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Individual Freedom in Capitalist Society

In: Marx’s Grundrisse

Author

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  • David McLellan

    (University of Kent)

Abstract

Historically, competition meant the abolition of guild coercion, governmental regulations, and the abolition of frontiers, tolls, etc., within a state — and in the world market it meant the abolition of tariffs, protection and prohibition. In short, it was historically a negation of the limits and obstacles peculiar to the levels of production that obtained before the development of capital. These were described quite correctly, historically speaking, by the physiocrats as laissez faire, laissez passer, and advocated by them as such. Competition, however, has never been considered from the purely negative and purely historical aspect; indeed even more stupid interpretations have been put forward, for example that competition represents the clash between individuals released from their chains and acting only in their own interests; or that it represents the repulsion and attraction of free individuals in relation to one another, and thus is the absolute form of individual liberty in the sphere of production and exchange. Nothing could be more wrong.

Suggested Citation

  • David McLellan, 1980. "Individual Freedom in Capitalist Society," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: David McLellan (ed.), Marx’s Grundrisse, edition 0, chapter 21, pages 137-140, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-05221-9_22
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-05221-9_22
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