Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ... AUTHOR'S PREFACE. M. Proudhon has the misfortune of being singularly misunderstood in Europe. In France he has the right to be a bad economist, because he passes for a good German philosopher. In Germany he has the right to be a bad philosopher, because he passes for one of the greatest of the French economists. We, as both German and economist at the same time, wish to protest against this double error. The reader will understand that in this ungrateful task it has been often necessary for us to leave the criticism of M. Proudhon, in order to turn to that of German philosophy. and to set forth from time to time some views on political economy. KARL MARX. Brussels, June 15, 1847. M The work of M. Proudhon is not simply a treatise on political economy, an ordinary book, it is a Bible: "Mysteries," "Secrets dragged from the bosom of God," "Revelations," nothing is wanting. But as, in our days, the prophets are discussed more conscientiously than the profane authors, the reader must resign himself to pass with us by the arid and gloomy erudition of "Genesis" in order to rise later with M. Proudhon into the ethereal and fruitful regions of supra-Socialism. (See Proudhon's "Philosophic de la Misere," Prologue, page in, line 20.) Section I.--Opposition Of Utility-Value To Exchange-value. "The capacity possessed by all products, natural or industrial, to serve the subsistence of man is specially described as utility-value; the capacity they have of being given in exchange for each other as exchange-value.... How does utility-value become exchange-value? The generation of the idea of value (in exchange) has not been noted by the economists with sufficient care; it is important for us to halt here. Since among the objects of which I have need...
