Books

4 volumi in 8, cm 14,5 x 22, pp. XXXII + 740; XXVIII + 500; XXVIII + 448; IV + 422. Mezza pelle coeva con fregi oro e nervature al dorso. Buch I: Der produktionsprocess des kapitals; Buch II: Der cirkulationsprocess des kapitals; Buch III (diviso in 2 tomi): Der gesammtprocess der kapitalistichen produktion (Kapitel I bis XXVIII - XXIX bis LII). Edizione parzialmente originale essendo composta dal primo volume della 4o edizione del 1890, dal 2o volume della 2o edizione del 1893 e dal terzo volume (suddiviso in 2 parti) della prima edizione del 1894. L'edizione completa di questo che viene considerato il testo chiave del marxismo ebbe una lunga gestazione: il primo volume fu pubblicato, Marx vivente, nel 1867. In seguito Engels curo' la pubblicazione dei successivi 2 volumi che videro la luce rispettivamente nel 1885 e nel 1894. Un quarto volume, con il titolo Teoria del plusvalore, fu edito tra il 1905 e il 1910 per cura di Karl Kautsky. ITA.

"Das Kapital," written by Karl Marx, is a seminal work critiquing the capitalist system's foundations and mechanisms. Published in 1867, this extensive analysis of capitalism delves into its economic processes, the exploitation inherent within, and its eventual contradictions which Marx believed would lead to its downfall. Marx introduces key concepts such as commodity, value, surplus value, and the labor theory of value, arguing that the value of a commodity is determined by the labor required for its production. He criticizes how capitalists profit by exploiting workers, paying them less than the value of their labor while selling the products for their full value. Marx's critique extends to the dynamics of capital accumulation, technological advancements, and their effects on the proletariat, predicting increasing capital centralization and crises stemming from capitalism's internal contradictions. "Das Kapital" covers the circulation and distribution of capital, explaining how surplus value is divided among different classes and sectors, leading to cycles of boom and bust. Despite its influence, "Das Kapital" has faced criticism for its total failure in economic predictions, such as the underestimation of capitalism's adaptability and the overemphasis on the labor theory of value. Critics argue Marx's predictions of escalating class struggle and the proletariat revolution have not materialized as expected, questioning his views on human nature and the efficiency of market mechanisms. Nonetheless, "Das Kapital" remains a pivotal work in economic and political thought, offering a deep, if wrong, critique of capitalism and its socio-economic impacts.