Posted on by Mariam Idris

Discussion 5.1: Labour and Class Conflict

1. To have the means of production is to have the necessary tools and equipment in order to be able to produce the desired product. As for labour, it is to have someone or something to prepare the product with the equipment you have. An example for the means of a product would be fabric or cloth, and an example for labor would be a tailor or seamstress.

2. Based on the video, value is a price put on something or someone to determine their worth. What gives them their value is the amount of time and effort put into them. For example, A doctor will have a higher value attached to their title because of the years in school they’ve spent, while a cashier will not have the same value because they do not require years in school or an education.

3. Labour and value are related because there is value in labour. A piece of metal by itself does not have much value, but if you were to put labor into it and turn it into something more profitable, then its value would increase.

4. Labour power is the ability for one to work, while labor is the work itself. Labour power is only found in people and that’s because it requires things such as food, housing, etc. in order to maintain the work and labor they provide.

5. Surplus value is the additional value that comes out of your labour. This is important to know for our class because it is a concept that benefits capitalists, not workers. The additional value that you make is not going to you, but towards your boss. An example of this is when a workers labor earns them $100, only $30 will go to the worker, while the other $70 will go to your boss.

Posted on by Arto Artinian · 9 Comments

Discussion Board 5.1

  1. Two key concepts in this video are the means of production and labor. In your comment, explain how you understand the means of production and labor. Give an example of each.
  2. Another important concept in understanding social class is value. Based on the ideas presented in Video 5.1, what is value?  What give “value” to value, what makes something valuable? 
  3. How are labor and value related? What’s the relationship/connection between the two?
  4. How do you understand the difference between labor and labor power? Hint: this is a key difference, give it your best shot based on what the video says about it, and your own ideas. We’ll clarify and develop it in our discussions, and in my video comments.
  5. Surplus Value: what is it? Why is it important to know about, in our study of social classes? Think about an example of surplus value?