Class 6: Capital Chapters 5-9: Absolute Surplus-Value, Valorization, the Working Day

The lecture provides a thorough and accessible analysis of Marx’s Capital, chapters 5-9, focusing on the concepts of valorization, absolute surplus-value, and the working day. North’s expertise as a co-editor of a recent critical edition of Capital lends authority to his interpretation. He effectively explains complex ideas such as the automatic subject of capital and the distinction between living and dead labor, using clear examples and analogies. The argumentation is solid, grounded in close reading of the text, and he engages critically with the material, addressing potential misunderstandings. The sources cited are reliable, primarily the Princeton University Press edition of Capital and the course playlist. The lecture’s strength lies in its pedagogical clarity and the way it connects Marx’s analysis to contemporary issues, such as the enclosure of free resources. However, it is a lecture rather than original research, and some interpretations may be debated among Marx scholars. The adéquation between title and content is excellent, as the lecture precisely covers the announced chapters and themes. Overall, this is a high-quality educational resource that offers valuable insights into Marx’s critique of political economy.

The title accurately reflects the content, which covers the specified chapters and concepts.

8/10

Lecture by a Yale professor, based on a critical edition of Marx's Capital, with rigorous textual analysis and clear argumentation. The content is scholarly and well-structured, though it is an interpretation rather than original research.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction and recap of the general formula of capital
• 03:00Discussion of the contradiction in the general formula
• 07:00Introduction of valorization and the transformation of work
• 10:00Explanation of capital as an automatic subject
• 15:00Discussion of means and objects of labor, and historical materialism
• 20:00Distinction between living and dead labor
• 25:00Analysis of the production of absolute surplus-value and the working day
• 30:00Discussion of the enclosure of free resources and commodification
• 35:00Student questions and further clarifications
• 40:00Conclusion and preview of next topics

• Capital: Critique of Political Economy, Volume 1 (Princeton University Press) — The critical edition of Marx's Capital co-edited by Paul North, used as the basis for the course.
• Course Playlist: Capital by Karl Marx — Playlist containing all lectures in this course.

• Capital: Critique of Political Economy, Volume 1 (Princeton University Press) — The primary text being studied, providing the source material for the lecture.