(hoping this will do as a tentative reply to Eric too) >Recasting Marx in algebraic, mathematical, or precise numerical form, seems a >bit foreign to his overall project, which his understanding the nature of >capitalist society and the weaknesses that will lead to the creation of a >socialist state.
The idea was not so much to give a precise or numeric quantification of the productive forces but rather to show that the phrase "productive forces" could in principle be operationalised in some non-question-begging way. I say "non-question-begging", because my problem with Jim and Eric's idea of the productive forces (set out extremely clearly in Eric's chained-GDP concept of their measurement), is that if you're going to say that "productive" means "productive of things which are desired by human beings at that particular point in history", then I don't see how historical materialism can get off the ground. ie, if the state of the production forces can only be given a meaning which is dependent on the state of history, how can it be the basis of a theory of history? And whatever else one thinks about Cohen's work, I think he has to be right that Marx had a theory of history, and that this theory of history was materialsit and based on the productive forces. 'course, I never understood dialectics, so I may be talking out of my hole. dd ___________________________________________________ Email Disclaimer This communication is for the attention of the named recipient only and should not be passed on to any other person. Information relating to any company or security, is for information purposes only and should not be interpreted as a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any security. The information on which this communication is based has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice. All e-mail messages, and associated attachments, are subject to interception and monitoring for lawful business purposes. ___________________________________________________
