So as some of you will know I’ve been low key obsessed with the concept of abstract labour over the past year (more so with how conflicting it seems to be in Marxist literature) and I’ve decided to narrow my masters research paper to this topic. I need your help. Thread!

I’m basing this paper off a smaller paper I wrote earlier this year and I think my approach will be too just to a sort of exploratory thing on different perspectives of AL. And maybe make a case of my own for which is strongest (rn for me that is Kliman).

1. Is it historically specific or transhistorical? Who are the key thinkers for each? (And for the following questions?)

2. What does either or mean for value? Does this affect it—value—originating in production vs exchange? And what are the consequences of these?

3. What does this mean for the abolition of capitalism and future communist society? Does value and/or AL exist past capitalism?

I know these questions can seem straightforward but the months I’ve spent over countless articles and opinions on these issues tells me they’re highly contested debates. So... just looking for some other opinions. :)