Books

The first edition of the second half of the 3rd volume of Marx's Capital. The second siubtitle runs as follows: "Buch III: Der Gesammtprocess der kapitalistischen Produktion. Kapitel XXIX bis LII." /// Half-cloth binding; hardback, IV+[1]+422 pp., 8� (14 x 21.5 cm), ex-library, cover worn, rubbed and faded, paper label on front board, edges, endpapers and several pages yellowed, top edge darkened (due to dust), front endpaper and title page with ownership stamps and call numbers written with pen, two pages have pencil marking, condition: good Book Language/s: German.

"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.