Political Economy Quarterly
Online ISSN : 2189-7719
Print ISSN : 1882-5184
ISSN-L : 1882-5184
Labor as Void : Beyond Marx's Theory of Exploitation(<SPECIAL ISSUE>Today's Labor Theories)
Toshimaru OGURA
Author information
Keywords: Marx, labor, exploitation
JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2010 Volume 47 Issue 3 Pages 22-35

Details
Abstract
Ogura proposes the theoretical extension of Marx's theory of exploitation on surplus labor which covers the whole of activities as not only labor but also whole of human life. In the definition of labor by Marx's theory of labor process in the Capital, characteristics of labor is substance metabolism between human and nature based on indivisibility between desire and activity, and also between conception and activity. In capitalist labor process, however, labor depends on capitalist cause to valorization independently of worker's desire and conception. Possibility of such capitalist labor needs to construct not only cause of money but also non-economic meanings on concrete labor. In this point of view, Marx's concept of labor as universal characteristics of human activity is invalid, rather activity called "labor" is historically specific category of human activity in capitalist society. Ogura's alternative view point of labor as history-binded category of human activity makes clear another uncovered view point of labor by Marx's texts from early years to late years. Paying attention to the alternative view point of labor based on Marx, Ogura tries to extend the theory of exploitation. Labor without desire and conception put void of self, which does not mean so called alienation. A structure of meaning of labor in capitalism intends to satisfy a sense of void, which brings happiness and self realization suitable for capitalist human relations. This kind of compensation mechanism does not always good, rather it has to have fundamental contradiction of causes between human being and capital. Ogura suggests a future society after capitalism has to accomplish emancipation of human being from making the worker which dominate a center of the most significant meanings as human beings.
Content from these authors
© 2010 Japan Society of Political Economy
Previous article Next article
feedback
Top