登陆注册
5186300000081

第81章 Appendix I:Production,Consumption,Distribution,Exc

Thus when we speak of production,we always have in mind production at a definite stage of social development,production by individuals in a society.It might therefore seem that,in order to speak of production at all,we must either trace the various phases in the historical process of development,or else declare from the very beginning that we are examining one particular historical period,as for instance modern bourgeois production,which is indeed our real subject-matter.All periods of production,however,have certain features in common:they have certain common categories.Production in general is an abstraction,but a sensible abstraction in so far as it actually emphasises and defines the common aspects and thus avoids repetition.Yet this general concept,or the common aspect which has been brought to light by comparison,is itself a multifarious compound comprising divergent categories.Some elements are found in all epochs,others are common to a few epochs.The most modern period and the most ancient period will have (certain)categories in common.Production without them is inconceivable.But although the most highly developed languages have laws and categories in common with the most primitive languages,it is precisely their divergence from these general and common features which constitutes their development.It is necessary to distinguish those definitions which apply to production in general,in order not to over look the essential differences existing despite the unity that follows from the very fact that the subject,mankind,and the object,nature,are the same.For instance,on failure to perceive this fact depends the entire wisdom of modern economists who prove the eternity and harmony of existing social relations.For example,no production is possible without an instrument of production,even if this instrument is simply the hand.It is not possible without past,accumulated labour,even if this labour is only the skill acquired by repeated practice and concentrated in the hand of a savage.Capital is among other things also an instrument of production,and also past,materialised labour.Consequently capital is a universal and eternal relation given by nature that is,provided one omits precisely those specific factors which turn the "instrument of production"or "accumulated labour"into capital.The whole history of the relations of production thus appears,for instance in Carey's writings,as a falsification malevolently brought about by the government.

Just as there is no production in general,so also there is no general production.Production is always a particular branch of production --e.g.,agriculture,cattle-breeding,manufacture --or it is the totality of production.Political economy,however,is not technology.The relation of the general categories of production at a given social stage to the particular forms of production is to be set forth elsewhere (later).

Finally,not only is production particular production,but it is invariably only a definite social corpus,a social subject,that is engaged in a wider or narrower totality of productive spheres.The relation of the academic presentation to the actual process does not belong here either.Production in general.Particular branches of production.Totality of Production.

It is fashionable to preface economic works with a general part --and it is just this which appears under the heading "Production",see for instance John Stuart Mill --which deals with the general conditions of all production This general part comprises or purports to comprise:

1.The conditions without which production cannot be carried on.This means in fact only that the essential factors required for any kind of production are indicated.But this amounts actually,as we shall see,to a few very simple definitions,which are further expanded into trivial tautologies.

2.The conditions which promote production to a larger or smaller degree,as in the case of Adam Smith's progressive and stagnant state of society.

To give this,which in Smith's work has its value as an aper?u ,to give it scientific significance,research into the degree of productivity at various periods in the development of individual nations would have to be conducted;strictly speaking,such an investigation lies outside the framework of the subject,those aspects which are however relevant to it ought to be mentioned in connection with the development of competition,accumulation,etc.The answer in its general form amounts to the general statement that an industrial nation achieves its highest productivity when it is altogether at the height of its historical development.(In fact,a nation is at the height of its industrial development so long as,not the gain,but gaining remains its principal aim.In this respect the Yankees are superior to the English.)Or else that for example certain races,formations,climates,natural circumstances,such as maritime position,fertility of the soil,etc.,are more conducive to production than others.

This again amounts to the tautological statement that the production of wealth grows easier in the measure that its subjective and objective elements become available.

But all this is not really what the economists are concerned about in the general part.It is rather --see for example Mill --that production,as distinct from distribution,etc.,is to be presented as governed by eternal natural laws which are independent of history,and at the same time bourgeois relations are clandestinely passed off as irrefutable natural laws of society in abstracto .This is the more or less conscious purpose of the whole procedure.As regards distribution,however,it is said that men have indeed indulged in a certain amount of free choice.

同类推荐
  • 柳氏传

    柳氏传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 道德真经论

    道德真经论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说不增不减经

    佛说不增不减经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 博异志

    博异志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大理行记

    大理行记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 一品逆天狂妃

    一品逆天狂妃

    楚惊华,古武世家最惊才绝艳的武道天才,炼药,易容,计谋,演技,古武……无一不能!一朝穿越,腹黑强悍的她竟成了一个废物。当强者之魂进入弱者之躯,一切都将惊艳改写,天翻地覆!
  • 女尊之夫郎来搅婚

    女尊之夫郎来搅婚

    和好友一同穿越到女尊世界,还未等她反应过来,就和人成亲了,不料好友却成了西凉国男扮女装的三皇女?要强势搅婚!
  • 剑道之王

    剑道之王

    【“剑灵”游戏官方定制小说。】“我的剑,就是你的剑。”“用你的剑,让我明白,什么叫真正的剑道之王!”响应灵族大长老献祭生命的召唤,王炼自异界降临而至!原本,他是想完成灵族长老嘱托,荡平魔界,灭杀魔皇,但……人族上下内忧外患,任重道远。不得已,他只能持剑,试天下诸宗,斩妖邪神魔,目的……只是为了安安静静做一个救世主。………《乘风新书,求推荐,求收藏!》
  • 把优秀还给孩子

    把优秀还给孩子

    塞德兹说过:“人如同陶瓷器一样,小时候形成一生的雏形,幼儿时期就好比制造陶瓷器的黏土,给予什么样的教育就会形成什么样的雏形。”家长自身的素质和修养以及对孩子的教育方法,对孩子的成长与成才起着举足轻重的作用。要培养出优秀的孩子,家长需要有科学的教育理念作指导。家长只有掌握了科学的教育理念,才能思路正确,少走弯路,让我们的孩子早日成才。
  • 一品娇娘

    一品娇娘

    号外!号外!桓王妃要休夫!号外号外!镇北王要娶妻!号外号外!桓王被贬了!前世,身为桓王妃,却被夫君陷害怀上了镇北王的孩子?一朝重生,联合另外一位被害当事人,直言让这桓王吃不了兜着走!
  • 许你毁我

    许你毁我

    爱一个人,就是许他毁了你的全部!这是一个让人心疼的故事……我来写,你来读,答应我千万别哭好吗?
  • 盛武大唐

    盛武大唐

    朝代更迭,江湖亦随之而变大唐乃是盛世,江湖自也是如此是以武乱禁,冲杀于大世之争中;还是侠肝义胆,逍遥于山野闹市里少年自深山走出,手握一杆黑铁长枪,就此闯进了这从未平静过的江湖
  • 小户媳妇

    小户媳妇

    【没有惊天阴谋,没有腥风血雨,只有轻松简单的喜怒哀乐愁。】*她是御史之女,静静的只想陪着父母,看书终老,闲来伺弄花草,最怕之事就是嫁人为妻,然而怕什么来什么。父亲丢官回乡,阴差阳错,她就成了项家的小媳妇……*夫家鸡飞狗跳,烂糟糟事情不少。当家主母是婆婆,强悍粗野,最恨的就是读书人;夫君项宝贵,据说是个常年不在家、做跑船运输的商人,可怜她刚嫁过去就要开始守活寡;公公怕婆婆,小姑却怕嫂子抢心上人……*又谁知,这样的小户人家,顶着粗俗的外表,做着风雅浪漫的营生,背后又有怎样的秘密?*他是五湖四海为家的人,小气贪财,目不识丁,腹黑恶劣,他又是所谓“国相”,肩上的担子剥夺了他娶妻享乐的权利,原想一辈子孤身,偏偏老娘给他娶了个小媳妇,等在家里,让他百爪挠心……
  • 非仆莫嫁

    非仆莫嫁

    我和万一鸣的爱情,来的突然,仿佛是上天给予我的恩赐,相识,相知,相爱,相恋。做梦的时候,我都是笑着醒的,我没想到爱情来的突然,令我措手不及的幸福,打开了大门。可是,红地毯上,那个曾经向着信誓旦旦的人,却因为钱和地位,牵着另外一个女人走过;当初给予我的那些承诺,全都用在另一个女人的身上……最后摔得我遍体鳞伤,还要在我的刀口上,撒上盐巴
  • 广播经营战略研究正文

    广播经营战略研究正文

    本书从经营战略理论入手,深入分析了当代中国广播媒介经营中出现的一系列问题,提出了符合我国广播发展实践的经营战略。同时,对我国广播经营实践中出现的伦理冲突和道德问题进行了反思,提出了广播经营的伦理规范。本书对我国广播产业的发展具有一定的借鉴意义和参考价值,既适用于高校传媒专业师生,也可为传媒业从业人员提供指导。