The Karl Marx book Wage labour and capital

The Karl Marx book Wage repel and capitalWritten in 1847 by Karl Marx, the German philosopher, political economist and communist revolutionary,Wage tire and Capital is an in- profundity text centered around the idea that hollow indi puket is inter pitch to free-enterprise(prenominal)s. The book was re make by Engels in 1891 as he believed particular(prenominal) changes needed to be made, specific aloney the distinction between moil and fag spring (1). Marx who was born in Trier Germany in 1818 (2), had a signifi earth-closett regard in developing ideas based around communism and socialism and published these ideas in various constructs. This specific piece focuses primarily on how a particular economy (capitalist) works, how those in a capitalist economy atomic fleck 18 exploited and at last how the coitionship between capital and labour is dialectically self-destructive (Marx-Engels, pg. 203). In this essay, I go away discuss exactly what Marx is arduous to explain to us with regard to wage labour and capital, as tumesce as demonstrate why he believes the capital system is flawed. Further more, I willing provide my own personal view on the undecided by explaining which ideas of Marx I agree and perhaps disagree with.Marx immediately jumps into the tidings of wage labour by posing deuce basic points, What be wages? and How are they determined? (Marx-Engels, pg 204). According to Marx, any role player(s) in a capitalist economy are ultimately selling their labour role to the capitalist for a specific sum of m one and only(a)y. Marx uses the example of weaving a yard of linen or type-setting a printed sheet. The capitalist is in surmisal buying the labour office staff with money, darn workers are selling labour advocator for money. It is exempt, however, that the money that is given to the worker(s) by the capitalist could make believe been spend on any former(a) available commodity, thus the labour power a worker offers is equiva lent to any other commodity. As Marx explains in his example, the two marks, with which he bought two pounds of sugar, are the price of the two pounds of sugar. The two marks, with which he bought twelve hours use of labour power, are the price of twelve hours of labour (Marx-Engels, pg 204). In other words, the workers labour power has been exchanged for an tally of commodities measured by money (1). Why is labour power sold by the worker(s) to the capitalist? It is simple, to be able to live What Marx explains is the fact that the labour which workers engage in is basically the way in which they live their life. Thus, his life-activity is for him except a means to enable him to exist (Marx-Engels, pg 204). A worker must sell this labour in guild to be able to live. Their work is what lets them live. The worker also does not reckon labor as a part of his life, it is rather a sacrifice of his life (Marx-Engels, pg 204). It is evident that Marx is move to break off the fact tha t labour was not always wage labour, and that a hard worker did not sell his labour power to a slave owner ((Marx-Engels, pg 205). The concept of wage labour is the result of capitalism, where workers are give up to choose whether or not they want to sell this labour power they posses to any willing capitalists who might be interested in buying. Likewise, capitalists have the free choice to fire workers when they believe profits are not world made. When one worker is worn out he can be replaced by another. I found this section extremely matter to as Marx exposed me to new-sprung(prenominal) ideas that I had never considered prior to narration this piece. At first it was hard to comprehend, but I soon mum what he was trying to say. Originally, when I thought of soulfulness working, thats all it was to me, someone working. Now, however, I see the relationship between labour power and capital. I can see how Marx tries to show us that man is in aroma capital and that the labour workers provide is essentially a commodity corresponding all others. The goal of capitalists is to make the most profit possible while maintaining the lowest approachs of production. They dont care about the workers, because they mean nothing. It is easy to slide the fact that we think we need the capitalist when in reality, we are the ones who hold the skill and labour power, so ultimately it is he/she who needs us. though it was somewhat challenging, I matte up that Marx made this section extremely reward when understood.In the proceeding section Marx goes into further depth with regard to capital. He explains that it consists of raw materials, instruments of labour and means of subsistence of all kinds, which are utilized in order to produce new raw materials, new instruments of labour and new means of subsistence. However, these components are merely creations of labour, product of labour, and accumulated labour. Accumulated labour which serves as a means of new productio n is capital (Marx-Engels, pg 207). Additionally, we disclose that during production, men must interact between one another, exchanging their activities in order to produce something. Only once a definite connection and relation (Marx-Engels pg 207) has been established can their action of production actually occur.We also examine that these social relations which are created between men constantly change oer time with new innovations and disciplines to means of production. It is as if all components are intertwined, whereby social relations of production make up the social relations, society, and, specifically a society at definitive stage of historical development (Marx-Engels, pg 207). Therefore, any society at any specific point in time is displaying the stage of development by mankind. For example, the bourgeois society is liable for the production relation that is capital. But what exactly is capital? Capital in itself must be the sum of all material products, commodities, exchange values, or social magnitudes.So what exactly is happening when this capital grows? In other words, capital thrives solely on exchanging itself with wage labour. When capital goes up so does wage labour, and more wage workers are required, resulting in the capitalist to gaining more power over the worker(s).Growth of fat capital, at that placefore, means that the capitalists is gaining more power over the workers. Marx then goes on to question what will occur to wages when there is a developing of production capital. What he tells us here is that when productive capital add-ons, so does the accumulation of labour. As a result the number of capitals in enabled to increase creating more competition amongst them. This increased competition creates focus amongst to capitalists where one wants to be better then the other. One thing thats clear is when the power of labour armies increases, the capitalists has the ability to try and ruin his competitors. How can he do this? It s obvious, sell cheaper than your competitors. You must however find the balance where you can sell cheap enough without harming yourself, and Marx says this can be done by boosting the productive power of labour. Marx also makes it evident that by improving machinery one can create greater parting of labour, which would result in increase productive power of labour. This is because there is more division amongst a big labour force and more improved machinery, which causes the cost of production for the capitalist to decrease. Thus, as Marx points out, a general rivalry arises among the capitalist to increase the division of labour and machinery and to exploit them on the greatest scale possible (Marx-Engels, pg 212). The question is what will happen according to Marx if this continues? We can conclude by verbalise that if capital continues to grow, then the competition between the worker(s) will also grow. However, the growth in competition experienced by the working class will be even larger than the rate of growth experienced by capital. After translation the next few sections, I soon cognise that they were even more challenging and testing than the previous ones. Marx goes into such depth with regard to the relations between labour power and capital as well as all the components that make up capital. After reading it several times I soon understood how production was ultimately the relations built between men, whereby men had to come to terms by cooperating with one another in a certain way and mutually exchanging their activities (Marxs-Engels, pg 207). Marx makes it clear that the capitalist goal is to try and increase their productive power as much as possible at whatever cost possible and figure they can do this by lowering all costs of production. This is something experienced every day. Companys attempting to gain securities industry power by improving machinery to lower costs of production, so that they can sell what is being produced at the lowest possible price. It is also clear that workers have to vie with one another more and more. The capitalist doesnt care about the worker at all. We can see how Marx tries to explain how the capitalists are solely relate with extending markets, but in doing so are contracting the world market as fewer and fewer new markets remain available for growth (Marx-Engels, pg 217). As a result he feels the whole system will come down and cave in on itself.To conclude, I entangle this piece on wage labour and capital was extremely insightful. I was able to penetrate into the mind of Karl Marx and uncover his personal views on the capitalistic economy and the way in which he feels it is flawed. As he is a strong believer in the communistic ways, it is clear Marx is determined to expose why we mustnt follow the ways of other economies. Though I felt the work was somewhat demanding to understand, after reading it several times I slowly began to make the connections to what he was trying t o say. Personally, I enjoyed learning how a strict communist views capitalism and why he thinks its a baneful system.