Therefore,thegreaterthisproduct,thelessishehimself.Theexternalization[Entausserung]oftheworkerinhisproductmeansnotonlythathislaborbecomesanobject,anexternalexistence,butthatitexistsoutsidehim,independentlyofhimandalientohim,andbeingstoconfronthimasanautonomouspower;thatthelifewhichhehasbestowedontheobjectconfrontshimashostileandalien.
Letusnottakeacloserlookatobjectification,attheproductionoftheworker,andtheestrangement,thelossoftheobjet,ofhisproduct,thatthisentails.
Theworkerscancreatenothingwithoutnature,withoutthesensuousexternalworld.Itisthematerialinwhichhislaborrealizesitself,inwhichitisactiveandfromwhich,andbymeansofwhich,itproduces.
Butjustasnatureprovideslaborwiththemeansoflife,inthesenseoflaborcannotlivewithoutobjectsonwhichtoexerciseitself,soalsoitprovidesthemeansoflifeinthenarrowersense,namelythemeansofphysicalsubsistenceoftheworker.
Themoretheworkerappropriatestheexternalworld,sensuousnature,throughhislabor,themorehedepriveshimselfofthemeansoflifeintworespects:firstly,thesensuousexternalworldbecomeslessandlessanobjectbelongingtohislabor,ameansoflifeofhislabor;
and,secondly,itbecomeslessandlessameansoflifeintheimmediatesense,ameansforthephysicalsubsistenceoftheworker.
Inthesetworespects,then,theworkerbecomesaslaveofhisobject;firstly,inthathereceivesanobjectoflabor,i.e.,hereceiveswork,and,secondly,inthathereceivesmeansofsubsistence.
Firstly,then,sothathecanexistsasaworker,andsecondlyasaphysicalsubject.Theculminationofthisslaveryisthatitisonlyasaworkerthathecanmaintainhimselfasaphysicalsubjectandonlyasaphysicalsubjectthatheisaworker.
(Theestrangementoftheworkerinhisobjectisexpressedaccordingtothelawsofpoliticaleconomyinthefollowingway:
themoretheworkerproduces,thelesshehastoconsume;
themorevaluehecreates,themoreworthlesshebecomes;
themorehisproductisshaped,themoremisshapentheworker;
themorecivilizedhisobject,themorebarbaroustheworker;
themorepowerfulthework,themorepowerlesstheworker;
themoreintelligentthework,thedullertheworkerandthemorehebecomesaslaveofnature.)Politicaleconomyconcealstheestrangementinthenatureoflaborbyignoringthedirectrelationshipbetweentheworker(labor)andproduction.Itistruethatlaborproducesmarvelsfortherich,butitproducesprivationfortheworker.Itproducespalaces,buthovelsfortheworker.Itproducesbeauty,butdeformityfortheworker.Itreplaceslaborbymachines,butitcastssomeoftheworkersbackintobarbarousformsoflaborandturnsothersintomachines.Itproducesintelligence,butitproducesidiocyandcretinismfortheworker.
Thedirectrelationshipoflabortoitsproductsistherelationshipoftheworkertotheobjectsofhisproduction.Therelationshipoftherichmantotheobjectsofproductionandtoproductionitselfisonlyaconsequenceofthisfirstrelationship,andconfirmsit.Later,weshallconsiderthissecondaspect.Therefore,whenweaskwhatistheessentialrelationshipoflabor,weareaskingabouttherelationshipoftheworkertoproduction.
Uptonow,wehaveconsideredtheestrangement,thealienationoftheworker,onlyfromoneaspect——i.e.,hisrelationshiptotheproductsofhislabor.Butestrangementmanifestsitselfnotonlyintheresult,butalsointheactofproduction,withintheactivityofproductionitself.Howcouldtheproductoftheworker’sactivityconfronthimassomethingalienifitwerenotforthefactthatintheactofproductionhewasestranginghimselffromhimself?Afterall,theproductissimplytheresumeoftheactivity,oftheproduction.Soiftheproductoflaborisalienation,productionitselfmustbeactivealienation,thealienationofactivity,theactivityofalienation.Theestrangementoftheobjectoflabormerelysummarizestheestrangement,thealienationintheactivityoflaboritself.
Whatconstitutesthealienationoflabor?
Firstly,thefactthatlaborisexternaltotheworker——i.e.,doesnotbelongtohisessentialbeing;thathe,therefore,doesnotconfirmhimselfinhiswork,butdenieshimself,feelsmiserableandnothappy,doesnotdevelopfreementalandphysicalenergy,butmortifieshisfleshandruinshismind.Hence,theworkerfeelshimselfonlywhenheisnotworking;whenheisworking,hedoesnotfeelhimself.Heisathomewhenheisnotworking,andnotathomewhenheisworking.Hislaboris,therefore,notvoluntarybutforced,itisforcedlabor.Itis,therefore,notthesatisfactionofaneedbutameremeanstosatisfyneedsoutsideitself.Itsaliencharacterisclearlydemonstratedbythefactthatassoonasnophysicalorothercompulsionexists,itisshunnedliketheplague.Externallabor,laborinwhichmanalienateshimself,isalaborofself—sacrifice,ofmortification.Finally,theexternalcharacteroflaborfortheworkerisdemonstratedbythefactthatitbelongsnottohimbuttoanother,andthatinithebelongsnottohimselfbuttoanother.Justasinreligionthespontaneousactivityofthehumanimagination,thehumanbrain,andthehumanheart,detachesitselffromtheindividualandreappearsasthealienactivityofagodorofadevil,sotheactivityoftheworkerisnothisownspontaneousactivity.Itbelongstoanother,itisalossofhisself.
Theresultisthatman(theworker)feelsthatheisactingfreelyonlyinhisanimalfunctions——eating,drinking,andprocreating,oratmostinhisdwellingandadornment——whileinhishumanfunctions,heisnothingmorethananimal.
Itistruethateating,drinking,andprocreating,etc.,arealsogenuinehumanfunctions.However,whenabstractedfromotheraspectsofhumanactivity,andturnedintofinalandexclusiveends,theyareanimal.
Wehaveconsideredtheactofestrangementofpracticalhumanactivity,oflabor,fromtwoaspects:(1)therelationshipoftheworkertotheproductoflaborasanalienobjectthathaspoweroverhim.
Therelationshipis,atthesametime,therelationshiptothesensuousexternalworld,tonaturalobjects,asanalienworldconfrontinghim,inhostileopposition.(2)Therelationshipoflabortotheactofproductionwithinlabor.Thisrelationshipistherelationshipoftheworkertohisownactivityassomethingwhichisalienanddoesnotbelongtohim,activityaspassivity[Leiden],powerasimpotence,procreationasemasculation,theworker’sownphysicalandmentalenergy,hispersonallife——forwhatislifebutactivity?——asanactivitydirectedagainsthimself,whichisindependentofhimanddoesnotbelongtohim.Self—estrangement,ascomparedwiththeestrangementoftheobject[Sache]mentionedabove.
Wenowhavetoderiveathirdfeatureofestrangedlaborfromthetwowehavealreadyexamined.
Manisaspecies—being,notonlybecausehepracticallyandtheoreticallymakesthespecies——bothhisownandthoseofotherthings——hisobject,butalso——andthisissimplyanotherwayofsayingthesamething——
becausehelooksuponhimselfasthepresent,livingspecies,becausehelooksuponhimselfasauniversalandthereforefreebeing.
Species—life,bothformanandforanimals,consistsphysicallyinthefactthatman,likeanimals,livesfrominorganicnature;andbecausemanismoreuniversalthananimals,sotooistheareaofinorganicnaturefromwhichhelivesmoreuniversal.Justasplants,animals,stones,air,light,etc.,theoreticallyformapartofhumanconsciousness,partlyasobjectsofscienceandpartlyasobjectsofart——hisspiritualinorganicnature,hisspiritualmeansoflife,whichhemustfirstpreparebeforehecanenjoyanddigestthem——so,too,inpracticetheyformapartofhumanlifeandhumanactivity.Inaphysicalsense,manlivesonlyfromthesenaturalproducts,whetherintheformofnourishment,heating,clothing,shelter,etc.Theuniversalityofmanmanifestsitselfinpracticeinthatuniversalitywhichmakesthewholeofnaturehisinorganicbody,(1)asadirectmeansoflifeand(2)asthematter,theobject,andthetoolofhislifeactivity.Natureisman’sinorganicbody——thatistosay,natureinsofarasitisnotthehumanbody.Manlivesfromnature——i.e.,natureishisbody——andhemustmaintainacontinuingdialoguewithitisheisnottodie.Tosaythatman’sphysicalandmentallifeislinkedtonaturesimplymeansthatnatureislinkedtoitself,formanisapartofnature.
Estrangedlabornotonly(1)estrangesnaturefrommanand(2)
estrangesmanfromhimself,fromhisownfunction,fromhisvitalactivity;
becauseofthis,italsoestrangesmanfromhisspecies.Itturnshisspecies—lifeintoameansforhisindividuallife.Firstly,itestrangesspecies—lifeandindividuallife,and,secondly,itturnsthelatter,initsabstractform,intothepurposeoftheformer,alsoinitsabstractandestrangedform.
Forinthefirstplacelabor,lifeactivity,productivelifeitself,appearstomanonlyasameansforthesatisfactionofaneed,theneedtopreservephysicalexistence.Butproductivelifeisspecies—life.Itislife—producinglife.Thewholecharacterofaspecies,itsspecies—character,residesinthenatureofitslifeactivity,andfreeconsciousactivityconstitutesthespecies—characterofman.Lifeappearsonlyasameansoflife.
Theanimalisimmediatelyonewithitslifeactivity.Itisnotdistinctfromthatactivity;itisthatactivity.Manmakeshislifeactivityitselfanobjectofhiswillandconsciousness.Hehasconsciouslifeactivity.
Itisnotadeterminationwithwhichhedirectlymerges.Consciouslifeactivitydirectlydistinguishesmanfromanimallifeactivity.Onlybecauseofthatisheaspecies—being.Or,rather,heisaconsciousbeing——i.e.,hisownlifeisanobjectforhim,onlybecauseheisaspecies—being.
Onlybecauseofthatishisactivityfreeactivity.Estrangedlaborreversestherelationshipsothatman,justbecauseheisaconsciousbeing,makeshislifeactivity,hisbeing[Wesen],ameremeansforhisexistence.
Thepracticalcreationofanobjectiveworld,thefashioningofinorganicnature,isproofthatmanisaconsciousspecies—being——i.e.,abeingwhichtreatsthespeciesasitsownessentialbeingoritselfasaspecies—being.Itistruethatanimalsalsoproduce.Theybuildnestsanddwelling,likethebee,thebeaver,theant,etc.Buttheyproduceonlytheirownimmediateneedsorthoseoftheiryoung;theyproduceonlywhenimmediatephysicalneedcompelsthemtodoso,whilemanproducesevenwhenheisfreefromphysicalneedandtrulyproducesonlyinfreedomfromsuchneed;theyproduceonlythemselves,whilemanreproducesthewholeofnature;theirproductsbelongimmediatelytotheirphysicalbodies,whilemanfreelyconfrontshisownproduct.Animalsproduceonlyaccordingtothestandardsandneedsofthespeciestowhichtheybelong,whilemaniscapableofproducingaccordingtothestandardsofeveryspeciesandofapplyingtoeachobjectitsinherentstandard;hence,manalsoproducesinaccordancewiththelawsofbeauty.
Itis,therefore,inhisfashioningoftheobjectivethatmanreallyproveshimselftobeaspecies—being.Suchproductionishisactivespecies—life.Throughit,natureappearsashisworkandhisreality.
Theobjectoflaboris,therefore,theobjectificationofthespecies—lifeofman:formanproduceshimselfnotonlyintellectually,inhisconsciousness,butactivelyandactually,andhecanthereforecontemplatehimselfinaworldhehimselfhascreated.Intearingawaytheobjectofhisproductionfromman,estrangedlaborthereforetearsawayfromhimhisspecies—life,histruespecies—objectivity,andtransformshisadvantageoveranimalsintothedisadvantagethathisinorganicbody,nature,istakenfromhim.
Inthesamewayasestrangedlaborreducesspontaneousandfreeactivitytoameans,itmakesman’sspecies—lifeameansofhisphysicalexistence.
Consciousness,whichmanhasfromhisspecies,istransformedthroughestrangementsothatspecies—lifebecomesameansforhim.
(3)Estrangedlabor,therefore,turnsman’sspecies—being——bothnatureandhisintellectualspecies—power——intoabeingalientohimandameansofhisindividualexistence.Itestrangesmanfromhisownbody,fromnatureasitexistsoutsidehim,fromhisspiritualessence[Wesen],hishumanexistence.
(4)Animmediateconsequenceofman’sestrangementfromtheproductofhislabor,hislifeactivity,hisspecies—being,istheestrangementofmanfromman.Whenmanconfronthimself,healsoconfrontsothermen.Whatistrueofman’srelationshiptohislabor,totheproductofhislabor,andtohimself,isalsotrueofhisrelationshiptoothermen,andtothelaborandtheobjectofthelaborofothermen.
Ingeneral,thepropositionthatmanisestrangedfromhisspecies—beingmeansthateachmanisestrangedfromtheothersandthatallareestrangedfromman’sessence.
Man’sestrangement,likeallrelationshipsofmantohimself,isrealizedandexpressedonlyinman’srelationshiptoothermen.
Intherelationshipofestrangedlabor,eachmanthereforeregardstheotherinaccordancewiththestandardandthesituationinwhichheasaworkerfindshimself.
Westartedoutfromaneconomicfact,theestrangementoftheworkerandofhisproduction.Wegavethisfactconceptualform:estranged,alienatedlabor.Wehaveanalyzedthisconcept,andinsodoingmerelyanalyzedaneconomicfact.
Letusnowgoontoseehowtheconceptofestranged,alienatedlabormustexpressandpresentitselfinreality.
Iftheproductoflaborisalientome,andconfrontsmeasanalienpower,towhomdoesitthenbelong?
Toabeingotherthanme.
Whoisthisbeing?
Thegods?Itistruethatinearlytimesmostproduction——e.g.,templebuilding,etc.,inEgypt,India,andMexico——wasintheserviceofthegods,justastheproductbelongedtothegods.Butthegodsalonewereneverthemastersoflabor.Thesameistrueofnature.Andwhataparadoxitwouldbeifthemoremansubjugatesnaturethroughhislaborandthemoredivinemiraclesaremadesuperfluousbythemiraclesofindustry,themoreheisforcedtoforgothejoyorproductionandtheenjoymentoftheproductoutofdeferencetothesepowers.
Thealienbeingtowhomlaborandtheproductoflaborbelong,inwhoseservicelaborisperformed,andforwhoseenjoymenttheproductoflaboriscreated,canbenoneotherthanmanhimself.
Iftheproductoflabordoesnotbelongtotheworker,andifitconfrontshimasanalienpower,thisisonlypossiblebecauseitbelongstoamanotherthantheworker.Ifhisactivityisatormentforhim,itmustprovidepleasureandenjoymentforsomeoneelse.Notthegods,notnature,butonlymanhimselfcanbethisalienpowerovermen.
Considertheabovepropositionthattherelationshipofmantohimselfbecomesobjectiveandrealforhimonlythroughhisrelationshiptoothermen.If,therefore,heregardstheproductofhislabor,hisobjectifiedlabor,asanalien,hostile,andpowerfulobjectwhichisindependentofhim,thenhisrelationshiptothatobjectissuchthatanotherman——alien,hostile,powerful,andindependentofhim——isitsmaster.Ifherelatestohisownactivityasunfreeactivity,thenherelatestoitasactivityintheservice,undertherule,coercion,andyokeofanotherman.
Everyself—estrangementofmanfromhimselfandnatureismanifestedintherelationshiphesetsupbetweenothermenandhimselfandnature.
Thus,religiousself—estrangementisnecessarilymanifestedintherelationshipbetweenlaymanandpriest,or,sincewearedealingherewiththespiritualworld,betweenlaymanandmediator,etc.Inthepractical,realworld,self—estrangementcanmanifestitselfonlyinthepractical,realrelationshiptoothermen.Themediumthroughwhichestrangementprogressesisitselfapracticalone.Sothroughestrangedlabormannotonlyproduceshisrelationshiptotheobjectandtotheactofproductionastoalienandhostilepowers;
healsoproducestherelationshipinwhichothermenstandtohisproductionandproduct,andtherelationshipinwhichhestandstotheseothermen.
Justashecreateshisownproductionasalossofreality,apunishment,andhisownproductasaloss,aproductwhichdoesnotbelongtohim,sohecreatesthedominationofthenon—produceroverproductionanditsproduct.Justasheestrangesfromhimselfhisownactivity,soheconfersuponthestrangerandactivitywhichdoesnotbelongtohim.
Uptonow,wehaveconsideredtherelationshiponlyfromthesideoftheworker.Lateron,weshallconsideritfromthesideofthenon—worker.
Thus,throughestranged,alienatedlabor,theworkercreatestherelationshipofanotherman,whoisalientolaborandstandsoutsideit,tothatlabor.Therelationoftheworkertolaborcreatestherelationofthecapitalist——orwhateverotherwordonechoosesforthemasteroflabor——tothatlabor.Privatepropertyisthereforetheproduct,result,andnecessaryconsequenceofalienatedlabor,oftheexternalrelationoftheworkertonatureandtohimself.
Privatepropertythusderivesfromananalysisoftheconceptofalienatedlabor——i.e.,alienatedman,estrangedlabor,estrangedlife,estrangedman.
Itistruethatwetooktheconceptofalienatedlabor(alienatedlife)frompoliticaleconomyasaresultofthemovementofprivateproperty.
Butitisclearfromananalysisofthisconceptthat,althoughprivatepropertyappearsasthebasisandcauseofalienatedlabor,itisinfactitsconsequence,justasthegodswereoriginallynotthecausebuttheeffectoftheconfusioninmen’sminds.Later,however,thisrelationshipbecomesreciprocal.
Itisonlywhenthedevelopmentofprivatepropertyreachesitsultimatepointofculminationthatthis,itssecret,re—emerges;namely,thatis(a)theproductofalienatedlabor,and(b)themeansthroughwhichlaborisalienated,therealizationofthisalienation.
Thisdevelopmentthrowslightuponanumberofhithertounresolvedcontroversies.
(1)Politicaleconomystartsoutfromlaborastherealsoulofproductionandyetgivesnothingtolaborandeverythingtoprivateproperty.Proudhonhasdealtwiththiscontradictionbydecidingforlaborandagainstprivateproperty[seehis1840pamphlet,Qu’est—cequelapropriete?].Butwehaveseenthatthisapparentcontradictionisthecontradictionofestrangedlaborwithitselfandthatpoliticaleconomyhasmerelyformulatedlawsofestrangedlabor.
It,therefore,followsforusthatwagesandprivatepropertyareidentical:fortheretheproduct,theobjectoflabor,paysforthelaboritself,wagesareonlyanecessaryconsequenceoftheestrangementoflabor;similarly,wherewagesareconcerned,laborappearsnotasanendinitselfbutastheservantofwages.Weintendtodealwiththispointinmoredetaillateron:forthepresentweshallmerelydrawafewconclusions.
Anenforcedriseinwages(disregardingallotherdifficulties,includingthefactthatsuchananomaloussituationcouldonlybeprolongedbyforce)wouldthereforebenothingmorethanbetterpayforslavesandwouldnotmeananincreaseinhumansignificanceordignityforeithertheworkerorthelabor.
Eventheequalityofwages,whichProudhondemands,wouldmerelytransformtherelationofthepresent—dayworkertohisworkintotherelationofallmentowork.Societywouldthenbeconceivedasanabstractcapitalist.
Wagesareanimmediateconsequenceofestrangedlabor,andestrangedlaboristheimmediatecauseofprivateproperty.Iftheonefalls,thentheothermustfalltoo.
(2)Itfurtherfollowsfromtherelationofestrangedlabortoprivatepropertythattheemancipationofsocietyfromprivateproperty,etc.,fromservitude,isexpressedinthepoliticalformoftheemancipationoftheworkers.Thisisnotbecauseitisonlyaquestionoftheiremancipation,butbecauseintheiremancipationiscontaineduniversalhumanemancipation.
Thereasonforthisuniversalityisthatthewholeofhumanservitudeisinvolvedintherelationoftheworkertoproduction,andallrelationsofservitudearenothingbutmodificationsandconsequencesofthisrelation.
Justaswehavearrivedattheconceptofprivatepropertythroughananalysisoftheconceptofestranged,alienatedlabor,sowiththehelpofthesetwofactorsitispossibletoevolvealleconomiccategories,andineachofthesecategories——e.g.,trade,competition,capital,money——weshallidentifyonlyaparticularanddevelopedexpressionofthesebasicconstituents.
But,beforewegoontoconsiderthisconfiguration,letustrytosolvetwofurtherproblems.
(1)Wehavetodeterminethegeneralnatureofprivateproperty,asithasarisenoutofestrangedlabor,initsrelationtotrulyhumanandsocialproperty.
(2)Wehavetakentheestrangementoflabor,itsalienation,asafactandwehaveanalyzedthatfact.How,wenowask,doesmancometoalienatehislabor,toestrangeit?Howitthisestrangementfoundedinthenatureofhumandevelopment?Wehavealreadygonealongwaytowardssolvingthisproblembytransformingthequestionoftheoriginofprivatepropertyintothequestionoftherelationshipofalienatedlabortothecourseofhumandevelopment.For,inspeakingofprivateproperty,oneimaginesthatoneisdealingwithsomethingexternaltoman.Inspeakingoflabor,oneisdealingimmediatelywithmanhimself.Thisnewwayofformulatingtheproblemalreadycontainsitssolution.
Asto(1):Thegeneralnatureofprivatepropertyanditsrelationshiptotrulyhumanproperty.
Alienatedlaborhasresolveditselfforusintotwocomponentparts,whichmutuallyconditiononeanother,orwhicharemerelydifferentexpressionsofoneandthesamerelationship.Appropriationappearsasestrangement,asalienation;andalienationappearsasappropriation,estrangementastrueadmissiontocitizenship.
Wehaveconsideredtheoneaspect,alienatedlaborinrelationtotheworkerhimself——i.e.,therelationofalienatedlabortoitself.Andasproduct,asnecessaryconsequenceofthisrelationship,wehavefoundthepropertyrelationofthenon—workertotheworkerandtolabor.Privatepropertyasthematerial,summarizedexpressionofalienatedlaborembracesbothrelations——therelationoftheworkertolaborandtotheproductofhislaborandthenon—workers,andtherelationofthenon—workertotheworkerandtotheproductofhislabor.
Wehavealreadyseenthat,inrelationtotheworkerwhoappropriatesnaturethroughhislabor,appropriationappearsasestrangement,self—activityasactivityforanotherandofanother,vitalityasasacrificeoflife,productionofanobjectaslossofthatobjecttoanalienpower,toanalienman.Letusnowconsidertherelationbetweenthisman,whoisalientolaborandtotheworker,andtheworker,labor,andtheobjectoflabor.
Thefirstthingtopointoutisthateverythingwhichappearsfortheworkerasanactivityofalienation,ofestrangement,appearsforthenon—workerasasituationofalienation,ofestrangement.
Secondly,thereal,practicalattitudeoftheworkerinproductionandtotheproduct(asastateofmind)appearsforthenon—workerwhoconfrontshimasatheoreticalattitude.
Thirdly,thenon—workerdoeseverythingagainsttheworkerwhichtheworkerdoesagainsthimself,buthedoesnotdoagainsthimselfwhathedoesagainsttheworker.
Letustakeacloserlookatthesethreerelationships.
[FirstManuscriptbreaksoffhere.]
TheEconomicandPhilosophicalManuscripts:2ndKarlMarx’sECONOMICANDPHILOSOPHICALMANUSCRIPTSSecondManuscriptTHERELATIONSHIPOFPRIVATEPROPERTYformstheinterestonhiscapital.Theworkeristhesubjectivemanifestationofthefactthatcapitalismancompletelylosttohimself,justascapitalistheobjectivemanifestationofthefactthatlaborismanlosttohimself.
Buttheworkerhasthemisfortunetobealivingcapital,and,hence,acapitalwithneeds,whichforfeitsitsinterestandhenceitsexistenceeverymomentitisnotworking.Ascapital,thevalueoftheworkerrisesorfallsinaccordancewithsupplyanddemand,andeveninaphysicalsensehisexistence,hislife,wasandistreatedasasupplyofacommodity,likeanyothercommodity.
Theworkerproducescapitalandcapitalproduceshim,whichmeansthatheproduceshimself;manasaworker,asacommodity,istheproductofthisentirecycle.Thehumanpropertiesofmanasaworker——manwhoisnothingmorethanaworker——existonlyinsofarastheyexistforacapitalwhichisalientohim.But,becauseeachisalientotheother,andstandsinanindifferent,external,andfortuitousrelationshiptoit,thisaliencharacterinevitablyappearsassomethingreal.So,soonasitoccurstocapital——whetherfromnecessityorchoice——nottoexistanylongerfortheworker,henolongerexistsforhimself;hehasnowork,andhencenowages,andsinceheexistsnotasamanbutasaworker,hemightjustaswellhaveburiedhimself,starvetodeath,etc.Theworkerexistsasaworkeronlywhenheexistsforhimselfascapital,andheexistsascapitalonlywhencapitalexistsforhim.Theexistenceofcapitalishisexistence,hislife,foritdeterminesthecontentofhislifeinamannerindifferenttohim.Politicaleconomy,therefore,doesnotrecognizetheunoccupiedworker,theworkingmaninsofarasheisoutsidethisworkrelationship.Theswindler,thecheat,thebeggar,theunemployed,thestarving,thedestitute,andthecriminalworkingmanarefigureswhichexistnotforit,butonlyforothereyes——fortheeyesofdoctors,judges,grave—diggers,beadles,etc.Nebulousfigureswhichdonotbelongwithintheprovinceofpoliticaleconomy.Therefore,asfaraspoliticaleconomyisconcerned,therequirementsoftheworkercanbenarroweddowntoone:theneedtosupporthimwhileheisworkingandpreventtheraceofworkersfromdyingout.Wages,therefore,haveexactlythesamemeaningasthemaintenanceandupkeepofanyotherproductiveinstrument,orastheconsumptionofcapitalingeneralwhichisnecessaryifitistoreproduceitselfwithinterest——e.g.,theoilwhichisappliedtowheelstokeepthemturning.Wages,therefore,belongtothenecessarycostsofcapitalandofthecapitalist,andmustnotbeinexcessofthisnecessaryamount.Itwas,therefore,quitelogicalfortheEnglishfactoryowners,beforetheAmendmentBillof1834[PoorLaws],todeductfromtheworker’swagesthepublicalmswhichhereceivedfromthePoorRate,andtoconsidertheseaimsasanintegralpartofthosewages.
Productiondoesnotproducemanonlyasacommodity,thehumancommodity,manintheformofacommodity;italsoproduceshimasamentallyandphysicallydehumanizedbeingImmorality,malformation,stupidityofworkersandcapitaliststhehumancommodityAgreatadvancebyRicardo,Mill,etc.,onSmithandSay,todeclaretheexistenceofthehumanbeing——thegreaterorlesserhumanproductivityofthecommodity——tobeindifferentandevenharmful.Therealaimofproductionisnothowmanyworkersaparticularsumofcapitalcansupport,buthowmuchinterestitbringsinandhowmuchitsaveseachyear.Similarly,Englishpoliticaleconomytookabigstepforward,andalogicalone,when——whileacknowledginglaborasthesoleprincipleofpoliticaleconomy——itshowedwithcompleteclaritythatwagesandinterestoncapitalareinverselyrelatedandthat,asarule,thecapitalistcanpushuphisprofitsonlybyforcingdownwages,andviceversa.Clearly,thenormalrelationshipisnotoneinwhichthecustomerischeated,butinwhichthecapitalistandtheworkercheateachother.Therelationofprivatepropertycontainslatentwithinitselftherelationofprivatepropertyaslabor,therelationofprivatepropertyascapital,andtheconnectionofthesetwo.Ontheonehand,wehavetheproductionofhumanactivityaslabor——i.e.,asanactivitywhollyalientoitself,toman,andtonature,andhencetoconsciousnessandvitalexpression,theabstractexistenceofmanasamereworkmanwho,therefore,tumblesday—after—dayfromhisfulfillednothingnessintoabsolutenothingness,intohissocialand,hence,realnon—existence;and,ontheother,theproductionoftheobjectofhumanlaborascapital,inwhichallthenaturalandsocialindividualityoftheobjectisextinguishedandprivatepropertyhaslostitsnaturalandsocialquality(i.e.,haslostallpoliticalandsocialappearancesandisnotevenapparentlytaintedwithanyhumanrelationships),inwhichthesamecapitalstaysthesameinthemostvariednaturalandsocialcircumstance,totallyindifferenttoitsrealcontent.Thiscontradiction,driventoitsutmostlimit,isnecessarilythelimit,theculminationandthedeclineofthewholesystemofprivateproperty.
Itis,therefore,yetanothergreatachievementofrecentEnglishpoliticaleconomytohavedeclaredgroundrenttobethedifferencebetweentheinterestontheworstandthebestlandundercultivation,tohaveconfutedtheromanticillusionsoftheland—owner——hisallegedsocialimportanceandtheidentityofhisinterestwiththeinterestofsociety,whichAdamSmithcontinuedtopropoundafterthePhysiocrats——andtohaveanticipatedandpreparedthechangesinrealitywhichwilltransformtheland—ownerintoaquiteordinaryandprosaiccapitalist,therebysimplifyingthecontradiction,bringingittoaheadandhasteningitsresolution.Landaslandandgroundrentasgroundrenthavetherebylosttheirdistinctioninrankandhavebecomedumbcapitalandinterest——or,rather,capitalandinterestwhichonlytalkhardcash.Thedistinctionbetweencapitalandland,betweenprofitandgroundrent,andthedistinctionbetweenbothandwages,industry,agriculture,andimmovableandmovableprivateproperty,isnotonewhichisgroundedinthenatureofthings,itisahistoricaldistinction,afixedmomentintheformationanddevelopmentoftheoppositionbetweencapitalandlabor.Inindustry,etc.,asopposedtoimmovablelandedproperty,onlythemannerinwhichindustryfirstaroseandtheoppositiontoagriculturewithinwhichindustrydeveloped,areexpressed.Asaspecialkindofwork,asanessential,important,andlife—encompassingdistinction,thisdistinctionbetweenindustryandagriculturesurvivesonlyaslongasindustry(townlife)isdevelopinginoppositiontolandedproperty(aristocraticfeudallife)andcontinuestobearthefeudalcharacteristicsofitsoppositeintheformofmonopoly,crafts,guilds,corporations,etc.Giventheseforms,laborcontinuestohaveanapparentlysocialmeaning,themeaningofgenuinecommunity,andhasnotyetreachedthestageofindifferencetowardsitscontentandofcompletebeing—for—itself——i.e.,ofabstractionfromallotherbeingand,hence,ofliberatedcapital.
But,thenecessarydevelopmentoflaborisliberatedindustryconstitutedforitselfassuch,andliberatedcapital.Thepowerofindustryoveritsantagonistis,atonce,manifestedintheemergenceofagricultureasanactualindustry,whereaspreviouslymostoftheworkwaslefttothesoilitselfandtotheslaveofthesoil,throughwhomthesoilcultivateditself.
Withthetransformationoftheslaveintoafreeworker——i.e.,ahireling——thelandownerhimselfistransformedintoamasterofindustry,acapitalist.Thistransformationatfirsttookplacethroughtheagencyofthetenantfarmer.Butthetenantfarmeristherepresentative,therevealedsecret,ofthelandowner;onlythroughhimdoesthelandownerhavehiseconomicexistence,hisexistenceasapropertyowner——forthegroundrentofhislandexistsonlybecauseofthecompetitionbetweenthetenants.So,inthepersonofthetenantthelandownerhasalreadyessentiallybecomeacommoncapitalist.Andthismustalsobeeffectedinreality;thecapitalistengagedinagriculture——thetenant——mustbecomealandlord,orvice—versa.Theindustrialtradeofthetenantistheindustrialtradeofthelandlord,fortheexistenceoftheformerpositstheexistenceofthelatter.
But,rememberingtheirconflictingoriginsanddescent,thelandownerseesthecapitalistashispresumptuous,liberated,andenrichedslaveofyesterday,andhimselfasacapitalistwhoisthreatenedbyhim;thecapitalistseesthelandownerastheidle,cruel,andegotisticallordofyesterday;heknowsthatthelandownerisharmfultohimasacapitalist,andyetthatheoweshisentirepresentsocialposition,hispossessionsandhispleasures,toindustry;thecapitalistseesinthelandownertheantithesisoffreeindustryandfreecapital,whichisindependentofallnaturalforces——thisoppositionisextremelybitter,andeachsidetellsthetruthabouttheother.Oneonlyneedreadtheattackslaunchedbyimmovableonmovableproperty,andvice—versa,inordertogainaclearpictureoftheirrespectiveworthlessness.Theland—owneremphasizesthenoblelineageofhisproperty,thefeudalreminiscences,thepoetryofremembrance,hishigh—flownnature,hispoliticalimportance,etc.Whenheistalkingeconomics,heavowsthatagriculturealoneisproductive.
Atthesametime,hedepictshisopponentasawily,huckstering,censorious,deceitful,greedy,mercenary,rebellious,heartless,andsoullessracketeerwhoisestrangedfromhiscommunityandbusilytradesitaway,aprofiteering,pimping,servile,smooth,affectedtrickster,adesiccatedsharperwhobreeds,nourishes,andencouragescompetitionandpauperism,crimeandthedissolutionofallsocialties,whoiswithouthonor,principles,poetry,substance,oranythingelse.(See,amongothers,thePhysiocratBergasse,whomCamilleDesmoulinshasalreadyflayedinhisjournalRevolutionsdeFranceetdeBrabant;seealsovonVincke,Lancizolle,Haller,Leo,Kosegarten,andSismondi.)
MARXNOTE:SeealsothepompousOldHegeliantheologianFunke,who,accordingtoHerrLeo,toldwithtearsinhiseyeshowaslavehadrefused,whenserfdomwasabolished,toceasebeinganoblepossession.
SeealsoJustusMoser’sPatriotischePhantasien,whicharedistinguishedbythefactthattheyneverforonemomentleavethestaunch,petty—bourgeois,"Home—baked",ordinary,narrow—mindedhorizonofthephilistine,and,yetstill,remainpurefantasy.ItisthiscontradictionwhichhasmadethemsoplausibletotheGermanmind.
Movableproperty,foritspart,pointstothemiraclesofindustryandchange.Itisthechild,thelegitimate,only—begottenson,ofthemodernage.Itfeelssorryforitsopponent,whomitseesasahalf—witunenlightenedastohisownnature(anassessmentnoonecoulddisagreewith)andeagertoreplacemoralcapitalandfreelaborbybrute,immoralforceandserfdom.ItpaintshimasaDonQuixote,who,undertheveneerofdirectness,probity,thegeneralinterest,andstability,hidesaninabilityandevilintent.Itbrandshimasacunningmonopolist.Itdiscountenanceshisreminiscences,hispoetry,andhisenthusiasticgushings,byahistoricalandsarcasticrecitalofthebaseness,cruelty,degradation,prostitution,infamy,anarchy,andrevoltforgedintheworkshopsofhisromanticcastles.
Movableproperty,itself,claimstohavewonpoliticalfreedomfortheworld,tohaveloosedthechainsofcivilsociety,tohavelinkedtogetherdifferentworlds,tohavegivenrisetotrade,whichencouragesfriendshipbetweenpeoplesandtohavecreatedapuremoralityandapleasingculture;
tohavegiventhepeoplecivilizedinsteadofcrudewantsandthemeanswithwhichitsatisfythem.Thelandowner,ontheotherhand——thisidleandvexatiousspeculatoringrain——putsupthepriceofthepeople’sbasicprovisionsandtherebyforcesthecapitalisttoputupwageswithoutbeingabletoraiseproductivity,somakingitdifficult,andeventuallyimpossible,toincreasetheannualincomeofthenationandtoaccumulatethecapitalwhichisnecessaryifworkistobeprovidedforthepeopleandwealthforthecountry.Asaresult,thelandownerbringsaboutageneraldecline.Moreover,heinordinatelyexploitsalltheadvantagesofmoderncivilizationwithoutdoingtheleastthinginreturn,andwithoutmitigatingasingleoneofhisfeudalprejudices.Finally,thelandlord——forwhomthecultivationofthelandandthesoilitselfexistonlyasaheaven—sentsourceofmoney——shouldtakealookatthetenantfarmerandsaywhetherhehimselfisnotadownright,fantastic,cunningscoundrel,whoinhisheartandinactualfacthasforalongtimebeenpartoffreeindustryandwell—lovedtrade,howevermuchhemayresistthemandprattleofhistoricalmemoriesandmoralorpoliticalgoals.Alltheargumentshecangenuinelyadvanceinhisownfavorareonlytrueforthecultivatoroftheland(thecapitalistandthelaborers),ofwhomthelandownerisrathertheenemy;thus,hetestifiesagainsthimself.Withoutcapital,landedpropertyisdead,worthlessmatter.Thecivilizedvictoryofmovablecapitalhaspreciselybeentorevealandcreatehumanlaborasthesourceofwealthinplaceofthedeadthing.(SeePaul—LouisCourier,Saint—Simon,Ganilh,Ricardo,Mill,MacCulloch,DestuttdeTracy,andMichaelChevalier.)
Therealcourseofdevelopment(tobeinsertedhere)leadsnecessarilytothevictoryofthecapitalist——i.e.,ofdevelopedprivateproperty——overundeveloped,immatureprivateproperty——thelandowner.Inthesameway,movementinevitablytriumphsoverimmobility,openandself—consciousbasenessoverhiddenandunconsciousbaseness,greedoverself—indulgence,theavowedlyrestlessandversatileself—interestofenlightenmentovertheparochial,worldly—wise,artless,lazyanddeludedself—interestofsuperstition,justasmoneymusttriumphovertheotherformsofprivateproperty.Thosestateswhichhaveaforebodingofthedangerofallowingthefulldevelopmentoffreeindustry,puremorality,andthattradewhichencouragesfriendshipamongpeoples,attempt——althoughquiteinvain——toputastoptothecapitalizationoflandedproperty.
Landedproperty,asdistinctfromcapital,isprivateproperty,capital,whichisstillafflictedwithlocalandpoliticalprejudices,whichhasnotyetentirelyemergedfromitsinvolvementwiththeworldandcomeintoitsown;itiscapitalwhichisnotyetfullydeveloped.Inthecourseofitsformationonaworldscale,itmustattainitsabstract,i.e.,pure,expression.Therelationofprivatepropertyislabor,capital,andtheconnectionbetweenthesetwo.Themovementthroughwhichtheseparts[Glieder]havetopassis:
First——Unmediateormediatedunityofthetwo.Capitalandlabor,atfirst,stillunited;later,separatedandestranged,butreciprocallydevelopingandfurtheringeachotheraspositiveconditions.
Second——Oppositionofthetwo.Theymutuallyexcludeeachother;
theworkerseesinthecapitalisthisownnon—existence,andvice—versa;
eachtriestowrenchfromtheotherhisexistence.
Third——Oppositionofeachtoitself.Capital=stored—uplabor=labor.Assuch,itdividesintoitself(capital)anditsinterest;thislatterdividesintointerestandprofit.Completesacrificeofthecapitalist.
Hesinksintotheworkingclass,justastheworker——butonlybywayofexception——becomesacapitalist.Laborasamomentofcapital,itscosts.i.e.,wagesasacrificeofcapital.
Labordividesintolaboritselfandwagesoflabor.Theworkershimselfacapital,acommodity.
Hostilereciprocalopposition.
TheEconomicandPhilosophicalManuscripts:3rdKarlMarx’sECONOMICANDPHILOSOPHICALMANUSCRIPTSThirdManuscriptPRIVATEPROPERTYANDLABORadpageXXXVI.[Marxnumberedthepagesofthesemanuscriptsinromannumerals.ThepagereferredtoisoneofthosemissingbetweentheFirstandSecondManuscripts.]
Thesubjectiveessenceofprivateproperty,privatepropertyasactivityforitself,assubject,asperson,islabor.
It,therefore,goeswithoutsayingthatonlythatpoliticaleconomywhichrecognizedlaborasitsprinciple(AdamSmith),andwhichthereforenolongerregardedprivatepropertyasnothingmorethanaconditionexternaltoman,canberegardedasbothaproductoftherealenergyandmovementofprivateproperty(itistheindependentmovementofprivatepropertybecomeconsciousofitself,itismodernindustryasself),aproductofmodernindustry,andafactorwhichhasacceleratedandglorifiedtheenergyanddevelopmentofthisindustryandtransformeditintoapowerbelongingtoconsciousness.Therefore,thesupportersofthemonetaryandmercantilesystem,wholookuponprivatepropertyasapurelyobjectivebeingforman,appearasfetish—worshippers,asCatholics,tothisenlightenedpoliticaleconomy,whichhasrevealed——withinthesystemofprivateproperty——
thesubjectiveessenceofwealth.Engelswas,therefore,righttocallAdamSmiththeLutherofpoliticaleconomy[inEngels1843OutlinesofaCritiqueofPoliticalEconomy].JustasLutherrecognizedreligionandfaithastheessenceoftheexternalworldand,inconsequence,confrontedCatholicpaganism;justashetranscendedreligionexternalreligiositybymakingreligiositytheinneressenceofman;justashenegatedtheideaofpriestsassomethingseparateandapartfromthelaymanbytransferringthepriestintotheheartofthelayman;sowealthassomethingoutsideman,andindependentofhim——and,therefore,onlytobeacquiredacquiredandmaintainedexternally——isabolished[aufgehoben].i.e.,itsexternalandmindlessobjectivityisabolishedinasmuchasprivatepropertyisembodiedinmanhimselfandmanhimselfisrecognizedasitsessence——butthisbringsmanhimselfintotheprovinceofreligion.So,althoughpoliticaleconomy,whoseprincipleislabor,appearstorecognizeman,itis,infact,nothingmorethanthedenialofmancarriedthroughtoitslogicalconclusion:formanhimselfnolongerstandsinarelationofexternaltensiontotheexternalessenceofprivateproperty——hehimselfhasbecomethetenseessenceofprivateproperty.Whatwasformerlybeing—external—to—oneself,man’smaterialexternalization,hasnowbecometheactofalienation——i.e.,alienationthroughselling[Verausserung].Thispoliticaleconomy,therefore,startsoutbyseemingtorecognizeman,hisindependence,hisspontaneousactivity,etc.Sinceittransfersprivatepropertyintotheverybeingofman,itcannolongerbeconditionedbylocalornationalfeaturesofprivatepropertyassomethingexistingoutsideit.It(politicaleconomy)developsacosmopolitan,universalenergywhichbreaksthrougheverylimitationandbondandsetsitselfupastheonlypolicy,theonlyuniversality,theonlylimitation,andtheonlybond.Butthen,asitcontinuestodevelop,itisforcedtocastoffitshypocrisyandstepforthinallitscynicism.Thisitdoes,withouttroublingitsheadforonemomentaboutalltheapparentcontradictiontowhichthisdoctrineleads,bydevelopinginamoreone—sidedway,and,thus,moresharplyandmorelogically,theideaoflaborasthesoleessenceofwealth,byshowingthattheconclusionsofthisdoctrine,unliketheoriginalconception,areanti—human,andfinallybedeliveringthedeath—blowtogroundrent——thatlastindividualandnaturalformofprivatepropertyandsourceofwealthindependentofthemovementoflabor,thatexpressionoffeudalpropertywhichhasalreadybecomeentirelyeconomicandisthereforeincapableofputtingupanyresistancetopoliticaleconomy.(TheRicardoSchool.)
NotonlydoespoliticaleconomybecomeincreasinglycynicalfromSmiththroughSaytoRicardo,Milletc.,inasmuchastheconsequencesofindustryappearedmoredevelopedandmorecontradictorytothelatter;thelatteralsobecamemoreestranged——consciouslyestranged——frommanthantheirpredecessors.Butthisisonlybecausetheirsciencedevelopsmorelogicallyandmoretruly.Sincetheymakeprivatepropertyinitsactiveformthesubject,therebymakingmanasanon—being[Unwesen]theessence[Wesen],thecontradictioninrealitycorrespondsentirelytothecontradictoryessencewhichtheyhaveacceptedastheirprinciple.Thediscordantrealityofindustry,farfromrefusingtheirinternallydiscordantprinciple,actuallyconfirmsit.Theirprincipleisinfacttheprincipleofthisdiscordance.
ThephysiocraticdoctrineofDrQuesnayformsthetransitionfromthemercantilesystemtoAdamSmith.Physiocracyis,inadirectsense,theeconomicdissolutionoffeudalproperty,butitisthereforejustasdirectlytheeconomictransformationandrestorationofthatproperty.
Theonlyrealdifferenceisthatitslanguageisnolongerfeudalbuteconomic.
Allwealthisresolvedintolandandagriculture.Thelandisnotyetcapital;
itisstillaparticularmodeofexistenceofcapitalwhosevalueissupposedtolieinitsnaturalparticularity.Butlandisauniversalnaturalelement,whereasthemercantilesystemconsideredthatwealthexistedonlyinpreciousmetals.Theobjectofwealth,itsmatter,hasthereforeattainedthegreatestdegreeofuniversalitypossiblewithinthelimitsofnature——insofarasitisdirectlyobjectivewealthevenasnature.Anditisonlythroughlabor,throughagriculture,thatlandexistsforman.Consequently,thesubjectiveessenceofwealthisalreadytransferredtolabor.But,atthesametime,agricultureistheonlyproductivelabor.Laboris,therefore,notyetgraspedinitsuniversalandabstractform,butisstilltiedtoaparticularelementofnatureasitsmatterandifforthatreasonrecognizedonlyinaparticularmodeofexistencedeterminedbynature.Itis,therefore,stillonlyadeterminate,particularexternalizationofman——justasitsproductisconceivedasadeterminateformofwealth,duemoretonaturethantoitself.Here,thelandisstillregardedaspartofnaturewhichisindependentofman,andnotyetascapital——i.e.,asamomentoflaboritself.Rather,laborappearsasamomentofnature.But,sincethefetishismoftheoldexternalwealth,whichexistsonlyasanobject,hasbeenreducedtoaverysimpleelementofnature,andsinceitsessencehasbeenrecognized——evenifonlypartiallyandinaparticularway——
initssubjectiveessence,thenecessaryadvancehastakenplaceinthesensethattheuniversalnatureofwealthhasbeenrecognizedandlaborhas,therefore,beenelevatedinitsabsolute——i.e.,abstract——formtothatprinciple.ItispossibletoargueagainstthePhysiocratsthatagricultureisnodifferentfromaneconomicpointofview——thatis,fromtheonlyvalidpointofview——fromanyotherindustry,andthattheessenceofwealthisthereforenotaparticularformoflabortiedtoaparticularelement,aparticularmanifestationoflabor,butlaboringeneral.
Physiocracydeniesparticular,external,purelyobjectivewealthbydeclaringlabortobeitsessence.But,forphysiocracy,laborisinthefirstplacemerelythesubjectiveessenceoflandedproperty——itstartsoutfromthetypeofpropertywhichappearshistoricallyasthedominantandrecognizedtype.Itsimpleturnslandedpropertyintoalienatedman.Itabolishesthefeudalcharacteroflandedpropertybydeclaringindustry(agriculture)tobeitsessence;butitsetsitsfaceagainsttheworldofindustryandacknowledgesthefeudalsystembydeclaringagriculturetobetheonlyindustry.
Clearly,oncethesubjectiveessenceisgraspedofindustryconstitutingitselfinoppositiontolandedproperty——i.e.,asindustry——
thisessenceincludeswithinitthatopposition.For,justasindustryabsorbsannulledlandedproperty,sothesubjectiveessenceofindustryatthesametimeabsorbsthesubjectiveessenceoflandedproperty.
Justaslandedpropertyisthefirstformofprivateproperty,andindustryatfirstconfrontsithistoricallyasnothingmorethanaparticularsortofprivateproperty——or,rather,astheliberatedslaveoflandedproperty——sothisprocessisrepeatedinthescientificcomprehensionofthesubjectiveessenceofprivateproperty,oflabor;laborappearsatfirstonlyasagriculturallabor,butlaterassumestheformoflaboringeneral.
Allwealthhasbecomeindustrialwealth,wealthoflabor,andindustryisfullydevelopedlabor,justasthefactorysystemistheperfectedessenceofindustry——i.e.,oflabor——andindustrialcapitalthefullydevelopedobjectiveformofprivateproperty.
Thus,weseethatitisonlyatthispointthatprivatepropertycanperfectitsruleovermenandbecome,initsmostuniversalform,aworld—historicalpower.
PRIVATEPROPERTYANDCOMMUNISM
adpageXXXIX.[Thissection,"PrivatePropertyandCommunism",formedanappendixtopageXXXIXoftheincompleteSecondManuscript.]
Buttheantithesisbetweenpropertylessnessandpropertyisstillanindifferentantithesis,notgraspedinitsactiveconnection,itsinnerrelation,notyetgraspedascontradiction,aslongasitisnotunderstoodastheantithesisbetweenlaborandcapital.Initsinitialform,thisantithesiscanmanifestitselfevenwithouttheadvanceddevelopmentofprivateproperty——as,forexample,inancientRome,inTurkey,etc.Insuchcases,itdoesnotyetappearasestablishedbyprivatepropertyitself.Butlabor,thesubjectiveessenceofprivatepropertyasexclusionofproperty,andcapital,objectivelaborasexclusionoflabor,constituteprivatepropertyinitsdevelopedrelationofcontradiction:
avigorousrelation,therefore,drivingtowardsresolution.
adibidem.
Thesupersession[Aufhebung]ofself—estrangementfollowsthesamecourseself—estrangement.Privatepropertyisfirstconsideredonlyinitsobjectiveaspect,butstillwithlaborasitsessence.Itsformofexistenceisthereforecapital,whichistobeabolished"assuch"(Proudhon).
Ortheparticularformoflabor——levelleddown,parcelled,and,therefore,unfree——istakenasthesourceoftheharmfulnessofprivatepropertyanditshumanlyestrangedexistence.Forexample,Fourier,likethePhysiocrats,regardedagricultureasatleastthebestformoflabor,whileSaint—Simon,ontheotherhand,declaredindustriallaborassuchtobetheessenceandconsequentlywantsexclusiverulebytheindustrialistsandtheimprovementoftheconditionoftheworkers.Finally,communism[thatis,crudeorutopiancommunism,likeProudhonetalabove]isthepositiveexpressionoftheabolitionofprivateproperty,and,atfirst,appearsasuniversalprivateproperty.Ingraspingthisrelationinitsuniversality,communismis(1)initsinitialformonlyageneralizationandcompletionofthatrelation(ofprivateproperty).Assuch,itappearsinadualform:
ontheonehand,thedominationofmaterialpropertybulkssolargethatitthreatenstodestroyeverythingwhichisnotcapableofbeingpossessedbyeveryoneasprivateproperty;itwantstoabstractfromtalent,etc.,byforce.Physical,immediatepossessionistheonlypurposeoflifendexistenceasfarasthiscommunismisconcerned;thecategoryofworkerisnotabolishedbutextendedtoallmen;therelationofprivatepropertyremainstherelationofthecommunitytotheworldofthings;
ultimately,thismovementtoopposeuniversalprivatepropertytoprivatepropertyisexpressedinbestialform——marriage(whichisadmittedlyaformofexclusiveprivateproperty)iscounterposedtothecommunityofwomen,wherewomenbecomecommunalandcommonproperty.Onemightsaythatthisideaofacommunityofwomenistherevealedsecretofthisasyetwhollycrudeandunthinkingcommunism.Justaswomenaretogofrommarriageintogeneralprostitution,sothewholeworldofwealth——i.e.,theobjectiveessenceofman——istomakethetransitionfromtherelationofexclusivemarriagewiththeprivateownertotherelationofuniversalprostitutionwiththecommunity.Thiscommunism,inasmuchasitnegatesthepersonalityofmanineverysphere,issimplythelogicalexpressionoftheprivatepropertywhichisthisnegation.Universalenvyconstitutingitselfasapoweristhehiddenforminwhichgreedreassertsitselfandsatisfiesitself,butinanotherway.Thethoughtsofeverypieceofprivatepropertyassuchareatleastturnedagainstricherprivatepropertyintheformofenvyandthedesiretoleveleverythingdown;hencethesefeelingsinfactconstitutetheessenceofcompetition.Thecrudecommunistismerelytheculminationofthisenvyanddesiretoleveldownonthebasisofapreconceivedminimum.Ithasadefinite,limitedmeasure.Howlittlethisabolitionofprivatepropertyisatrueappropriationisshownbytheabstractnegationoftheentireworldofcultureandcivilization,andthereturntotheunnaturalsimplicityofthepoor,unrefinedmanwhohasnoneedsandwhohasnotyetevenreachedthestageofprivateproperty,letalonggonebeyondit.
(Forcrudecommunism)thecommunityissimplyacommunityoflaborandequalityofwages,whicharepaidoutbythecommunalcapital,thecommunityasuniversalcapitalist.Bothsidesoftherelationareraisedtoanunimaginaryuniversality——laborastheconditioninwhicheveryoneisplacedandcapitalastheacknowledgeduniversalityandpowerofthecommunity.
Intherelationshipwithwoman,asthepreyandhandmaidofcommunallust,isexpressedtheinfinitedegradationinwhichmanexistsforhimself——forthesecretofthisrelationshiphasitsunambiguous,decisive,openandrevealedexpressionintherelationshipofmantowomanandinthemannerinwhichthedirect,naturalspecies—relationshipisconceived.Theimmediate,natural,necessaryrelationofhumanbeingtohumanbeingistherelationshipofmantowoman.Inthisnaturalspecies—relationship,therelationofmantonatureisimmediatelyhisrelationtoman,justashisrelationtomanisimmediatelyhisrelationtonature,hisownnaturalcondition.Therefore,thisrelationshiprevealsinasensuousform,reducedtoanobservablefact,theextenttowhichthehumanessencehasbecomenatureformanornaturehasbecomethehumanessenceforman.Itispossibletojudgefromthisrelationshiptheentirelevelofdevelopmentofmankind.
Itfollowsfromthecharacterofthisrelationshipofthisrelationshiphowfarmanasaspecies—being,asman,hasbecomehimselfandgraspedhimself;therelationofmantowomanisthemostnaturalrelationofhumanbeingtohumanbeing.Itthereforedemonstratestheextenttowhichman’snaturalbehaviorhasbecomehumanortheextenttowhichhishumanessencehasbecomeanaturalessenceforhim,theextenttowhichhishumannaturehasbecomenatureforhim.Thisrelationshipalsodemonstratestheextenttowhichman’sneedshavebecomehumanneeds,hencetheextenttowhichtheother,asahumanbeing,hasbecomeaneedforhim,theextenttowhichinhismostindividualexistenceheisatthesametimeacommunalbeing.
Thefirstpositiveabolitionofprivateproperty——crudecommunism——isthereforeonlyamanifestationofthevilenessofprivatepropertytryingtoestablishitselfasthepositivecommunity.
(2)Communism(a)stillofapoliticalnature,democraticordespotic;
(b)withtheabolitionofthestate,butstillessentiallyincompleteandinfluencedbyprivateproperty——i.e.,bytheestrangementofman.
Inbothforms,communismalreadyknowsitselfasthereintegration,orreturn,ofmanintohimself,thesupersessionofman’sself—estrangement;
butsinceithasnotyetcomprehendedthepositiveessenceofprivateproperty,orunderstoodthehumannatureofneed,itisstillheldcaptiveandcontaminatedbyprivateproperty.True,ithasunderstooditsconcept,butnotyetinessence.
[Marxnowendeavorstoexploreifownversionofcommunism,asdistinctfromProudhonetalabove.]
(3)Communismisthepositivesupersessionofprivatepropertyashumanself—estrangement,andhencethetrueappropriationofthehumanessencethroughandforman;itisthecompleterestorationofmantohimselfasasocial——i.e.,human——being,arestorationwhichhasbecomeconsciousandwhichtakesplacewithintheentirewealthofpreviousperiodsofdevelopment.Thiscommunism,asfullydevelopednaturalism,equalshumanism,andasfullydevelopedhumanismequalsnaturalism;itisthegenuineresolutionoftheconflictbetweenmanandnature,andbetweenmanandman,thetrueresolutionoftheconflictbetweenexistenceandbeing,betweenobjectificationandself—affirmation,betweenfreedomandnecessity,betweenindividualandspecies.Itisthesolutionoftheriddleofhistoryandknowsitselftobethesolution.
Theentiremovementofhistoryisthereforeboththeactualactofcreationofcommunism——thebirthofitsempiricalexistence——and,foritsthinkingconsciousness,thecomprehendedandknownmovementofitsbecoming;whereastheothercommunism,whichisnotyetfullydeveloped,seeksinisolatedhistoricalformsopposedtoprivatepropertyahistoricalproofforitself,aproofdrawnfromwhatalreadyexists,bywrenchingisolatedmomentsfromtheirproperplacesintheprocessofdevelopment(ahobbyhorseCabet,Villegardelle,etc.,particularlyliketoride)andadvancingthemasproofsofitshistoricalpedigree.Butallitsucceedsinshowingisthatbefarthegreaterpartofthisdevelopmentcontradictsitsassertionsandthatifitdidnotonceexist,thentheveryfactthatitexistedinthepastrefutesitsclaimtoessentialbeing[Wesen].
Itiseasytoseehownecessaryitisforthewholerevolutionarymovementtofindbothitsempiricalanditstheoreticalbasisinthemovementofprivatepropertyor,tobeexact,oftheeconomy.
Thismaterial,immediatelysensuousprivatepropertyisthematerial,sensuousexpressionofestrangedhumanlife.Itsmovement——productionandconsumption——isthesensuousrevelationofthemovementofallpreviousproduction——i.e.,therealizationorrealityofman.Religion,thefamily,thestate,law,morality,science,art,etc.,areonlyparticularmodesofproductionandthereforecomeunderitsgenerallaw.Thepositivesupersessionofprivateproperty,astheappropriationofhumanlife,isthereforethepositivesupersessionofallestrangement,andthereturnofmanfromreligion,thefamily,thestate,etc.,tohishuman——i.e.,social——existence.Religiousestrangementassuchtakesplaceonlyinthesphereofconsciousness,ofman’sinnerlife,buteconomicestrangementisthatofreallife——itssupersessionthereforeembracesbothaspects.
Clearlythenatureofthemovementindifferentcountriesinitiallydependsonwhethertheactualandacknowledgedlifeofthepeoplehasitsbeingmoreinconsciousnessorintheexternalworld,inidealorinreallife.
Communismbeginswithatheism(Owen),butatheismisinitiallyfarfrombeingcommunism,andisforthemostpartanabstraction.Thephilanthropyofatheismisthereforeatfirstnothingmorethananabstractphilosophicalphilanthropy,whilethatofcommunismisatoncerealanddirectlybenttowardsaction.
Wehaveseenhow,assumingthepositivesupersessionofprivateproperty,manproducesman,himselfandothermen;howtheobject,whichisthedirectactivityofhisindividuality,isatthesametimehisexistenceforothermen,theirexistenceandtheirexistenceforhim.Similarly,however,boththematerialoflaborandmanassubjectarethestarting—pointaswellastheoutcomeofthemovement(andthehistoricalnecessityofprivate—propertyliespreciselyinthefactthattheymustbethisstarting—point).
Sothesocialcharacteristhegeneralcharacterofthewholemovement;
justassocietyitselfproducesmanasman,soitisproducedbyhim.Activityandconsumption,bothintheircontentandintheirmodeofexistence,aresocialactivityandsocialconsumption.Thehumanessenceofnatureexistsonlyforsocialman;foronlyheredoesnatureexistforhimasabondwithothermen,ashisexistenceforothersandtheirexistenceforhim,asthevitalelementofhumanreality;onlyheredoesitexistasthebasisofhisownhumanexistence.Onlyherehashisnaturalexistencebecomehishumanexistenceandnaturebecomemanforhim.Societyisthereforetheperfectedunityinessenceofmanwithnature,thetrueresurrectionofnature,therealizednaturalismofmanandtherealizedhumanismofnature.[Marxnoteatthebottomofthepage:Prostitutionisonlyaparticularexpressionoftheuniversalprostitutionoftheworker,andsinceprostitutionisarelationshipwhichincludesnotonlytheprostitutedbutalsotheprostitutor——whoseinfamyisevengreater——thecapitalistisalsoincludedinthiscategory.]