On 5/20/07, sartesian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
... Marx finds in fact that the difference between human weaving and spider weaving is that the former goes on under specific historical circumstances, specific relations of property and labor. The latter does not. There is no property in the world of spiders and bees, there is no labor to alienate, to exchange, to circulate as a universal form of value.
crucially, unlike the spider, the weaver _has the ability to_ conceive of the product before making it. But capitalism progressively denies the weaver the ability to put this capacity to conceive into practice. Instead of having the weaver do the active and creative thinking, conception and execution are divided between two groups of employees. This "deskilling" _dehumanizes_ the weaver (the one who executes the act of weaving) and empowers the expert (who also works for the capitalist). (cf. Braverman's exposition of Marx.) -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
