The Critique of Political Economy

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to a critical reconstruction of Karl Marx’s critique of political economy, from the Economic Manuscripts of 1857–1858 (Grundrisse) up to the Capital (1867). Firstly, the chapter follows the Marxian dialectical development of the main categories of political economy: commodity, money, capital, labor force, surplus value, exploitation, and accumulation. Secondly, the chapter outlines a critical analysis of some problems related to the Marxian theory of value and surplus value and to the much discussed question of the relation between values and prices.