
> them on to consumption, to give his wares new charms, to
> inspire them with new needs by constant chatter etc. It is precisely
> this side of the relation of capital and labour which is an
> essential civilizing moment, and on which the historic justification,
> but also the contemporary power of capital rests.


Whose civilization?  Bourgeois civilization here seems to be
identified with civilization in general.

In solidarity, Jerry

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