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This is what the bourgeois political economists have done…

“This is what the bourgeois political economists have done: they have treated value as a fact of nature, not a social construction arising out of a particular mode of production. What Marx is interested in is a revolutionary transformation of society, and that means an overthrow of the capitalist…” quote by David Harvey
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““This is what the bourgeois political economists have done: they have treated value as a fact of nature, not a social construction arising out of a particular mode of production. What Marx is interested in is a revolutionary transformation of society, and that means an overthrow of the capitalist value-form, the construction of an alternative value-structure, an alternative value-system that does not have the specific character of that achieved under capitalism. I cannot overemphasize this point, because the value theory in Marx is frequently interpreted as a universal norm with which we should comply. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard people complain that the problem with Marx is that he believes the only valid notion of value derives from labor inputs. It is not that at all; it is a historical social product. The problem, therefore, for socialist, communist, revolutionary, anarchist or whatever, is to find an alternative value-form that will work in terms of the social reproduction of society in a different image. By introducing the concept of fetishism, Marx shows how the naturalized value of classical political economy dictates a norm; we foreclose on revolutionary possibilities if we blindly follow that norm and replicate commodity fetishism. Our task is to question it.””

David Harvey

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Marx argued value is socially constructed, not a natural fact; we must envision new value systems beyond capitalism.

In simple terms: Value is a social construct, not fixed.

Key Takeaway

Question existing value norms.

Themes

economics marxism social theory

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

theoretical political philosophical

When to use this quote

  • academic discourse
  • policy design
  • activist planning

Key Concepts

value fetishism historical materialism alternative economies

Questions to Reflect On

  • What alternative value structures could replace profit?
  • How can societies transition without destabilizing?
A Different Perspective

Changing deep‑seated value forms is difficult.

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