[Marxism] Socially Necessary Abstract(?) Labor Time

["Ian Seda" <isedairi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear friends,

I have a small question regarding a very important theoretical concept
in Marxian economic theory. It's the notion of the determination of
value of commodities by the "socially necessary abstract labor time"
(SNALT). This specific phrase is accepted and used by various Marxists
in my department (UMass-Amherst), be it of the orthodox or postmodern
variety. The thing is that I suspect this is an incorrect statement
because of the redundancy that i think is inherent to such a phrase.
>From my understanding, the socially necessary labor time is the amount
of abstract labor that is required to produce the commodity. Putting
the abstract in the SNALT phrase therefore seems redundant. Apart from
that I can't find one example of Marx himself using the SNALT. So, can
somebody clarify this rather sterile point?
This conversation just popped up last night in the middle of some
drinks, so I'm sorry if it seems irrelevant.
Sincerely,

Ian

-- 
Ian J. Seda-Irizarry
Department of Economics
818 Thompson Hall
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Phone: (413)-687-3889

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