Engels blackmailing for the production of "Capitalism" - Their joint work and Engels' contribution "Learning from the Life and Thought Background of Marx Engels" (46)
In the above article, we have provided a brief chronological overview of the lives of Marx and Engels, but in this series, "Learning from the Life and Thought Background of Marx and Engels," we will look at the lives and thought of Marx and Engels in more detail.
I will now refer to the book by Tristram Hunt.Engels, The Man Marx Called General.This is a biography of Engels called.
What makes this book excellent is that it explains in an easy-to-understand manner which ideas influenced Engels and how his writings were produced from them.
It is very easy to understand the flow of history because you can learn along with the historical background of the time and the ideas that were popular at the time. It is easy to understand how the ideas of Engels and Marx were developed. The book also gives me a road map of what to read next to learn more about Marx and Engels. I appreciated this.
And this book made me realize how much Engels had influenced Marx's writings. It is quite amazing.
Although this book is a biography of Engels, it also goes into great detail about Marx. It was such a great biography that I thought I could learn more about Marx by reading this book than by reading a biography or commentary on Marx.
We may use other Marx biographies to supplement some of Marx's life and interesting episodes, but basically we will focus on this book and take a closer look at the lives of Marx and Engels.
For other reference books, see the following articles"List of 12 recommended Marx biographies--to learn more about the life and thought of Marx Engels."Please refer to this page for a summary.
So let's get started.
Beginning of the production of "Capitalism" - Engels blackmails Marx
The letters were not a one-way street. The letters also reveal the extent to which Marx developed his ideas on "Capitalism" in consultation with Engels.
Much of the early impetus for the book came from Engels himself. As early as 1851, he chided Marx. What is important is that you once again make your public debut with a book of substantial substance. ...... It is absolutely essential that you break the spell caused by your prolonged absence from the German book market.
Nine years later, with no obvious prospect of publication in the near future, Engels reminded him of the critical importance of the work he was delaying in vain with petty academic quibbles. The crucial thing is that it be written and published. Those donkeys will never find the weakness you have in mind. And if, in these unsettled times, it all comes to a halt before you can finish Capitalism, what will you have left?"
Chikuma Shobo, Tristram Hunt, translated by Erika Togo, Engels: The Man Called General by Marx, p. 260
Some line breaks have been made.
Today, Marx is a household name known throughout the world, but not so during his lifetime.
And since he began his exile in London, he is one of countless political prisoners. If he stayed in exile in London, he would never be able to accomplish anything. Therefore, Engels gave Marx a warning.
Previous Article"Marx and the British Museum Library: Learning from the Life and Thought Background of Marx Engels," (43), Marx, an uncanny reader who devoted 12 hours every day to research.As I mentioned in my previous article, Marx was too much of a perfectionist and sank into a sea of books, one after another, and was unable to finish his works. Engels, unable to bear to see Marx in such a state, gave him a warning.
After all, Marx is not only Marx. I feel that Marx is not only Marx, but also his ally Engels.
Marx researching and writing at his permanent seat in the British Museum Library
Eventually, in seat seven, which became his regular seat in the British Museum's reading room, Marx began to write his work in earnest.
And soon after, requests for specialized materials began to plague Engels. While the British Museum provided much, it was no substitute for the reality of the Manchester cotton industry when it came to understanding the functioning of capitalism.
Marx wrote in January 1858, "I have now reached a point in my work on economics where I need practical advice from you. I cannot find anything relevant in the theoretical books," Marx wrote in January 1858. 'This concerns the circulation of capital. It is about the circulation of capital, its various forms in different businesses, and its effect on profit and price. Any information you can give me on these matters would be greatly appreciated."
Then followed a series of questions about machinery and equipment costs and depreciation rates, internal capital allocation, and the accounting calculation of sales. The theoretical principles are quite simple and self-explanatory, but it is good to know how they work in practice," he said. But it is good to know how it works in practice.
For the next five years, requests for real information continued to come in. In 1862, Marx asked, "Can you give me information on all the different kinds of workers employed in your factories, for example, and what proportion of each is there? In 1862, Marx asked, "Can you give me information on all kinds of workers employed in your factories, for example, and what proportion of each is there?
"In my book, I need to illustrate that in the machine factory, the division of labor that forms the foundation of manufacturing does not exist in the form that A [Adam] Smith described. ...... What we need are examples of that kind."
The years Engels spent at the Ermen & Engels Trading Company became the basis for his empirical "Theory of Capital. Another series of questions began, "Since practice trumps all theory, I would ask you to explain to me extremely precisely (with examples) how you run your business."
Chikuma Shobo, Tristram Hunt, translated by Erika Togo, Engels: The Man Called General by Marx, p. 260-261
Some line breaks have been made.
Marx was holed up in the British Museum, which was now a reserved seat.
He continued his speculations by obtaining not only literature but also field data from Engels. This is exactly how the collaboration of Marx and Engels was conducted in the museum's reserved seats.
Marx at a loss for Engels' contributions and theory building
Engels' contributions were not all statistical as he became an echo board of Marx's economic philosophy that was being produced.
Let me say a word or two on a complicated matter that would be too long to put into writing. Then you will be able to tell me your views on this," Marx began his letter dated August 2, 1862.
He then began to explain the difference between invariant capital (mechanical equipment) and variable capital (labor), presenting the early ideas of the "surplus value" theory, which became the foundation of the Theory of Capital.
Engels responded in the same way, raising a number of methodological objections to Marx's method of calculating the value of a worker's labor and his relative compensation at the labor wage rate.
Marx, however, rarely enjoyed being questioned so rigorously, and he lightly replied that he would not be able to deal with such criticism properly "until the third volume. If I were to refute all such objections in advance, it would undermine the entire dialectical scheme of the commentary."
Despite the vast amount of correspondence on Capital, pursuing such a complex subject in writing could sometimes be too much to bear. Can't you come here even for a few days?" Marx asked on August 20, 1862.
In my own critique, I have overturned so many of the old theories that there are a few points I would like to discuss with you before we move on. It is tiresome for both you and me to discuss these issues in writing.
And even the energetic Engels found Marx's demand for enlightenment somewhat burdensome after a day at the office. The theory of land rent is too abstract for me," he replied wearily in September 1862, "and with all this cotton-picking, etc., it's actually too abstract for me. I shall have to consider the problem when I can get some more peace and quiet.
Chikuma Shobo, Tristram Hunt, translated by Erika Togo, Engels: The Man Called General by Marx, p. 261-262
Some line breaks have been made.
Although Marx's genius is often talked about when it comes to "Capitalism," as we have seen in this article, it could never have been completed without the help of Engels.
Although Engels is often underestimated compared to Marx, it is clear that he was essential to the completion of Marx's thought. I was reminded once again that Engels is very important when considering Marxism.
Next Article.
Click here to read the previous article.
Related Articles
