Value criticism

Value criticism (in German Wertkritik) is a branch of post-Marxism which criticizes capitalistic society. They follow in the traditions of the Frankfurt School and critical theory developed under Max Horkheimer. Some prominent adherents of value criticism are Robert Kurz and Moishe Postone.

Aspects of value criticism

Value criticism takes crucial aspects of Marx's critiques of commodity fetishism, commodities and value, while criticizing Marx's theory of class struggle and historical materialism. As a result, they feel that the working class can not necessarily be identified as a revolutionary subject. Instead it is pointed out that labor has to be understood as a historic specific entity and that criticizing capitalism implies not only criticizing the distribution process in capitalism, but also the capitalistic production process and the productive powers. From this they conclude that real socialism was finally nothing more than state capitalism, where production still followed capitalistic principals. This interpretation, which rejects the traditional Marxistic point of view, is defended in the Manifesto Against Labour.^[1]

Critique of value-diremption

Additional to value criticism a new branch appeared within the circle of theorists led by Roswitha Scholz. The so-called critique of value diremption (in German called "Wertabspaltungskritik") includes not only precise descriptions of the "abstract and fetishized character of modern domination",^[2] but why irrational attitudes are deligated to women, while men are counted as relative rational actors in the capitalistic society.

Criticism

Many leftists claim that books such as The Black Book of Capitalism neither work out a realistic alternative to capitalistic society nor provide any options for actions to overcome capitalism. Additionally, Gerhard Hanloser and Karl Reitter claim that value criticism is a critique from the standpoint of the circulation sphere which can not be explained from within itself.^[3]

Publications

Publishers of value criticism in Germany are the Krisis group and Exit!, to both of which Robert Kurz made crucial contributions. Much value critical literature has still to be translated into English. Elmar Flatschart from the University of Vienna is also publishing in English for the Exit! group. Moishe Postone and his work "Time, Labor and Social Domination" is often cited by value critics.

References