In my last post [663], I started by dividing several options by 1), 2),
and 3) and then switched to a), b), and c). To make the ordering more
consistent and thus the meaning more intelligible, it should read as
follows:
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<snip>
To return to the question of market prices: it seems to me that there are
several options.
1) develop it as part of an analysis of competition immediately after the
subject matter of _Capital_. In other words, after Book 1 (Capital) and
before Book 2 (Landed Property).
2) develop the subject matter of competition after an analysis of the 3
major classes (Books 1-3), but prior to Book 4 (The State).
3) develop this subject in Book 5 (International Trade) and/or Book 6
(World Market and Crises).
While there might be some justification for 1), it pre-supposes that the
subject matter of market prices requires the prior analysis of the
subjects of Books 2-4. Yet, this doesn't make a lot of methodological
sense to me. E.g. what would be the logic for analyzing market prices
after "The State"? Shouldn't one first analyze the law of motion of
capital at a level of concreteness that includes market prices before
analyzing the state-form?
2) also seems to me to be an uneasy fit. E.g. why should market prices be
developed after an analysis of Book 2 (Landed Property) and Book 3
(Wage-Labour)? In other words, would the subject matter of market prices
require a prior analysis of landed property and wage-labour? I did see why
that would be the case.
3) seems the most logical alternative. Yet, it would seem to fly in the
face of what Marx suggested was next in Chapter 52 (Classes) of Volume III
(of Book 1). <snip>
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In solidarity, Jerry