Class 01 Reading Marx's Capital Vol I with David Harvey
TLDRIn this in-depth discussion, David Harvey and Neil Smith explore Harvey's nearly four-decade-long lectures on 'Capital.' Harvey shares his journey of understanding Marx's work, emphasizing the importance of reading the book in its entirety to grasp its concepts. He discusses the historical context that led him to study 'Capital' and the evolution of his teaching approach. Harvey highlights the significance of commodities, the dialectical method, and the fluidity of value within a capitalist system, urging students to engage with the text to understand and critique the capitalist mode of production.
Takeaways
- 📚 David Harvey's lectures on 'Capital' span nearly four decades, reflecting his deep engagement with the text and its contemporary relevance.
- 🌟 Harvey was inspired to delve into 'Capital' in the early 1970s by the social and political upheavals of the time, seeking a framework to understand the complex dynamics at play.
- 🔍 Harvey emphasizes the importance of reading 'Capital' in its entirety to grasp its full meaning, as the book's beginning might be confusing without the broader context.
- 🎯 The course Harvey teaches aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of 'Capital,' encouraging students to engage with the material before class to enhance their learning experience.
- 🧐 Harvey discusses the challenges of approaching 'Capital' with preconceived notions and disciplinary biases, urging students to read the text with an open mind to understand Marx's true intentions.
- 📖 'Capital' is presented as a rich literary construction that goes beyond economic theory, drawing on a wide array of sources from Shakespeare to Balzac, reflecting Marx's interdisciplinary approach.
- 🤔 Harvey highlights the difficulty of understanding 'Capital' due to its complex language and abstract concepts, advising students to persevere through the initial challenges to uncover its insights.
- 💡 The concept of 'value' in 'Capital' is central, with Harvey explaining it as 'socially necessary labor-time,' a measure of the labor required to produce a commodity under societal norms.
- 🔄 Harvey points out that value is not static but subject to change with variations in productivity, technological advancements, and social organization of production.
- 🏭 The discussion on value leads to considerations of the capitalist mode of production's global nature, touching upon themes of imperialism, monopoly power, and the state's role in shaping market values.
- 🌱 Harvey invites students to think critically about the text, encouraging them to form their own interpretations and understandings of 'Capital' and its application to modern society.
Q & A
Who is Neil Smith and what is his role in the discussion?
-Neil Smith is a professor of Anthropology and Geography at the City University of New York. He introduces David Harvey and engages him in a discussion about Harvey's lectures on Marx's 'Capital'.
How did David Harvey start his interest in reading 'Capital'?
-David Harvey started reading 'Capital' during a tumultuous period in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The social and political upheavals, such as the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam War protests, motivated him to seek a framework for understanding these events. He initiated a reading group with graduate students to study 'Capital'.
What does David Harvey mean by saying he 'completely misunderstood' 'Capital' the first time he read it?
-David Harvey refers to his initial experience of reading 'Capital' as the 'blind leading the blind.' He and his group of graduate students struggled to understand the complex text and realized they needed to reread it multiple times to grasp its concepts accurately.
According to David Harvey, why is it important to read 'Capital' in its entirety?
-David Harvey believes that 'Capital' should be read in its entirety because its concepts only become clear as the book progresses. The initial chapters are challenging, and understanding develops gradually, often only becoming apparent by the end of the book.
What are the three major areas of inspiration for Marx's 'Capital' identified by David Harvey?
-The three major areas of inspiration for Marx's 'Capital' are: political economy, particularly English political economy; German classical critical philosophy; and the utopian socialist tradition, primarily French but also including figures like Robert Owen from Britain.
Why does David Harvey emphasize understanding Marx's dialectical method?
-David Harvey emphasizes understanding Marx's dialectical method because it is central to Marx's analysis. Dialectics focuses on inner relations and the fluidity and motion of capitalism, rather than static, causal relationships. This method is crucial for grasping the dynamic nature of capitalist society as presented in 'Capital'.
How does David Harvey suggest students approach preconceived notions about Marx and Marxism?
-David Harvey advises students to lay aside preconceived notions about Marx and Marxism and approach 'Capital' with an open mind. He encourages engaging with the text directly to understand what Marx was truly trying to convey, free from prior biases.
What does David Harvey mean by 'socially necessary labour-time'?
-David Harvey explains that 'socially necessary labour-time' is the amount of labour time required to produce a commodity under normal conditions of production, with average skill and intensity, and within a given society. This concept is key to understanding value in Marx's analysis.
What are the main challenges in understanding the first chapters of 'Capital', according to Marx and Harvey?
-Both Marx and Harvey acknowledge that the first chapters of 'Capital' are arduous because they lay out the foundational concepts in a dense and abstract manner. Marx warns readers that the initial analysis can be difficult and requires patience and effort to grasp.
How does David Harvey propose students engage with the text of 'Capital' during the course?
-David Harvey encourages students to read the assigned sections of 'Capital' before class and come prepared with questions. He stresses the importance of struggling with the text independently to develop a personal understanding, which will be enriched through class discussions and his guidance.
Outlines
😀 Introduction and Background
Neil Smith introduces the talk with David Harvey, recounting his experience as Harvey's student. Harvey shares his motivation to start reading Marx's 'Capital' in the early 1970s amidst social and political turmoil. He explains the historical context that influenced his decision and the challenges faced in initially understanding the text.
📘 Reading and Understanding 'Capital'
David Harvey describes the importance of reading 'Capital' in its entirety rather than through excerpts. He emphasizes the book's literary quality and the journey from understanding commodities to unraveling the capitalist economy. Harvey highlights the need for students to engage with the text deeply, setting aside preconceived notions and disciplinary biases.
📚 Diverse Interpretations and Disciplinary Approaches
Harvey shares his experiences of teaching 'Capital' to various groups, noting that each disciplinary perspective brought out different aspects of the text. He recounts the challenges and insights gained from teaching the text to philosophers, economists, and literature students, emphasizing the importance of understanding Marx's language and methodology.
💡 The Three Major Inspirations Behind 'Capital'
Harvey outlines the three main influences on Marx's work: political economy, German critical philosophy, and utopian socialism. He explains how Marx critiqued and integrated these traditions to form a new framework of knowledge. Harvey discusses the significance of Marx's method of ruthless criticism and the transformation of existing ideas into revolutionary concepts.
🔍 Marx's Method and the Concept of Value
Harvey delves into Marx's method of inquiry and presentation, emphasizing the importance of understanding value as socially necessary labor-time. He explains Marx's critique of political economy and how Marx developed a new scientific method to analyze capitalism. Harvey also touches on the influences of utopian socialist thought on Marx's work.
🧩 The Structure and Challenges of 'Capital'
Harvey discusses the complex structure of 'Capital' and the difficulties readers face, particularly with the early chapters. He explains Marx's approach of starting with fundamental concepts and gradually expanding them to understand the capitalist mode of production. Harvey stresses the importance of grasping the deep concepts to appreciate the entire framework of Marx's analysis.
⚙️ The Dialectical Method and Motion in Capitalism
Harvey explains Marx's use of dialectics, highlighting the importance of understanding capitalism as a dynamic and fluid system. He contrasts dialectical relations with causal analysis and describes how Marx's method reveals the inner connections and contradictions within capitalism. Harvey underscores the significance of grasping these dialectical movements to fully comprehend Marx's critique.
🔗 Commodity, Value, and Social Necessity
Harvey explains Marx's decision to start 'Capital' with the concept of the commodity and its dual character of use-value and exchange-value. He discusses the notion of value as socially necessary labor-time and the implications of this for understanding capitalist production. Harvey also touches on the role of supply and demand in determining value and the ongoing relevance of these concepts.
💬 Representations and Objectification of Labour
Harvey elaborates on the relationship between commodities, value, and labor processes. He explains the concept of objectification and how labor is materialized in commodities. Harvey uses examples to illustrate the dynamic nature of value and the importance of understanding these processes to grasp Marx's analysis of capitalism.
🌐 Global Capitalism and Socially Necessary Labour-Time
Harvey discusses the global context of value determination and the influence of various factors such as technology, social organization, and natural conditions on productivity and value. He emphasizes the fluid and dynamic nature of value in capitalism and the importance of considering these broader determinants.
🛠️ Marx's Dialectical Method in Practice
Harvey provides a detailed explanation of Marx's dialectical method, focusing on the interplay between use-value, exchange-value, and value. He highlights the non-causal, relational nature of Marx's analysis and its implications for understanding everyday economic decisions. Harvey encourages students to apply this method to their own experiences and observations.
📖 Engaging with Marx's Text
Harvey stresses the importance of engaging deeply with Marx's text, encouraging students to question and discuss the material as they read. He shares his own evolving relationship with the text and the insights gained from continuous study. Harvey highlights the need for students to develop their own interpretations and connect the analysis to contemporary issues.
💬 Open Questions and Socially Necessary Labour-Time
Harvey addresses student questions about the nature of value, objectification, and the implications of modern economic conditions for Marx's theory. He emphasizes the flexibility and openness of the concept of socially necessary labor-time and its relevance to various social, political, and environmental contexts.
🔄 Continuous Dialogue and Interpretation
Harvey concludes by encouraging students to approach 'Capital' with an open mind, recognizing the dynamic and evolving nature of Marx's analysis. He highlights the importance of continuous dialogue and interpretation, both with the text and in relation to contemporary issues. Harvey emphasizes the liberating potential of Marx's method for understanding and transforming the world.
📅 Next Steps and Reading Assignments
Harvey outlines the reading assignments for the next class, emphasizing the importance of careful reading and engagement with the text. He previews the upcoming sections and their significance, encouraging students to prepare questions and thoughts for discussion in the following sessions.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Capital
💡Commodity
💡Use-value
💡Exchange-value
💡Value
💡Socially Necessary Labour-time
💡Objectification
💡Dialectics
💡Fetishism of commodities
💡Class struggle
Highlights
David Harvey's motivation for reading Capital stems from the historical turbulence of the late 1960s and early 1970s, seeking a framework to understand societal unrest.
Harvey's initial misunderstanding of Capital led to a repeated reading, emphasizing the complexity and depth of Marx's work.
The importance of reading Capital as a complete work rather than excerpts to grasp Marx's grand narrative.
Harvey's approach to teaching Capital, highlighting the book's literary construction and dynamic flow.
The necessity of engaging with the text to develop a personal understanding of Marx's theories.
The challenge of approaching Capital without preconceived ideas and disciplinary biases.
Marx's use of a wide array of references, including literature and philosophy, to enrich his analysis.
The significance of understanding Marx's dialectical method to appreciate the fluidity and motion of capitalism.
Harvey's discussion on the concept of commodity as the starting point of Marx's analysis, focusing on its dual nature of use-value and exchange-value.
The explanation of value as socially necessary labor-time and its implications for understanding the capitalist mode of production.
The impact of technological advancements on the value of commodities and the concept of socially necessary labor-time.
Harvey's emphasis on the importance of considering Marx's ideas in their own terms to fully comprehend the depth of his critique.
The exploration of the tension between use-value and exchange-value, and the choices consumers face in the marketplace.
Harvey's encouragement for students to engage with the text, bringing their own experiences and questions to the discussion.
The final section of chapter one on the fetishism of commodities, introducing Marx's critique of the social relations under capitalism.
Transcripts
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