Socialactivityandsocialconsumptionbynomeansexistsolelyintheformofadirectlycommunalactivityandadirectlycommunalconsumption,eventhoughcommunalactivityandcommunalconsumption——i.e.,activityandconsumptionthatexpressandconfirmthemselvesdirectlyinrealassociationwithothermen——occurwhereverthatdirectexpressionofsociality[Gesellschaftlichkeit]springsfromtheessentialnatureofthecontentoftheactivityandisappropriatetothenatureoftheconsumption.
ButevenifIamactiveinthefieldofscience,etc.——anactivitywhichIamseldomabletoperformindirectassociationwithothermen——IamstillsociallyactivebecauseIamactiveasaman.Itisnotonlythematerialofmyactivity——includingeventhelanguageinwhichthethinkerisactive——whichIreceiveasasocialproduct.Myownexistenceissocialactivity.ThereforewhatIcreatefrommyselfIcreateforsociety,consciousofmyselfasasocialbeing.
Myuniversalconsciousnessisonlythetheoreticalformofthatwhoselivingformistherealcommunity,society,whereasatpresentuniversalconsciousnessisanabstractionfromreallifeandassuchinhostileoppositiontoit.Hencetheactivityofmyuniversalconsciousness——asactivity——ismytheoreticalexistenceasasocialbeing.
Itis,aboveall,necessarytoavoidoncemoreestablishing"society"
asanabstractionoveragainsttheindividual.Theindividualisthesocialbeing.Hisvitalexpression——evenwhenitdoesnotappearinthedirectformofacommunalexpression,conceivedinassociationwithothermen——isthereforeanexpressionandconfirmationofsociallife.
Man’sindividualandspecies—lifearenottwodistinctthings,howevermuch——andthisisnecessarilyso——themodeofexistenceofindividuallifeisamoreparticularoramoregeneralmodeofthespecies—life,orspecies—lifeamoreparticularormoregeneralindividuallife.
Asspecies—consciousnessmanconfirmshisrealsociallifeandmerelyrepeatsinthoughthisactualexistence;conversely,species—beingconfirmsitselfinspecies—consciousnessandexistsforitselfinitsuniversality,asathinkingbeing.
Man,howevermuchhemaythereforebeaparticularindividual——anditisjustthisparticularitywhichmakeshimanindividualtotality,theidealtotality,thesubjectiveexistenceofthoughtandexperiencedsocietyforitself;healsoexistsinrealityasthecontemplationandtrueenjoymentofsocialexistenceandasatotalityofvitalhumanexpression.
Itistruethatthoughtandbeingaredistinct,butatthesametimetheyareinunitywithoneanother.
Deathappearsastheharshvictoryofthespeciesovertheparticularindividual,andseeminglycontradictstheirunity;buttheparticularindividualisonlyaparticularspecies—being,and,assuch,mortal.
(4)Justasprivatepropertyisonlythesensuousexpressionofthefactthatmanbecomesobjectiveforhimselfandatthesametimebecomesanalienandinhumanobjectforhimself,thathisexpressionoflife[Lebensausserung]ishisalienationoflife[Lebensentausserung],andthathisrealizationisalossofreality,analienreality,sothepositivesupersessionofprivateproperty——i.e.,thesensuousappropriationofthehumanessenceandhumanlife,ofobjectivemanandofhumanworksbyandforman——shouldnotbeunderstoodonlyinthesenseofdirect,one—sidedconsumption,ofpossession,ofhaving.Manappropriateshisintegralessenceinanintegralway,asatotalman.Allhishumanelationstotheworld——seeing,hearing,smelling,tasting,feeling,thinking,contemplating,sensing,wanting,acting,loving——inshort,alltheorgansofhisindividuality,liketheorganswhicharedirectlycommunalinform,areintheirobjectiveapproachorintheirapproachtotheobjecttheappropriationofthatobject.Thisappropriationofhumanreality,theirapproachtotheobject,istheconfirmationofhumanreality.[Marx’snote:
Itisthereforejustasvariedasthedeterminationsofthehumanessenceandactivities.]Itishumaneffectivenessandhumansuffering,forsuffering,humanlyconceived,isanenjoymentoftheselfforman.
Privatepropertyhasmadeussostupidandone—sidedthatanobjectisonlyourswhenwehaveit,whenitexistsforusascapitalorwhenwedirectlypossess,eat,drink,wear,inhabitit,etc.,inshort,whenweuseit.Althoughprivatepropertyconceivesalltheseimmediaterealizationsofpossessiononlyasmeansoflife;andthelifetheyserveisthelifeofprivateproperty,labor,andcapitalization.
Thereforeallthephysicalandintellectualsenseshavebeenreplacedbythesimpleestrangementofallthesesenses——thesenseofhaving.
Sothatitmightgivebirthtoitsinnerwealth,humannaturehadtobereducedtothisabsolutepoverty.(OnthecategoryofhavingseeHessinEinundzwanzigBogen.)
Thesupersessionofprivatepropertyisthereforethecompleteemancipationofallhumansensesandattributes;butitisthisemancipationpreciselybecausethesesensesandattributeshavebecomehuman,subjectivelyaswellasobjectively.Theeyehasbecomeahumaneye,justasitsobjecthasbecomeasocial,humanobject,madebymanforman.Thesenseshavethereforebecometheoreticiansintheirimmediatepraxis.Theyrelatetothethingforitsownsake,butthethingitselfisanobjectivehumanrelationtoitselfandtoman,andviceversa.[Marx’snote:InpracticeIcanonlyrelatemyselftoathinginahumanwayifthethingisrelatedinahumanwaytoman.]Needoremploymenthavethereforelosttheiregoisticnature,andnaturehaslostitsmereutilityinthesensethatitsusehasbecomehumanuse.
Similarly,sensesandenjoymentofothermenhavebecomemyownappropriation.Apartfromthesedirectorgans,socialorgansarethereforecreatedintheformofsociety;forexample,activityindirectassociationwithothers,etc.,hasbecomeanorganofmylifeexpressionsandamodeofappropriationofhumanlife.
Obviouslythehumaneyetakesinthingsinadifferentwayfromthecrudenon—humaneye,thehumearinadifferentwayfromthecrudeear,etc.
Tosumup:itisonlywhenman’sobjectbecomesahumanobjectorobjectivethatmandoesnotlosehimselfinthatobject.Thisisonlypossiblewhenitbecomesasocialobjectforhimandwhenhehimselfbecomesasocialbeingforhimself,justassocietybecomesabeingforhiminthisobject.
Ontheonehand,therefore,itisonlywhenobjectiverealityuniversallybecomesformaninsocietytherealityofman’sessentialpowers,becomeshumanreality,andthustherealityofhisownessentialpowers,thatallobjectsbecomeforhimtheobjectificationofhimself,objectsthatconfirmandrealizehisindividuality,hisobjects——i.e.,hehimselfbecomestheobject.Themannerinwhichtheybecomehisdependsonthenatureoftheobjectandthenatureoftheessentialpowerthatcorrespondstoit;foritisjustthedeterminatenessofthisrelationthatconstitutestheparticular,realmodeofaffirmation.Anobjectisdifferentfortheeyefromwhatitisfortheear,andtheeye’sobjectisdifferentforfromtheear’s.Thepeculiarityofeachessentialpowerispreciselyitspeculiaressence,andthusalsothepeculiarmodeofitsobjectification,ofitsobjectivelyreal,livingbeing.Manisthereforeaffirmedintheobjectiveworldnotonlyinthoughtbutwithallthesenses.
Ontheotherhand,letuslookatthequestioninitssubjectiveaspect:onlymusiccanawakenthemusicalsenseinmanandthemostbeautifulmusichasnosensefortheunmusicalear,becausemyobjectcanonlybetheconfirmationofoneofmyessentialpowers——i.e.,canonlybeformeinsofarasmyessentialpowerexistsformeasasubjectiveattribute(thisisbecausethesenseofanobjectformeextendsonlyasfarasmysenseextends,onlyhassenseforasensethatcorrespondstothatobject).
Inthesameway,andforthesamereasons,thesensesofsocialmanaredifferentfromthoseofnon—socialman.Onlythroughtheobjectivelyunfoldedwealthofhumannaturecanthewealthofsubjectivehumansensitivity——
amusicalear,aneyeforthebeautyofform,inshort,sensescapableofhumangratification——beeithercultivatedorcreated.Fornotonlythefivesenses,butalsotheso—calledspiritualsenses,thepracticalsenses(will,love,etc.),inaword,thehumansense,thehumanityofthesenses——allthesecomeintobeingonlythroughtheexistenceoftheirobjects,throughhumanizednature.Thecultivationofthefivesensesistheworkofallprevioushistory.Sensewhichisaprisonerofcrudepracticalneedhasonlyarestrictedsense.Foramanwhoisstarving,thehumanformoffooddoesnotexist,onlyitsabstractformexists;itcouldjustaswellbepresentinitscrudestform,anditwouldbehardtosayhowthiswayofeatingdiffersfromthatofanimals.Themanwhoisburdenedwithworriesandneedshasnosenseforthefinestofplays;thedealerinmineralsseesonlythecommercialvalue,andnotthebeautyandpeculiarnatureoftheminerals;helacksamineralogicalsense;thustheobjectificationofthehumanessence,inatheoreticalaswellasapracticalrespect,isnecessarybothinordertomakeman’ssenseshumanandtocreateanappropriatehumansenseforthewholeofthewealthofhumanityandofnature.
Justasinitsinitialstagessocietyispresentedwithallthematerialforthisculturaldevelopmentthroughthemovementofprivateproperty,andofitswealthandpoverty——bothmaterialandintellectualwealthandpoverty——sothesocietythatisfullydevelopedproducesmaninalltherichnessofhisbeing,therichmanwhoisprofoundlyandabundantlyendowedwithallthesenses,asitsconstantreality.Itcanbeseenhowsubjectivenessandobjectivism,spiritualismandmaterialism,activityandpassivity[Leiden],losetheirantitheticalcharacter,andhencetheirexistenceassuchantithesis,onlyinthesocialcondition;itcanbeseenhowtheresolutionofthetheoreticalantithesesthemselvesispossibleonlyinapracticalway,onlythroughthepracticalenergyofman,andhowtheirresolutionisforthatreasonbynomeansonlyaproblemofknowledge,butarealproblemoflife,aproblemwhichphilosophywasunabletosolvepreciselybecauseittreateditasapurelytheoreticalproblem.
Itcanbeseenhowthehistoryofindustryandtheobjectiveexistenceofindustryasithasdevelopedistheopenbookoftheessentialpowersofman,man’spsychologypresentintangibleform;uptonowthishistoryhasnotbeengraspedinitsconnectionwiththenatureofman,butonlyinanexternalutilitarianaspect,forman,movingintherealmofestrangement,wasonlycapableofconceivingthegeneralexistenceofman——religion,orhistoryinitsabstractanduniversalformofpolitics,art,literature,etc.——astherealityofman’sessentialpowersandasman’sspecies—activity.
Ineveryday,materialindustry(whichcanjustaseasilybeconsideredasapartofthatgeneraldevelopmentasthatgeneraldevelopmentitselfcanbeconsideredasaparticularpartofindustry,sinceallhumanactivityuptonowhasbeenlabor——i.e.,industry,self—estrangedactivity)
wefindourselvesconfrontedwiththeobjectifiedpowersofthehumanessence,intheformofsensuous,alien,usefulobjects,intheformofestrangement.
Apsychologyforwhichthisbook,themosttangibleandaccessiblepartofhistory,isclosed,canneverbecomearealsciencewithagenuinecontent.
Whatindeedshouldwethinkofasciencewhichprimlyabstractsfromthislargeareaofhumanlabor,andfailstosenseitsowninadequacy,eventhoughsuchanextendedwealthofhumanactivitysaysnothingmoretoitperhapsthanwhatcanbesaidinoneword——"need","commonneed"?
Thenaturalscienceshavebeenprolificallyactiveandhavegatheredtogetheranevergrowingmassofmaterial.Butphilosophyhasremainedjustasalientothemastheyhaveremainedalientophilosophy.Theirmomentaryunionwasonlyafantasticillusion.Thewillwasthere,butnotthemeans.Evenhistoriographyonlyincidentallytakesaccountofnaturalscience,whichitseesascontributingtoenlightenment,utilityandafewgreatdiscoveries.Butnaturalsciencehasintervenedinandtransformedhumanlifeallthemorepracticallythroughindustryandhaspreparedtheconditionsforhumanemancipation,howevermuchitsimmediateeffectwastocompletetheprocesswastocompletetheprocessofdehumanization.
Industryistherealhistoricalrelationshipofnature,andhenceofnaturalscience,toman.Ifitisthenconceivedastheexotericrevelationofman’sessentialpowers,thehumanessenceofnatureorthenaturalessenceofmancanalsobeunderstood.Hencenaturalsciencewillloseitsabstractlymaterial,orratheridealist,orientationandbecomethebasisofahumanscience,justasithasalreadybecome——thoughinanestrangedform——
thebasisofactualhumanlife.Theideaofonebasisforlifeandanotherforscienceisfromtheveryoutsetalie.Natureasitcomesintobeinginhumanhistory——intheactofcreationofhumansociety——isthetruenatureofman;hencenatureasitcomesintobeingthroughindustry,thoughinanestrangedform,istrueanthropologicalnature.
Senseperception(seeFeuerbach)mustbethebasisofallscience.
Onlywhensciencestartsoutfromsenseperceptioninthedualformofsensuousconsciousnessandsensuousneed——i.e.,onlywhensciencestartsoutfromnature——isitrealscience.Thewholeofhistoryisapreparation,adevelopment,for"man"tobecometheobjectofsensuousconsciousnessandfortheneedsof"manasman"tobecome[sensuous]needs.
Historyitselfisarealpartofnaturalhistoryandofnature’sbecomingman.Naturalsciencewill,intime,subsumethescienceofman,justasthescienceofmanwillsubsumenaturalscience:therewillbeonescience.
Manistheimmediateobjectofnaturalscience;forimmediatesensuousnatureformanis,immediately,humansenseperception(anidenticalexpression)intheformoftheothermanwhoispresentinhissensuousimmediacyforhim.Hisownsenseperceptiononlyexistsashumansenseperceptionforhimselfthroughtheotherman.Butnatureistheimmediateobjectofthescienceofman.Man’sfirstobject——man——isnature,senseperception;andtheparticularsensuoushumanpowers,sincetheycanfindobjectiverealizationonlyinnaturalobjects,canfindself—knowledgeonlyinthescienceofnatureingeneral.Theelementofthoughtitself,theelementofthevitalexpressionofthought——language——issensuousnature.Thesocialrealityofnatureandhumannaturalscienceorthenaturalscienceofmanareidenticalexpressions.
Itcanbeseenhowtherichmanandthewealthofhumanneedtaketheplaceofthewealthandpovertyofpoliticaleconomy.Therichmanissimultaneouslythemaninneedoftotalityofvitalhumanexpression;
heisthemaninwhomhisownrealizationexistsasinnernecessity,asneed.Givensocialism,notonlyman’swealthbutalsohispovertyacquireahumanandhenceasocialsignificance.Povertyisthepassivebondwhichmakesmanexperiencehisgreatestwealth——theotherman——asneed.Thedominationoftheobjectiveessenceswithinme,thesensuousoutburstofmyessentialactivity,ispassion,whichherebecomestheactivityofmybeing.
(5)Abeingseeshimselfasindependentonlywhenhestandsonhisownfeet,andheonlystandsonhisownfeetwhenheowesthisexistencetohimself.Amanwholivesbythegraceofanotherregardshimselfasadependentbeing.ButIlivecompletelybythegraceofanotherifIowehimnotonlythemaintenanceofmylife,butalsoitscreation,ifheisthesourceofmylife.Mylifeisnecessarilygroundedoutsideitselfifitisnotmyowncreation.Thecreationisthereforeanideawhichisveryhardtoexorcizefromthepopularconsciousness.Thisconsciousnessisincapableofcomprehendingtheself—mediatedbeing[Durchsichselbstsein]
ofnatureandofman,sincesuchabeingcontradictsallthepalpableevidenceofpracticallife.
ThecreationoftheEarthreceivesaheavyblowfromthescienceofgeogeny——i.e.,thesciencewhichdepictstheformationoftheEarth,itscomingtobe,asaprocessofself—generation.Generatioaequivoca[spontaneousgeneration]istheonlypracticalrefutationofthetheoryofcreation.
Now,itiseasytosaytoaparticularindividualwhatAristotlesaid:Youwerebegottenbyyourfatherandyourmother,whichmeansthatinyouthematingoftwohumanbeings,ahumanspecies—act,producedanotherhumanbeing.Clearly,then,manalsooweshisexistencetomaninaphysicalsense.Therefore,youshouldnotonlykeepsightoftheoneaspect,theinfiniteprogressionwhichleadsyouontothequestion:"Whobegotmyfather,hisgrandfather,etc.?"Youshouldalsokeepinmindthecircularmovementsensuouslyperceptibleinthatprogressionwherebymanreproduceshimselfintheactofbegettingandthusalwaysremainsthesubject.Butyouwillreply:Igrantyouthiscircularmovement,butyoumustalsograntmetherighttoprogressbacktothequestion:Yourquestionisitselfaproductofabstraction.Askyourselfhowyouarrivedatthatquestion.
AskyourselfwhetheryourquestiondoesnotarisefromastandpointtowhichIcannotreplybecauseitisaperverseone.Askyourselfwhetherthatprogressionexistsassuchforrationalthought.Ifyouaskaboutthecreationofnatureandofman,thenyouareabstractingfromnatureandfromman.Youassumethemasnon—existentandwantmetoprovetoyouthattheyexist.Myansweris:Giveupyourabstractionandyouwillthemgiveupyourquestion.Butifyouwanttoholdontoyourabstraction,thendosoconsistently,andifyouassumethenon—existenceofmanandnature,thenassumealsoyourownnon—existence,foryouarealsonatureandman.Donotthinkanddonotaskmequestions,forassoonasyouthinkandaskquestions,yourabstractionfromtheexistenceofnatureandmanhasnomeaning.Orareyousuchanegoistthatyouassumeeverythingasnon—existenceandstillwanttoexistyourself?
Youcanreply:Idonotwanttoassumethenothingnessofnature,etc.Iamonlyaskinghowitarose,justasImightasktheanatomistabouttheformationofbones,etc.
Butsinceforsocialistmanthewholeofwhatiscalledworldhistoryisnothingmorethanthecreationofmanthroughhumanlabor,andthedevelopmentofnatureforman,hethereforehaspalpableandincontrovertibleproofofhisself—mediatedbirth,ofhisprocessofemergence.Sincetheessentiality[Wesenhaftigkeit]ofmanandnature,amanastheexistenceofnatureformanandnatureastheexistenceofmanforman,hasbecomepracticallyandsensuouslyperceptible,thequestionofanalienbeing,beingabovenatureandman——aquestionwhichimpliesanadmissionoftheunrealityofnatureandofman——hasbecomeimpossibleinpractice.
Atheism,whichisadenialofthisunreality,nolongerhasanymeaning,foratheismisanegationofGod,throughwhichnegationitassertstheexistenceofman.Butsocialismassuchnolongerneedssuchmediation.
Itsstartingpointisthetheoreticallyandpracticallysensuousconsciousnessofmanandofnatureasessentialbeings.Itisthepositiveself—consciousnessofman,nolongermediatedthroughtheabolitionofreligion,justasreallifeispositiverealitynolongermediatedthroughtheabolitionofprivateproperty,throughcommunism.Communismistheactofpositingasthenegationofthenegation,andisthereforearealphase,necessaryforthenextperiodofhistoricaldevelopment,intheemancipationandrecoveryofmankind.
Communismisthenecessaryformandthedynamicprincipleoftheimmediatefuture,butcommunismisnotassuchthegoalofhumandevelopment——theformofhumansociety.
NEED,PRODUCTIONANDDIVISIONOFLABOR
Wehaveseenwhatsignificancethewealthofhumanneedshas,onthepresuppositionofsocialism,andconsequentlywhatsignificanceanewmodeofproductionandanewobjectofproductionhave.Afreshconfirmationofhumanpowersandafreshenrichmentofhumannature.Underthesystemofprivatepropertytheirsignificanceisreversed.Eachpersonspeculatesoncreatinganewneedintheother,withtheaimofforcinghimtomakeanewsacrifice,placinghiminanewdependenceandseducinghimintoanewkindofofenjoymentandhenceintoeconomicruin.Eachattemptstoestablishovertheotheranalienpower,inthehopeoftherebyachievingsatisfactionofhisownselfishneeds.Withthemassofobjectsgrowstherealmofalienpowerstowhichmnissubjected,andeachnewproductisanewpotentialityofmutualfraudandmutualpillage.Manbecomeseverpoorerasaman,andneedsevermoremoneyifheistoachievemasteryoverthehostilebeing.Thepowerofhismoneyfallsininverseproportiontothevolumeofproductions——i.e.,hisneedgrowsasthepowerofmoneyincreases.Theneedformoneyisforthatreasontherealneedcreatedbythemoderneconomicsystem,andtheonlyneeditcreates.Thequantityofmoneybecomesmoreandmoreitssoleimportantproperty.Justasitreduceseverythingtoitsownformofabstraction,soitreducesitselfinthecourseofitsownmovementtosomethingquantitative.Lackofmoderationandintemperancebecomeitstruestandard.Subjectivelythisismanifestedpartlyinthefactthattheexpansionofproductionandneedsbecomestheinventiveandevercalculatingslaveofinhuman,refined,unnaturalandimaginaryappetites——forprivatepropertydoesnotknowhowtotransformcrudeneedintohumanneed.Itsidealismisfantasy,caprice,andinfatuation.
Noeunuchflattershisdespotmorebasely,orusesmoreinfamousmeanstorevivehisflaggingcapacityforpleasure,inordertowinasurreptitiousfavorforhimself,thandoestheeunuchofindustry,themanufacturer,inordertosneakhimselfasilverpennyortwo,orcoaxthegoldfromthepocketofhisdearlybelovedneighbor.(Everyproductisabaitwithwhichtoenticetheessenceoftheother,hismoney.Everyrealorpotentialneedisaweaknesswhichwilltempttheflyontothelime—twig.Universalexploitationofcommunalhumannature.Justaseachoneofman’sinadequaciesisabondwithheaven,awayintohisheartforthepriest,soeveryneedisanopportunityforsteppinguptoone’sneighborinshamfriendshipandsayingtohim:"Dearfriend,Icangiveyouwantyouneed,butyouknowtheterms.Youknowwhichinkyoumustuseinsigningyourselfovertome.IshallcheatyouwhileIprovideyourpleasure."Heplaceshimselfatthedisposalofhisneighbor’smostdepravedfancies,panderstohisneeds,excitesunhealthyappetitesinhim,andpouncesoneveryweakness,sothathecanthendemandthemoneyforhislaboroflove.
Thisestrangementpartlymanifestsitselfinthefactthattherentofneedsandofthemeansoffulfillingthemgivesrisetoabestialdegenerationandacomplete,crudeandabstractsimplicityofneed;orrather,thatitmerelyreproducesitselfinitsoppositesense.Eventheneedforfreshairceasestobeaneedfortheworker.Manrevertsoncemoretolivinginacave,butthecaveisnowpollutedbythemephiticandpestilentialbreathofcivilization.Moreover,theworkerhasnomorethanaprecariousrighttoliveinit,foritisforhimanalienpowerthatcanbedailywithdrawnandfromwhich,shouldhefailtopay,hecanbeevictedatanytime.Heactuallyhastopayforthismortuary.Adwellinginthelight,whichPrometheusdescribesinAeschylusasoneofthegreatgiftsthroughwhichhetransformedsavagesintomen,ceasestoexistfortheworker.Light,ire,etc.——thesimplestanimalcleanliness——casesbeaneedforman.Dirt——thispollutionandputrefactionofman,thesewage(thiswordistobeunderstoodinitsliteralsense)ofcivilization——becomesanelementoflifeforhim.Universalunnaturalneglect,putrefiednature,becomesanelementoflifeforhim.Noneofthissenseexistanylonger,eitherintheirhumanformorintheirinhumanform——i.e.,notevenintheiranimalform.Thecrudestmodes(andinstruments)ofhumanlaborreappear;forexample,thetread—millusedbyRomanslavehasbecomethemodeofproductionandmodeofexistenceofmanyEnglishworkers.Itisnotonlyhumanneedswhichmanlacks——evenhisanimalneedsceasetoexist.TheIrishmanhasonlyoneneedleft——theneedtoeat,toeatpotatoes,and,moreprecisely,toeatrottenpotatoes,theworstkindofpotatoes.ButEnglandandFrancealreadyhavealittleIrelandineachoftheirindustrialcitiesThesavageandtheanimalatleasthavetheneedtohunt,tomoveabout,etc.,theneedofcompanionship.Thesimplificationofmachineryandoflaborisusedtomakeworkersoutofhumanbeingswhoarestillgrowing,whoarecompletelyimmature,outofchildren,whiletheworkerhimselfbecomesaneglectedchild.Themachineaccommodatesitselftoman’sweakness,inordertoturnweakmanintoamachine.
Thefactthatthemultiplicationofneedsandofthemeansoffulfillingthemgivesrisetoalackofneedsandofmeansisprovedbythepoliticaleconomist(andbythecapitalist——weinvariablymeanempiricalbusinessmenwhenwerefertopoliticaleconomists,whoarethescientificexpositionandexistenceoftheformer)inthefollowingways:
(1)Byreducingtheworker’sneedstothepaltriestminimumnecessarytomaintainhisphysicalexistenceandbyreducinghisactivitytothemostabstractmechanicalmovement.Insodoing,thepoliticaleconomistdeclaresthatmanhasnootherneeds,eitherinthesphereofactivityorinthatofconsumption.Foreventhislifehecallshumanlifeandhumanexistence.
(2)Bytakingashisstandard——hisuniversalstandard,inthesensethatitappliestothemassofmen——theworstpossiblestateofprivationwhichlife(existence)canknow.Heturnstheworkerintoabeingwithneitherneedsnorsensesandturntheworker’sactivityintoapureabstractionfromallactivity.Henceanyluxurythattheworkermightenjoyisreprehensible,andanythingthatgoesbeyondthemostabstractneed——eitherintheformofpassiveenjoymentoractiveexpression——
appearstohimasaluxury.Politicaleconomy,thisscienceofwealth,isthereforeatthesametimethescienceofdenial,ofstarvation,ofsaving,anditactuallygoessofarastosavemantheneedforfreshairorphysicalexercise.Thisscienceofthemarvelsofindustryisatthesametimethescienceofasceticism,anditstrueidealistheasceticbutrapaciousskinflintandtheasceticbutproductiveslave.Itsmoralidealistheworkerwhoputsapartofhiswagesintosavings,andithasevendiscoveredaservileartwhichcandignifythischarminglittlenotionandpresentasentimentalversionofitonthestage.Itistherefore——
forallitsworldlyanddebauchedappearance——atrulymoralmoralscience,themostmoralscienceofall.Self—denial,thedenialoflifeandofallhumanneeds,isitsprincipaldoctrine.Thelessyoueat,drink,buybooks,gotothetheatre,godancing,godrinking,think,love,theorize,sing,paint,fence,etc.,themoreyousaveandthegreaterwillbecomethattreasurewhichneithermothsnormaggotscanconsume——yourcapital.Thelessyouare,thelessyougiveexpressiontoyourlife,themoreyouhave,thegreaterisyouralienatedlifeandthemoreyoustoreupofyourestrangedlife.Everythingwhichthepoliticaleconomisttakesfromyouintermsoflifeandhumanity,herestorestoyouintheformofmoneyandwealth,andeverythingwhichyouareunabletodo,yourmoneycandoforyou:itcaneat,drink,godancing,gotothetheatre,itcanappropriateart,learning,historicalcuriosities,politicalpower,itcantravel,itiscapableofdoingallthosethingforyou;itcanbuyeverythingitisgenuinewealth,genuineability.Butforallthat,itonlylikestocreateitself,tobuyitself,forafteralleverythingelseisitsservant.AndwhenI
havethemasterIhavetheservant,andIhavenoneedofhisservant.
Soallpassionsandallactivityarelostingreed.Theworkerisonlypermittedtohaveenoughforhimtolive,andheisonlypermittedtoliveinordertohave.
Itistruethatacontroversyhasariseninthefieldofpoliticaleconomy.Oneschool(Lauderdale,Malthus,etc.)advocatesluxuryandexecratesthrift.Theother(Say,Ricardo,etc.)advocatesthriftandexecratesluxury.
Buttheformeradmitsthatitwantsluxuryinordertoproducelabor——i.e.,absolutethrift;andthelatteradmitsthatitadvocatesthriftinordertoproducewealth——i.e.,luxury.Theformerhastheromanticnotionthatgreedaloneshouldnotregulatetheconsumptionoftherich,anditcontradictsitsownlawswhenitforwardstheideaofprodigalityasadirectmeansofenrichment.TheothersidethenadvancesearnestanddetailedargumentstoshowthatthroughprodigalityIdiminishratherthanincreasemypossessions;butitssupportershypocriticallyrefusetoadmitthatproductionisregulatedbycapriceandluxury;theyforgetthe"refinedneeds"andforgetthatwithoutconsumptiontherecanbenoproduction;
theyforgetthat,throughcompetition,productionbecomesmoreextensiveandluxurious;theyforgetthatitisusewhichdeterminesthevalueofathing,andthatitisfashionwhichdeterminesuse;theywantonly"usefulthings"tobeproduced,buttheyforgetthattheproductionoftoomanyusefulthingsproducestoomanyuselesspeople.Bothsidesforgetthatprodigalityandthrift,luxuryandprivation,wealthandpovertyareequal.
Andyoumustnotonlybeparsimoniousingratifyingyourimmediatesenses,suchaseating,etc.Youmustalsobecharyofparticipatinginaffairsofgeneralinterest,showingsympathyandtrust,etc.,ifyouwanttobeeconomicalandifyouwanttoavoidbeingruinedbyillusions.
Youmustmakeeverythingwhichisyoursvenal——i.e.,useful.Imightaskthepoliticaleconomist:amIobeyingeconomiclawsifImakemoneybyprostitutingmybodytothelustofanother(inFrance,thefactoryworkerscalltheprostitutionoftheirwivesanddaughtersthenthworkinghour,whichisliterallytrue),orifIsellmyfriendtotheMoroccans[wheretheystillhadChristianslaves](andthedirectsaleofmenintheformoftradeinconscripts,etc.,occursinallcivilizedcountries)?Hisanswerwillbe:youractsdonotcontravenemylaws,butyoufindoutwhatCousinMoralityandCousinReligionhavetosayaboutit;themoralityandreligionofmypoliticaleconomyhavenoobjectiontomake,butButwhoshouldIbelieve,then?Politicaleconomyormorality?
Themoralityofpoliticaleconomyisgain,laborandthrift,sobriety——
andyetpoliticaleconomypromisestosatisfymyneeds.Thepoliticaleconomyofmoralityisthewealthofagoodconscience,ofvirtue,etc.ButhowcanIbevirtuousifIdonotexist?AndhowcanIhaveagoodconscienceifIamnotconsciousofanything?Itisinherentintheverynatureofestrangementthateachsphereimposesuponmeadifferentandcontrarystandard;onestandardformorality,oneforpoliticaleconomy,andsoon.Thisisbecauseeachofthemisaparticularestrangementofmanandeachiscentredupononeparticularareaofestrangedessentialactivity:
eachisrelatedinanestrangedwaytotheotherThusM.MichaelChevalieraccusesRicardoofabstractingfrommorality.ButRicardoallowspoliticaleconomytospeakitsownlanguage.Ifthislanguageisnotthatofmorality,itisnotthefaultofRicardo.M.Chevalierabstractsfrompoliticaleconomyinsofarashemoralizes,buthereallyandnecessarilyabstractsfrommoralityinsofarashedealswithpoliticaleconomy.Therelationshipofpoliticaleconomytomoralityiseitheranarbitraryandcontingentonewhichisneitherfoundednorscientific,asimulacrum,oritisessentialandcanonlybetherelationshipofeconomiclawstomorality.Ifsucharelationshipdoesnotexist,oriftheoppositeisratherthecase,canRicardodoanythingaboutit?Moreover,theoppositionbetweenpoliticaleconomyandmoralityisonlyanapparentone.Itisbothanoppositionandnotanopposition.
Politicaleconomymerelygivesexpressiontomorallawsinitsownway.
Absenceofneedsastheprincipleofpoliticaleconomyismostinitstheoryofpopulation.Thereretoomanypeople.Eventheexistenceofmanisapureluxury,andiftheworkeris"moral"hewillbeeconomicalinprocreation.(MillsuggestspubliccommendationofthosewhoshowthemselvestemperateinsexualmattersandpublicrebukesofthosewhosinagainstthisbarrennessofmarriageIsthisnotthemorality,thedoctrine,ofasceticism?)Theproductionofpeopleappearsasapublicdisaster.
Themeaningwhichproductionhasforthewealthyisrevealedinthemeaningwhichithasforthepoor.Atthetop,italwaysmanifestsitselfinrefined,concealed,andambiguousway——asanappearance.Atthebottom,itmanifestsitselfinacrude,straightforward,andovertway——asareality.Thecrudeneedoftheworkerisamuchgreatersourceofprofitthantherefinedneedoftherich.ThebasementdwellingsinLondonbringinmoreforthelandlordsthanthepalaces——i.e.,theyconstituteagreaterwealthforhimand,fromaneconomicpointofview,agreatersocialwealth.
Justasindustryspeculatesontherefinementofneeds,sotooitspeculatedontheircrudity.Butthecrudityonwhichitspeculatesisartificiallyproduced,anditstruemannerofenjoymentisthereforeself—stupefaction,thisapparentsatisfactionofneed,thiscivilizationwithinthecrudebarbarismofneed.TheEnglishginshopsare,therefore,thesymbolicrepresentationofprivateproperty.Theirluxurydemonstratedtomanthetruerelationofindustrialluxuryandwealth.Forthatreason,theyarerightlytheonlySundayenjoymentoftheEnglishpeople,andareatleasttreatedmildlybytheEnglishpolice.
Wehavealreadyseenhowthepoliticaleconomistestablishestheunityoflaborandcapitalinanumberofdifferentways:
(1)capitalisaccumulatedlabor;
(2)thepurposeofcapitalwithinproduction——partlythereproductionofcapitalwithprofit,partlycapitalasrawmaterial(materialoflabor)andpartlyasitselfaworkinginstrument(themachineiscapitaldirectlyidentifiedwithlabor)——isproductivelabor;
(3)theworkerisapieceofcapital;
(4)wagesbelongtothecostsofcapital;
(5)fortheworker,laboristhereproductionofhislifecapital;
(6)forthecapitalist,itisafactorintheactivityofhiscapital.Finally,(7)thepoliticaleconomistpostulatestheoriginalunityofcapitalandlaborastheunityofcapitalistandworker,whichheseesastheoriginalstateofbliss.Thefactthatthesetwoelementsleapateachother’sthroatsintheformoftwopersonsisacontingenteventforthepoliticaleconomist,andhenceonlytobeexplainedbyexternalfactors(seeMill).
Thosenationswhicharestilldazzledbythesensuousglitterofpreciousmetalsand,therefore,makeafetishofmetalmoneyarenotyetfullydevelopedmoneynations.CompareEnglandandFrance.Theextenttowhichthesolutionoftheoreticalproblemsisafunctionofpracticeandismediatedthroughpractice,andtheextenttowhichtruepracticeistheconditionofarealandpositivetheoryisshown,forexample,inthecaseoffetish—worship.Thesenseperceptionofafetish—worshipperisdifferentfromthatofaGreekbecausehissensuousexistenceisdifferent.
Theabstracthostilitybetweensenseandintellectisinevitablesolongasthehumansense[Sinn]fornature,thehumansignificance[Sinn]ofnature,and,hence,thenaturalsenseofman,hasnotyetbeenproducedbyman’sownlabor.
EqualityisnothingbutatranslationintoFrench——i.e.,intopoliticalform——oftheGerman"Ich—Ich".Equalityasthebasisofcommunismisitspoliticalfoundation.ItisthesameaswhentheGermanfoundsitonthefactthatheseesmanasuniversalself—consciousness.
Itgoeswithoutsayingthatthesupersessionofestrangementalwaysemanatesfromtheformofestrangementwhichisthedominantpower——inGermany,self—consciousness;inFrance,equality,becausepolitics;inEngland,real,material,practicalneed,whichonlymeasuresitselfagainstitself.
ItisfromthispointofviewthatProudhonshouldbecriticizedandacknowledged.
Ifwecharacterizecommunismitself——whichbecauseofitscharacterasnegationofthenegation,asappropriationofthehumanessencewhichismediatedwithitselfthroughthenegationofprivateproperty,isnotyetthetrue,self—generatingposition[Position],butonegeneratedbyprivateproperty[Here,thecornerofthepagehasbeentornaway,andonlyfragmentsonthesixsentencesremain,renderingitimpossibletounderstand.]
therealestrangementofhumanliferemainsandisallthegreaterthemoreoneisconsciousofitassuch,itcanonlybeattainedoncecommunismisestablished.Inordertosupersedetheideaofprivateproperty,theideaofcommunismisenough.Inordertosupersedeprivatepropertyasitactuallyexists,realcommunistactivityisnecessary.Historywillgiverisetosuchactivity,andthemovementwhichwealreadyknowinthoughttobeaself—supersedingmovementwillinrealityundergoaverydifficultandprotractedprocess.Butwemustlookuponitasarealadvancethatwehavegained,attheoutset,anawarenessofthelimitsaswellasthegoalofthishistoricalmovementandareinapositiontoseebeyondit.
Whencommunistworkmengathertogether,theirimmediateaimisinstruction,propaganda,etc.Butatthesametime,theyacquireanewneed——theneedforsociety——andwhatappearsasameanshadbecomeanend.ThispracticaldevelopmentcanbemoststrikinglyobservedinthegatheringsofFrenchsocialistworkers.Smoking,eating,anddrinking,etc.,arenolongermeansofcreatinglinksbetweenpeople.Company,association,conversation,whichinturnhassocietyasitsgoal,isenoughforthem.
Thebrotherhoodofmanisnotahollowphrase,itisareality,andthenobilityofmanshinesforthuponusfromtheirwork—wornfigures.
Whenpoliticaleconomymaintainsthatsupplyanddemandalwaysbalanceeachother,itimmediatelyforgetsitsownassertionthatthesupplyofpeople(thetheoryofpopulation)alwaysexceedsthedemandandthatthereforethedisproportionbetweensupplyanddemandfindsitsmoststrikingexpressioninwhatistheessentialgoalofproduction——theexistenceofman.
Theextenttowhichmoney,whichappearstobeameans,isthetruepowerandthesoleend——theextenttowhichingeneralthemeanswhichgivesmebeingandwhichappropriatesformealienandobjectivebeing,isanendinitselfisapparentfromthefactthatlandedproperty,wherethesoilisthesourceoflife,andthehorseandthesword,wheretheyarethetruemeansoflife,arealsorecognizedastheactualpoliticalpowers.IntheMiddleAges,anEstatebecomesemancipatedassoonasitisallowedtobearasword.Amongnomadicpeoples,itisthehorsewhichmakesoneintoafreemanandaparticipantinthelifeofthecommunity.
Wesaidabovethatmanisregressingtothecavedwelling,etc.
——butinanestranged,repugnantform.Thesavageinhiscave——anelementofnaturewhichisfreelyavailableforhisuseandshelter——doesnotexperiencehisenvironmentasalien;hefeelsjustasmuchathomeasafishinwater.Butthepoorman’sbasementdwellingisanuncongenialelement,an"alien,restrictivepowerwhichonlysurrendersitselftohimattheexpenseofhissweatandblood".Hecannotlookuponitashishome,assomewherehecancallhisown.Instead,hefindshimselfinsomeoneelse’shouse,inanalienhouse,whoseownerliesinwaitforhimeveryday,andevictshimifhefailstopaytherent.Atthesametime,heisawareofthedifferenceinqualitybetweenhisowndwellingandthoseother—worldlyhumandwellingswhichexistintheheavenofwealth.
Estrangementappearsnotonlyinthefactthatthemeansofmylifebelongtoanotherandthatmydesireistheinaccessiblepossessionofanother,butalsointhefactthatallthingsareotherthanthemselves,thatmyactivityisotherthanitself,andthatfinally——andthisgoesforthecapitaliststoo——aninhumanpowerrulesovereverything.
Thereisoneformofinactiveandextravagantwealth,givenoverexclusivelytopleasure,theownerofwhichisactiveasamerelyephemeralindividual,rushingabouterratically.Helooksupontheslavelaborofothers,theirhumansweatandblood,astheypreyofhisdesires,andregardsmaningeneral——includinghimself——asafutileandsacrificialbeing.
Hearrogantlylooksdownuponmankind,dissipatingwhatwouldsufficetokeepaliveahundredhumanbeings,andpropagatestheinfamousillusionthathisunbridledextravaganceandceaseless,unproductiveconsumptionisaconditionofthelabor,and,hence,subsistenceoftheothers.Forhim,therealizationofman’sessentialpowersissimplytherealizationofhisowndisorderlyexistence,hiswhims,andhiscapriciousandbizarrenotions.Butthiswealth,whichregardswealthasameremeans,worthyonlyofdestruction,andwhichisthereforebothslaveandmaster,bothgenerousandmean,capricious,conceited,presumptuous,refined,cultured,andingenious——thiswealthhasnotyetexperiencedwealthasanentirelyalienpoweroveritself;itseesinwealthnothingmorethanitsownpower,thefinalaimofwhichisnotwealthbutconsumption[Here,thebottomofthepageisgone,losingperhapsthreeorfourlines]
andtheglitteringillusionaboutthenatureofwealth——
anillusionwhichderivesfromitssensuousappearance——isconfrontedbytheworking,sober,prosaic,economicalindustrialistwhoisenlightenedaboutthenatureofwealthandwhonotonlyprovidesawiderrangeofopportunitiesfortheother’sself—indulgenceandflattershimthroughhisproducts——
forhisproductsaresomanybasecomplimentstotheappetitesofthespendthrift——butalsomanagestoappropriateforhimselfintheonlyusefulwaytheother’sdwindlingpower.Soifindustrialwealthatfirstappearstobetheproductofextravagant,fantasticwealth,initsinherentcourseofdevelopmentitactivelysupplantsthelatter.Forthefallintheinterestonmoneyisanecessaryconsequenceandresultofindustrialdevelopment.
Therefore,themeansoftheextravagantrentierdiminishdailyininverseproportiontothegrowingpossibilitiesandtemptationsofpleasure.Hemust,therefore,eitherconsumehiscapitalhimself,andinsodoingbringabouthisownruin,orbecomeanindustrialcapitalistOntheotherhand,itistruethatthereisadirectandconstantriseintherentoflandasaresultofindustrialdevelopment,butaswehavealreadyseenthereinevitablycomesatimewhenlandedproperty,likeeveryotherkindofproperty,fallsintothecategoryofcapitalwhichreproducesitselfwithprofit——andthisisaresultofthesameindustrialdevelopment.
Therefore,eventheextravagantlandlordisforcedeithertoconsumehiscapital——i.e.,ruinhimself——orbecomethetenantfarmerofhisownproperty——anagriculturalindustrialist.
Thedeclineintherateofinterest——whichProudhonregardsastheabolitionofcapitalandasatendencytowardsthesocializationofcapital——isthereforeratheradirectsymptomofthecompletevictoryofworkingcapitaloverprodigalwealth——i.e.,thetransformationofallprivatepropertyintoindustrialcapital.Itisthecompletevictoryofprivatepropertyoverallthoseofitsqualitieswhicharestillapparentlyhumanandthetotalsubjugationofthepropertyownertotheessenceofprivateproperty——labor.Tobesure,theindustrialcapitalistalsoseeksenjoyment.Hedoesnotbyanymeansregresstoanunnaturalsimplicityofneed,buthisenjoymentisonlyincidental,ameansofrelaxation;itissubordinatedtoproduction,itisacalculatedandevenaneconomicalformofpleasure,foritischargedasanexpenseofcapital;thesumdissipatedmaythereforenotbeinexcessofwhatcanbereplacedbythereproductionofcapitalwithprofit.Enjoymentis,therefore,subsumedundercapital,andthepleasure—seekingindividualunderthecapitalizingindividual,whereasearlierthecontrarywasthecase.Thedeclineintherateofinterestisthereforeasymptomoftheabolitionofcapitalonlyinsofarasitisasymptomofthegrowingdominationofcapital,ofthatgrowingestrangementwhichishasteningtowardsitsownabolition.Thisistheonlywayinwhichthatwhichexistsaffirmsitsopposite.
Thewrangleamongpoliticaleconomistsaboutluxuryandsavingisthereforemerelyawranglebetweenthatsectionofpoliticaleconomywhichhasbecomeawareofthenatureofwealthandthatsectionwhichisstillimprisonedwithinromanticandanti—industrialmemories.Butneitherofthemknowshowtoexpresstheobjectofthecontroversyinsimpleterms,andneitherofthemisthereforeinapositiontoclinchtheargument.
Furthermore,therentoflandquarentoflandhasbeenabolished,fortheargumentofthePhysiocrats,whosaythatthelandowneristheonlytrueproducer,hasbeendemolishedbythepoliticaleconomists,whoshowthatthelandownerassuchistheonlycompletelyunproductiverentier.
Agricultureisamatterforthecapitalist,whoinvestshiscapitalinthiswaywhenhecanexpecttomakeanormalprofit.TheargumentofthePhysiocratsthatlandedproperty,astheonlyproductiveproperty,shouldalonepaystatetaxesandshouldthereforealonegiveitsconsenttothemandtakepartinstateaffairs,isturnedintotheoppositeargumentthatthetaxonrentoflandistheonlytaxonunproductiveincomeandhencetheonlytaxwhichdoesnotharmnationalproduction.Naturally,itfollowsfromthisargumentthatthelandownercannolongerderivepoliticalprivilegesfromhispositionasprincipaltax—payer.
EverythingwhichProudhoninterpretsasthegrowingpoweroflaborasagainstcapitalissimplythegrowingpoweroflaborintheformofcapital,industrialcapital,asagainstcapitalwhichisnotconsumedascapital——i.e,industrially.Andthisdevelopmentisonitswaytovictory——i.e.,thevictoryofindustrialcapital.
Clearly,then,itisonlywhenlaborisgraspedastheessenceofprivatepropertythatthedevelopmentoftheeconomyassuchcanbeanalyzedinitsrealdeterminateness.
Society,asitappearstothepoliticaleconomist,iscivilsociety,inwhicheachindividualisatotalityofneedsandonlyexistsfortheotherastheotherexistsforhim——insofaraseachbecomesameansfortheother.Thepoliticaleconomist,likepoliticsinitsrightsofman,reduceseverythingtoman——i.e.,totheindividual,whomhedivestsofallhisdeterminatenessinordertoclassifyhimasacapitalistoraworker.
Thedivisionoflaboristheeconomicexpressionofthesocialnatureoflaborwithinestrangement.Or,rather,sincelaborisonlyanexpressionofhumanactivitywithinalienation,anexpressionoflifeasalienationoflife,thedivisionoflaborisnothingmorethantheestranged,alienatedpositingofhumanactivityasarealspecies—activityorasactivityofmanasaspecies—being.
Politicaleconomistsareveryunclearandself—contradictoryabouttheessenceofthedivisionoflabor,whichwasnaturallyseenasoneofthemaindrivingforcesintheproductionofwealthassoonaslaborwasseemtobetheessenceofprivateproperty.Thatistosay,theyareveryunclearabouthumanactivityasspeciesactivityinthisitsestrangedandalienatedform.
AdamSmith:
"ThedivisionoflaborisnotoriginallytheeffectofanyhumanwisdomItisthenecessary,thoughveryslowandgradualconsequenceofthepropensitytotruck,barter,andexchangeonethingforanother.Whetherthispropensitybeoneofthoseoriginalprinciplesofhumannatureorwhether,asseemsmoreprobably,itbethenecessaryconsequenceofthefacultiesofreasonandofspeechitbelongsnottoourpresentsubjecttoinquire.Itiscommontoallmen,andtobefoundinnootherraceofanimalsInalmosteveryotherraceofanimalstheindividualwhenitisgrownuptomaturityisentirelyindependentButmanhasalmostconstantoccassionforthehelpofhisbrethren,anditisinvainforhimtoexpectitfromtheirbenevolenceonly.Hewillbemorelikelytoprevailifhecaninteresttheirself—loveinhisfavor,andshowthemthatitisfortheirownadvantagetodoforhimwhatherequiresofthemWeaddressourselvesnottotheirhumanitybuttotheirself—love,andnevertalktothemofourownnecessitiesbutoftheiradvantages."
"Asitisbytreaty,bybarter,andbypurchasethatweobtainfromoneanotherthegreaterpartofthosemutualgoodofficesthatwestandinneedof,soitisthissametruckingdispositionwhichoriginallygivesoccassiontothedivisionoflabor.Inatribeofhuntersorshepherdsaparticularpersonmakesbowsandarrows,forexample,withmorereadinessanddexteritythananyother.Hefrequentlyexchangesthemforcattleorforvenisonwithhiscompanions;andhefindsatlastthathecaninthismannergetmorecattleandvenisonthanifhehimselfwenttothefieldtocatchthem.Fromaregardtohisowninterest,therefore,themakingofbowsandarrowsgrowstobehischiefbusiness"
"Thedifferenceofnaturaltalentsindifferentmenisnot
somuchthecauseastheeffectofthedivisionoflabor
Withoutthedispositiontotruck,barter,andexchange,everymanmusthaveprocuredtohimselfeverynecessaryandconveniencyoflifewhichhewanted.Allmusthavehadthesameworktodo,andtherecouldhavebeennosuchdifferenceofemploymentascouldalonegiveoccassiontoanygreatdifferenceoftalent."
"Asitisthisdispositionwhichformsthatdifferenceoftalentsamongmen,soitisthissamedispositionwhichrendersthatdifferenceuseful.Manytribesofanimalsofthesamespeciesderivefromnatureamuchmoreremarkabledistinctionofgeniusthanwhat,antecedenttocustomandeducation,appearstotakeplaceamongmen.Bynatureaphilosopherisnotingeniusandindispositionhalfsodifferentfromastreet—porter,asamastiffisfromagreyhound,oragreyhoundfromaspaniel,orthislastfromashepherd’sdog.Thosedifferenttribesofanimals,however,thoughallofthesamespecies,areofscarceanyusetooneanother.Thestrengthofthemastiffisnot,intheleast,supportedforexamplebytheswiftnessofthegreyhoundTheeffectsofthosegeniusesandtalents,forwantofthepowerordispositiontobarterandexchange,cannotbebroughtintoacommonstock,anddonotintheleastcontributetothebetteraccommodationandconveniencyofthespecies.Eachanimalisstillobligedtosupportanddefenditself,separatelyandindependently,andderivesnosortofadvantagefromthatvarietyoftalentswithwhichnaturehasdistinguisheditsfellows.Amongmen,onthecontrary,themostdissimilargeniusesareofusetooneanother;
thedifferentproducesoftheirrespectivetalents,bythegeneraldispositiontotruck,barter,andexchange,bringbrought,asitwere,intoacommonstock,whereeverymanmaypurchasewhateverpartoftheproduceofothermen’stalentshehasoccassionfor."
"Asitisthepowerofexchangingthatgivesoccassiontothedivisionoflabor,sotheextentofthisdivisionmustalwaysbelimitedbytheextentofthatpower,orinotherwords,bytheextentofthemarket.Whenthemarketisverysmall,nopersoncanhaveanyencouragementtodedicatehimselfentirelytooneemployment,forwantofthepowertoexchangeallthatsurpluspartoftheproduceofhisownlabor,whichisoverandabovehisownconsumption,forsuchpartsoftheproduceofothermen’slaborashehasoccassionfor."
[Smith,I,p.12,13,14,15]
Inanadvancedstateofsociety"everymanthuslivesbyexchanging,orbecomesinsomemeasureamerchant,andthesocietyitselfgrowstobewhatisproperlyacommercialsociety."
[Smith,I,pp.20](SeeDestuttdeTracy:"Societyisaseriesofreciprocalexchanges;commercecontainsthewholeessenceofsociety.")Theaccumulationofcapitalsincreaseswiththedivisionoflabor,andvice—versa.
ThusfarAdamSmith.
"Ifeveryfamilyproducedallthatitconsumed,societycouldkeepgoingevenifnoexchangeofanysorttookplaceAlthoughitisnotfundamental,exchangeisindispensableinouradvancedstateofsocietyThedivisionoflaborisaskilfulapplicationofthepowersofman;itincreasessociety’sproduction——itspoweranditspleasures——butitrobstheindividual,reducesthecapacityofeachpersontakenindividually.Productioncannottakeplacewithoutexchange."
[Smith,I,pp.76—7]ThusJ.—B.Say.
"Thepowersinherentinmanarehisintelligenceandhisphysicalcapacityforwork.ThosewhichspringfromtheconditionofsocietyconsistofthecapacitytodividelaborandtodistributedifferenttasksamongthedifferentpeopleandthepowertoexchangemutualservicesandtheproductswhichconstitutethesemeansThemotivewhichinducesamantogivehisservicestoanotherisself—interest——hedemandsarecompensefortheservicesrendered.Therightofexclusiveprivatepropertyisindispensabletotheestablishmentofexchangeamongmen."
"Exchangeanddivisionoflabormutuallyconditioneachother."
[Theoriedesrichessessociales,suivied’unebibliographiedel’economiepolitique,Paris,1829,Vol.I,p.25f]ThusSkarbek.
Millpresentsdevelopedexchange,trade,asaconsequenceofthedivisionoflabor.
"theagencyofmancanbetracedtoverysimpleelements.Hecan,infact,donothingmorethanproducemotion.Hecanmovethingstowardsoneanother;andhecanseparatethemfromoneanother;thepropertiesofmatterperformalltherest
"Intheemploymentoflaborandmachinery,itisoftenfoundthattheeffectscanbeincreasedbyskilfuldistribution,byseparatingallthoseoperationswhichhaveanytendencytoimpedeoneanother,bybringingtogetherallthoseoperationswhichcanbemadeinanywaytoaidoneanother.Asmeningeneralcannotperformmanydifferentoperationswiththesamequicknessanddexteritywithwhichtheycan,bypractice,learntoperformafew,itisalwaysanadvantagetolimitasmuchaspossiblethenumberofoperationsimposeduponeach.Fordividinglabor,anddistributingthepowerofmenandmachinery,tothegreatestadvantage,itisinmostcasesnecessarytooperateuponlargescale;inotherwords,toproducethecommoditiesingreatmasses.Itisthisadvantagewhichgivesexistencetothegreatmanufactories;afewofwhich,placedinthemostconvenientsituations,sometimessupplynotonecountry,butmanycountries,withasmuchastheydesireofthecommodityproduced."
[JamesMill,ElementsofPoliticalEconomy,London,1821,pp.5—9]ThusMill.
Butallthemodernpoliticaleconomistsagreethatdivisionoflaborandvolumeofproduction,divisionoflaborandaccumulationofcapital,aremutuallydetermining,andthatonlyliberatedprivateproperty,lefttoitself,iscapableofproducingthemosteffectiveandcomprehensivedivisionoflabor.
AdamSmith’sargumentcanbesummedupasfollows:thedivisionoflaborgiveslaboraninfinitecapacitytoproduce.Ithasitsbasisinthepropensitytoexchangeandbarter,aspecificallyhumanpropensitywhichisprobablynotfortuitousbutdeterminedbytheuseofreasonandoflanguage.Themotiveofthoseengagedinexchangeisnothumanitybutegoism.Thediversityofhumantalentsismoretheeffectthanthecauseofthedivisionoflabor——i.e.,ofexchange.Moreover,itisonlyonaccountofthelatterthatthisdiversityisuseful.Theparticularqualitiesofthedifferentraceswithinaspeciesofanimalarebynaturemoremarkedthanthedifferencebetweenhumanaptitudesandactivities.
Butsinceanimalsarenotabletoexchange,thediversityofqualitiesinanimalsofthesamespeciesbutofdifferentracesdoesnotbenefitanyindividualanimal.Animalsareunabletocombinethedifferentqualitiesoftheirspecies;theyareincapableofcontributinganythingtothecommongoodandthecommoncomfortoftheirspecies.Thisisnotthecasewithmen,whosemostdisparatetalentsandmodesofactivityareofbenefittoeachother,becausetheycangathertogethertheirdifferentproductsinacommonreservefromwhicheachcanmakehispurchases.Justasthedivisionoflaborstemsfromthepropensitytoexchange,soitgrowsandislimitedbytheextentofexchange,ofthemarket.Indevelopedconditionseachmanisamerchantandsocietyisatradingassociation.
Sayregardsexchangeasfortuitousandnotbasic.Societycouldexistwithoutit.Itbecomesindispensableinanadvancedstateofsociety.
Yetproductioncannottakeplacewithoutit.Thedivisionoflaborisaconvenient,usefulmeans,askilfulapplicationofhumanpowersforsocialwealth,butitisadiminutionofthecapacityofeachmantakenindividually.
ThislastremarkisanadvanceofSay’spart.
Skarbekdistinguishestheindividualpowersinherentinman——
intelligenceandphysicalcapacityforwork——fromthosepowerswhicharederivedfromsociety——exchangeanddivisionoflabor,whichmutuallyconditioneachother.Butthenecessarypreconditionofexchangeisprivateproperty.SkarbekisheregivingexpressioninobjectiveformtowhatSmith,Say,Ricardo,etc.,saywhentheydesignateegoismandprivateself—interestasthebasisofexchangeandhagglingastheessentialandadequateformofexchange.
Millpresentstradeasaconsequenceofthedivisionoflabor.
Forhim,humanactivityisreducedtomechanicalmovement.Thedivisionoflaborandtheuseofmachinerypromoteabundanceofproduction.Eachpersonmustbeallocatedthesmallestpossiblesphereofoperations.Thedivisionoflaborandtheuseofmachinery,fortheirpart,requiretheproductionofwealthenmasse,whichmeansaconcentrationofproduction.
Thisisthereasonforthebigfactories.
Theconsiderationofthedivisionoflaborandexchangeisofthehighestinterest,becausetheyaretheperceptiblyalienatedexpressionsofhumanactivityandessentialpowersasspecies—activityandspecies—power.
Tosaythatthedivisionoflaborandexchangearebasedonprivatepropertyissimplytosaythatlaboristheessenceofprivateproperty——anassertionthatthepoliticaleconomistisincapableofprovingandwhichweintendtoproveforhim.Itispreciselyinthefactthatthedivisionoflaborandexchangeareconfigurationsofprivatepropertythatwefindtheproof,boththathumanlifeneededprivatepropertyforitsrealizationandthatitnowneedstheabolitionofprivateproperty.
Thedivisionoflaborandexchangearethetwophenomenaonwhoseaccountthepoliticaleconomistbragsaboutthesocialnatureofhisscience,whileinthesamebreathheunconsciouslyexpressesthecontradictionwhichunderlieshisscience——theestablishmentofsocietythroughunsocial,particularinterests.
Thefactorswehavetoconsiderarethese:thepropensitytoexchange,whichisgroundedinegoism,isregardedasthecauseorthereciprocaleffectofthedivisionoflabor.Sayregardsexchangeasnotfundamentaltothenatureofsociety.Wealthandproductionareexplainedbythedivisionoflaborandexchange.Theimpoverishmentanddenaturing[Entwesung]ofindividualactivitybythedivisionoflaborareadmitted.Exchangeanddivisionoflaborareacknowledgedasproducersofthegreatdiversityofhumantalents,adiversitywhichbecomesusefulbecauseofexchange.
Skarbekdividesman’spowersofproductionoressentialpowersintotwoparts:
(1)thosewhichareindividualandinherentinhim,hisintelligenceandhisspecialdispositionorcapacityforwork;and(2)thosewhicharederivednotfromtherealindividualbutfromsociety,thedivisionoflaborandexchange.
Furthermore,thedivisionoflaborislimitedbythemarket.HUmanlaborissimplymechanicalmovement;mostoftheworkisdonebythematerialpropertiesoftheobjects.Eachindividualmustbeallocatedthesmallestnumberofoperationspossible.Fragmentationoflaborandconcentrationofcapital;thenothingnessofindividualproductionandtheproductionofwealthenmasse.Meaningoffreeprivatepropertyinthedivisionoflabor.