CapitalDrips Blood” Marx’s “Das Kapital” Remains Relevant Today

Capital Comes Dripping from Head to Toe in Blood: A Note in Capital Reflects Marx’s Genius

By [Your Name]

Introduction

Karl Marx’s Capital stands as a cornerstone of socialist thought, exposing the inner workings of capitalist exploitation and providing a scientific foundation for theworker’s movement. One particularly striking passage in Capital, often quoted and analyzed, is the assertion that Capital comes dripping from head to toe in blood anddirt. This statement, accompanied by a noteworthy footnote, reveals not only the brutality of capitalism but also the depth of Marx’s analysis and the enduring power of his work.

The Note and Its Context

In the first volume of Capital, Chapter 24, So-called Primitive Accumulation, Marx famously writes: Capital comes into the world dripping from head to toe, from every pore, with blood and dirt. (1) This powerful statement is followed by afootnote, numbered 250, which quotes a passage from Thomas John Dunning’s Trades’ Unions and Strikes (1860):

(250) The Quarterly Review says: ‘Capital is timid by nature, it is averse to strife and turmoil. This is true, butit is not the whole truth. Capital is timid of losing profits, or of making less profits, just as nature abhors a vacuum. With adequate profit, capital is very bold. A 10% profit will be secured everywhere; 20% profit will be very active; 50% profit willpositively induce people to break through all laws; for 100% profit, people will dare to trample on all human laws; 300% profit, and there is no crime that they will not dare to commit, even to the risk of their necks. If turbulence and strife can bring profits,capital will instigate both. The smuggling and slave trade are examples.’ (T.J. Dunning, Trades’ Unions and Strikes, London 1860, pp. 35-36.) (2)

Unraveling the Misinterpretations

While the footnote isoften cited as a direct quote from the Quarterly Review, recent scholarship has revealed inaccuracies in its presentation. The actual source is not the Quarterly Review, but the Critical Quarterly. Furthermore, the quoted passage is not entirely from the Critical Quarterly but primarily from Dunning’s own words.

Marx’s Insight and Dunning’s Limitations

Despite the inaccuracies in the footnote, Marx’s intention remains clear. He uses Dunning’s words to illustrate the ruthlessness of capital, its insatiable desire for profit, and its willingness to engage in any activity, regardless of its moral implications, to maximizereturns.

However, it is important to note that Dunning, while writing to refute bourgeois criticisms of trade unions and strikes, ultimately falls short of providing a truly scientific analysis. His starting point and conclusions, while seemingly opposed to those of bourgeois theorists, ultimately align with them in their lack of a theoretical framework.

The Enduring Relevance of Capital

The note in Capital serves as a powerful reminder of the inherent contradictions within capitalism. It exposes the system’s inherent drive for profit, even at the expense of human life and dignity. While the historical context of the note is important, its message resonatesdeeply in the modern world, where the pursuit of profit often overshadows ethical considerations.

Conclusion

Marx’s Capital remains a vital text for understanding the dynamics of capitalism. The blood and dirt passage, along with its accompanying note, highlights the system’s inherent brutality and its willingness to exploitand oppress for the sake of profit. While the note itself has been subject to misinterpretations, it serves as a powerful reminder of the need for a critical and scientific analysis of capitalism, one that can guide us towards a more just and equitable society.

References