On Jul 14, 2010, at 10:36 AM, Angelus Novus wrote:
>
> But Engels actual contention is far dodgier than this. Engels
> actually posits the existence of a historical stage of "simple
> commodity production" in which value is said to be the determining
> instance of exchange **in a conscious way on the part of producers**:
>
> "Hence, the peasant of the Middle Ages knew fairly accurately the
> labor-time required for the manufacture of the articles obtained by
> him in barter...
Engels is talking about "barter." What can justify equating *barter* with "a historical stage of simple commodity production?"
Shane Mage
"All things are an equal exchange for fire and fire for all things, as goods are for gold and gold for goods."
Herakleitos of Ephesos, fr, 90