Michael P. writes: >>Marx's method seems to imply that you begin
with individual capital in vol. 1, then take capital as a whole
into account in the next two books. <<
I don't think that Marx begns with "individual capital" in K1.
Instead, he starts with what Alfred Marshall called the
"representative firm," i.e., an individual capital that's
supposed to represent the whole capitalist class (i.e., capital
in general, abstract capital). He abstracts from most of the
relationships within the capitalist class (competition plays a
very abstract and incomplete role in K1) and the differences
amongst the capitalists (the heterogeneity of capital).
in ope-l solidarity,
Jim Devine jdevine@lmumail.lmu.edu
Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles, CA 90045-2699 USA
310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950
"Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way
and let people talk.) -- K. Marx, paraphrasing Dante A.