Re: [Marxism] two questions on Marx

[wrobert@xxxxxxx]

My memory on this is a little hazy, but didn't Marx see the industrial
proletariat as the most advance section of the proletariat whose
structures of self-organization would lead to the downfall of capital. 
(Yes, I realise that the last part is a little Italian for most on this
list.)  The point is that Marx didn't see industrial workers as the
proletariat per se, but the section that was most significant in the fight
against capital.  (This may have changed since then... to continue with
the Italian references....)

                         robert wood


>> 1. why did Marx rely on a definition of the proletariat as industrial
>> factory workers when there were so many other members of the working
>> class like domestic servants, sailors, dock workers, mine workers, farm
>> workers and of course slaves.
>>
>
> Cite the passage where he "defines" the working class. In practical
> terms _at that time_ the only members of the working class in motion
> were industrial workers. But I don't think Marx ever gave a formal
> definition of "working class."
>
>> why did Marx insist on defining the capitalist mode of production by the
>> sale of labor power.
>
> Because the whole of his understanding of capitalism grew from his study
> of the sale of labor power.
>
> Carrol



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