Status Updates From Grundrisse: Foundations of ...

"Just as in theory the concept of value precedes that of capital, but requires for its pure development a mode of production founded on capital, so the same thing takes place in practice.

...

This determination of value, then, presupposes a given historic stage of the mode of social production and is itself something given with that mode, hence a historic relation."

finally back on the Big Guy

The final section on class and political economy. It is plagued by Marx's reading notes and quotations. But, in between, one can find plenty of his brilliance.
P. 831: on the theory of alienation, cleverly summarised; which is a great point against the modern day Taylorism "sense of ownership" peddled to labour for more productivity.
P. 853: on interest and profit; 856 on wealth.

thank god for david harvey. sure, 5 starts, why not?

The falling rate of profit, and key laws of capitalism are dealt by Marx. Mostly the one that establishes that profit is the product of capital, related to it by revenue.
Also take note, on pages 769-770, a couple of paragraphs where Marx tracks back to the genesis of capitalism with the creation of wage labour.

The question of fixed capital, and how it sits in the process of value creation. Also, how it is a well-used escape route for today's wannabe oligarchs, who launder through white elephants.
Harvey observes that the accusation of determinism thrown to Marx, falls in vacuum, after the fact the 2022 resembles accurately 1858.

Finished the section named by Harvey "The Power of Fixed Capital".
It is very enlightening about machinery, equipment and the capitalism tendency to automatization in order to fulfil the compulsion of competition.
Also, AI and whatnot devised to disempower the workers.

Finished the section Turnover times and the circulation of labour capacity [Harvey Ch. 8]

Home stretch.
Both sad to see it end, this book has been a joy to read, and happy to move on to the second volume of Capital.

not much progress today, sadly

Finished the section on the space and time of turnover and the realisation of capital.
When I read Capital Vol. 2 I noticed that Marx could run an experimental design by hand!
Many a critic can’t understand that he could abstract a variable for study, while keeping the others constant or in the background.