Launching "The Class Tango Theory of History"

[Sandwichman <lumpoflabor@xxxxxxxxx>]

If the metaphor should be dance rather than wrestling, why is the
reduction of the working day STILL the basic prerequisite for the
development of human powers as an end in itself -- the "realm of
freedom"?

This would have to do with the TEMPO of work in industrial society,
which is established by the pace of the power-driven implement
(uniform) and of exchange (virtually instantaneous). The "unfreedom"
of necessity consists only of the lack of control over tempos that
are, in essence, a-rhythmic because of their speed and uniformity. The
unnaturalness of such rhythms does not preclude, however,
re-integrating them as elements into a larger rhythmic structure. And
that larger structure articulates periods of work and rest. The
uniformity and speed of industrial society thus become merely formal
constraints rather than obstacles to freedom. Emma Goldman's
insistence that, "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your
revolution" can be taken a step further. Dance IS the revolution.

On 12/3/06, Sandwichman <lumpoflabor@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On 12/3/06, Ted Winslow <egwinslow@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > The reference is to Marx's division, in vol. III of Capital, of an
> > ideal society into a "realm of necessity" and a "true realm of freedom".
>
> > "The reduction of the working day is the basic prerequisite."
>
> What'd I tell ya?
>
> I believe, though, that there may be a misconception in Marx's
> argument that nevertheless leads to that admirable conclusion. Marx
> refers to the savage "wrestling" with nature to satisfy needs. There
> may indeed be *moments* of strife in the human/nature relationship,
> but no less important -- and perhaps more so -- are the episodes of
> rhythmic coordination. Dancing might have been a better metaphor than
> wrestling.
>
> Of course, here the literal minded may be tempted to abandon the class
> struggle theory of history and substitute for it the class tango
> theory of history. And why not?
>
> --
> Sandwichman


--
Sandwichman