RE: [OPE] Question to Marxologists: Mode of production

wpc@dcs.gla.ac.uk

I agree that in general the relations of production influence the development
of technology. But I would like to see you apply that generality to the
specific instance that I gave.

Paul Cockshott
Dept of Computing Science
University of Glasgow
+44 141 330 1629
www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~wpc/reports/

-----Original Message-----
From: ope-bounces@lists.csuchico.edu on behalf of Gerald Levy
Sent: Thu 8/28/2008 1:07 PM
To: ope@lists.csuchico.edu
Subject: RE: [OPE] Question to Marxologists: Mode of production

> But one should not think that there is a one to one correpondance here. A given
> configuration of the forces of production may be compatible with more than one
> mode of production, though not with all possible modes of production.

Hi Paul C: 

The specific configuration of the forces of production can only be grasped
when put in the context of specific social relations. That is, the forces of
production are historically produced,  reproduced, and *shaped* by the
class relations which prevail in a given social formation. So, I do't think
it's the case that a given configuration of the forces of production are
compatible with more than one mode of production. It's, of course,
the case that as a new mode emerges it "inherits" the forces of production
of the previous mode but - from the moment of its birth - the new relations
of production alter the shape and characteristics of the forces of production.
This, though, becomes more complex when we realize that within a given social 
formation where one mode of production prevails, there are "remnants" 
of other modes of production and there is often a complicated way in 
which these sectors relate and are inter-dependent.

In solidarity, Jerry 
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