In the third section of Marx's Introduction to the
Grundrisse, The method of political economy,
Marx again undertakes a critique of Hegel in the form of a critique of political economy and also develops his
methods for political economy referring to Hegel’s methods. At the beginning of this section, Marx speaks about the 17th century economists’ use of method of political economy in which they create chaotic conception (Vorstellung) to understand the whole. Rather than starting with the whole he prefers to start analysis with more simple concepts (Begriff).
He talks about two methods, as
descending and
ascending methods which coincide with Hegel`s
analytical and
synthetic methods. Analytical method analyzing from “the individual” to reach “the
general” coincides with the descending method which goes from
concrete to
abstract.
William Petty in his book
Political Arithmetic (1690) analyses France, England and Netherlands argues that causes of power of nations, lies in the money necessary to employ wage workers in manufacture. Here Petty descends from nation down to money, from concrete to abstract. This work stands as an example of the 17th century economists’ works.
Marx’s ascending method develops from abstract to the concrete that coincides with Hegel’s synthetic method developing from general to the individual, which is 'the development of the moments of the notion', proceeding from the abstract or general and then particularizing to the individual instance. Marx takes Adam Smith’s
The Wealth of Nations as an example of 18th century economists’ works. Here, Smith states that nature and causes of wealth for all nations demonstrates how the division of labor brings about material abundance even among the middle & lower classes of society. He ascends from the simple category “division of labor” to exchange, distribution, accumulation of capital and lastly to revenue of the state.
Evidently following Hegel, Marx asserts that synthetic method with which we ascend from the abstract or the simple to the concrete or the complex is scientifically correct. But they vary in determining “the concrete”. Hegel does not distinguish between the process of thinking and positing actuality and in his analytical method he analyses the concrete and then find an abstract general form. However, Marx states that concrete is dissolving in abstract in the process of descending from the concrete to abstract. He believes that taking the concrete, as a product of thinking will lead to totality of thoughts.
In this regard, he considers where a systematic critique of political economy should start, taking up “the simplest economic category” for ex: exchange value, possession, exchange and labor in general. He traces them back to their point of departure, inquiring where and how money is generated, and noting that from money comes capital.
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