Essays on Marx's Theory of Value

Conceived as a Variorum Edition

Series: 

Author:
Isaak Ilyich Rubin
Editor / Translator:
Susumu Takenaga
This book is an English translation of Essays on Marx’s Theory of Value, first published by Isaak Illich Rubin in 1923 in the Soviet Union. Rubin’s book sparked a fierce value controversy with contemporary Soviet economists during the late 1920s. As such, the present translation is conceived as a variorum edition, including for the first time in English all the essential supplementary materials related to this foundational work in Marx’s value theory. In addition to Rubin’s main work, this edition includes his four most important related publications, as well as ten debate articles written and published by his contemporary proponents and opponents.
Copyright Year:
2025
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ISBN:
978-90-04-72134-0
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24 Feb 2025
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ISBN:
978-90-04-72133-3
Publication:
27 Feb 2025
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Front Matter
Preliminary Material
Copyright Page
Part A
Editorial Foreword by the Translator
Part B ‘Essays on Marx’s Theory of Value’
Foreword to the Fourth Edition
Foreword to the Third Edition
Introduction
Subpart I Marx’s Theory of Commodity Fetishism
Show Items
Subpart II Marx’s Theory of Labour Value
Show Items
Appendices
Appendix 2551 Reply to Critics
Part C Rubin’s Journal Articles in Relation to his Main Work
Article 1 ‘Relations of Production and Material Categories’,
Article 2 ‘Review on Franz Petry’
Article 3 ‘Abstract Labour and Value in Marx’s System’,,
Article 4 ‘On the History of the Text of the First Chapter of Capital by K. Marx’
Part D Documents published in the Soviet Union during the Value Controversy in the 1920s
Document 1 A. Voznesensky: ‘On the Problem of the Understanding of the Category of Abstract Labour’
Document 2 I. Dashkovsky: ‘Abstract Labour and the Economic Categories of Marx’,
Document 3 S. Shabs: From The Problem of Social Labour in Marx’s Economic System – A Critique of ‘Essays on Marx’s Theory of Value’ by I. Rubin
Document 4 A. Cohn: ‘Some Observations of my Critics in the Light of Marx’s Theory’
Document 5 V. Dunaevsky: ‘The Law of Labour Value in Capitalism in I. Rubin’s Essays’,,
Document 6 A. Greblis, M. Korovai, I. Stepanov: ‘On the Disputable Problems of the Theory of Value (about I.I. Rubin’s Book, Essays on Marx’s Theory of Value)’,
Document 7 M. Saigushkin: ‘Abstract Labour as a Materialistic Category’
Document 8 /83/E. Landye: ‘The Marxist Method and the Foundation of the Theory of Value (for a Characterisation of the New Variant of Bogdanovshchina)’
Document 9 I. Blyumin: ‘On the Problem of Labour Forming Value’
Document 10 Z. Verner: ‘How Rubin’s System of Views is Pushing Ahead Under the Guise of Battle with the Mechanists’
Part E Translator’s Introductory Essay – Rubin’s Interpretation of Marx’s Theory of Value and the Value Controversy in the Soviet Union in the 1920s
Chapter I The Rubin Controversy and its Political Oppression
Chapter II The Controversy around Rubin’s Interpretation of Marx’s Theory of Value in the Soviet Union during the 1920s
Back Matter
Name Index
Susumu Takenaga, Ph.D. (1984), Université de Paris X, is an Emeritus Professor at Daito Bunka University, Tokyo. He has taught the history of economic thought and has published numerous books and articles in Japanese, French, and English, including Ricardo on Money and Finance (Routledge, 2013).
List of Figures

PartA



Editorial Foreword by the Translator

PartB ‘Essays on Marx’s Theory of Value’



Foreword to the Fourth Edition

Foreword to the Third Edition

Introduction

SubpartI Marx’s Theory of Commodity Fetishism
Introduction to SubpartI: Marx’s Theory of Commodity Fetishism

1 The Objective Basis of Commodity Fetishism

2 The Process of Production and its Social Form

3 The Reification of the Relations of Production of People and Personification of Things

4 Thing and Social Function (Form)

5 Relations of Production and Material Categories

6 Struve on the Theory of Commodity Fetishism

7 The Development of the Theory of Fetishism in Marx


SubpartII Marx’s Theory of Labour Value
Introduction to SubpartII: Marx’s Theory of Labour Value

8 Basic Characteristics of Marx’s Theory of Value

9 Value as the Regulator of Production

10 The Equality of Commodity Producers and Equality of Commodities

11 The Equality of Commodities and Equality of Labour

12 The Content and Form of Value
 [Supplement 1: Chapter12 in the Second Edition (Chapter9 in the First Edition)] Value and Exchange Value (the Content and Form of Value)

13 Social Labour

14 Abstract Labour
 [Supplement 2: Chapter14 in the Second Edition (Chapter10 in the First Edition)] Abstract Labour

15 Qualified Labour

16 Socially Necessary Labour

17 Value and Social Need
 1 Value and Demand
 2 Value and Proportional Distribution of Labour
 3 Value and Volumes of Production
 4 The Equalisation of Demand and Supply

18 Value and Prices of Production
 1 Distribution and Equilibrium of Capitals
 2 Distribution of Capitals and Distribution of Labour
 3 Prices of Production
 4 Labour Value and Prices of Production
 5 The Historical Foundation of the Theory of Labour Value

19 Productive Labour


Appendices



Appendix1: On the Terminology of Marx
 1 Labour and Value
 2 ‘Crystallisation’
 3 Thing and Social Function

Appendix2: Reply to Critics
 1 Reply to I.Dashkovsky
 2 Reply to S.Shabs
 3 Reply to A.Cohn
 4 Reply to S.Bessonov

PartC Rubin’s Journal Articles in Relation to his Main Work



1 ‘Relations of Production and Material Categories’ (1924)

2 ‘Review on Franz Petry’ (1924)

3 ‘Abstract Labour and Value in Marx’s System’ (1927)
 I.
 II.
 III.

4 ‘On the History of the Text of the First Chapter of Capital by K.Marx’ (1929)

Chapter I: Value and Exchange Value in Critique and Capital

Chapter II: Marx and Bailey

PartD Documents published in the Soviet Union during the Value Controversy in the 1920s



1 A.Voznesensky: ‘On the Problem of the Understanding of the Category of Abstract Labour’ (1925)

2 I.Dashkovsky: ‘Abstract Labour and the Economic Categories of Marx’ (1926)

3 S.Shabs: from The Problem of Social Labour in Marx’s Economic System– A Critique of ‘Essays on Marx’s Theory of Value’ by I.Rubin (1928)

4 A.Cohn: ‘Some Observations of my Critics in the Light of Marx’s Theory’ (1928)

5 V.Dunaevsky: ‘The Law of Labour Value in Capitalism in I.Rubin’s Essays’ (1929)

6 A.Greblis, M.Korovai, I.Stepanov: ‘On the Disputable Problems of the Theory of Value (about I.I.Rubin’s Book, Essays on Marx’s Theory of Value)’ (1929)

7 M.Saigushkin: ‘Abstract Labour as a Materialistic Category’ (1929)

8 E.Landye: ‘The Marxist Method and the Foundation of the Theory of Value (for a Characterisation of the New Variant of Bogdanovshchina)’ (1929)

9 I.Blyumin: ‘On the Problem of Labour Forming Value’ (1929)

10 Z.Verner: ‘How Rubin’s System of Views is Pushing Ahead Under the Guise of Battle with the Mechanists’ (1930)

PartE Translator’s Introductory Essay– Rubin’s Interpretation of Marx’s Theory of Value and the Value Controversy in the Soviet Union in the 1920s



I The Rubin Controversy and its Political Oppression

II The Controversy around Rubin’s Interpretation of Marx’s Theory of Value in the Soviet Union during the 1920s

Name Index
This book is particularly relevant for researchers and postgraduate students in economics, politics, sociology, and other social sciences, especially those with an interest in Marx and Soviet economic thought.
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