> My view is that Gil is correct in saying one can demonstrate
> exploitation without using the law of value, but that is
> a quite different question from that of the validity of this
> law, which like that of all scientific laws depends on its
> conformity with empirical evidence.
I forgot a second point in my criticism of the "law" of value, which
is also of relevance to our work: Marx's reliance on the "law" to
develop his historical materialist argument leads him to invalid
conclusions, and leads him to ignore plausible alternatives in order
to make his analysis fit into the Procrustean bed of his value
theory.
Thus, not only has no "law" been established, but it tends to yield
invalid, or at least problematic, conclusions. Easy examples are
found in Vol I, Chs 1, 4, and 5, and (less immediately)Volume III,
Ch. 13.
Gil Skillman