Abstract labour and Marxist theory of value

Abstract

Abstract  The aim of this article is to present some elements of the category of abstract labour within Karl Marx’s economic analysis in Capital, based on the critical analysis developed by Isaak Rubin in his work Marxist Theory of Value. As a result, it is highlighted that one of the great merits of the Russian author's work was to present the main mediations that substantiate the determination of this category based on the validity of value within capitalism. It is emphasized that Marx’s analysis of the category of abstract labour reflected a significant advance for the German author in relation to political economy, as well as serving to understand the specific form of exploitation within capitalism.

Key-words:
political economy; abstract labour; value theory; Karl Marx; Isaak Rubin