Talk:Commodity (Marxism)

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Services as Non-Commodities

There appears to be a contrast of opinion between Marxists and others as to whether labor is a commodity: Friedrich Engels asserts that “[l]abor is a commodity, like any other,”^[1] whereas Carl Menger insists that the term encompasses only “movable” and “tangible” goods “[i]n ordinary usage.”^[2] The latter accords with John Locke's statement that commodities are “moveables, valuable by money, the common measure,”^[3] which Samuel Johnson uses as an example in defining commodities as “[w]ares; merchandise; goods for traffick.”^[4]

It is therefore evident that classical economists, as well as members of the Austrian school of economics, regarded commodities only as tangible movables intended for sale, rather than anything for sale generally. As such, I would recommend creating another article dedicated to this more narrow sense of the word, and perhaps entitling it “Commodity (classical economics).” OzzyMuffin238 (talk) 17:52, 22 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

^ Engels, Friedrich (2020) [1847]. Principles of Communism. Pattern Books. p. 6.
^ Menger, Carl (2007) [1871]. General Principles of Economics. Translated by James Dingwall; Bert F. Hoselitz. Mises Institute. p. 238.
^ Locke, John (1824). "Economic Writings and Two Treatises of Government". The Works of John Locke (PDF). Vol. 4 (12 ed.). p. 151.
^ Johnson, Samuel (1773) [1755]. "commodity". A Dictionary of the English Language (4 ed.).

[1] Engels, Friedrich (2020) [1847]. Principles of Communism. Pattern Books. p. 6.

[2] Menger, Carl (2007) [1871]. General Principles of Economics. Translated by James Dingwall; Bert F. Hoselitz. Mises Institute. p. 238.

[3] Locke, John (1824). "Economic Writings and Two Treatises of Government". The Works of John Locke (PDF). Vol. 4 (12 ed.). p. 151.

[4] Johnson, Samuel (1773) [1755]. "commodity". A Dictionary of the English Language (4 ed.).

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