Karl Marx (5)

Following on from my post on Karl Marx, I want to argue against the idea that automation has changed the way Capitalism works.

Since before Capitalism emerged from Feudalism, machines were part of the landscape. The machines automated simple tasks like hammering or weaving. These machines could be crafted by a tradesman.

As machines grew more complex with the addition of steam power, the Capitalist came into their own by supplying capital that was beyond the means of a single tradesman.

The expense of machines gave rise to the factory system to defray the cost.

Automation is a natural outcome of this trajectory of economic development. It is nothing new. It is not radical.

What is radical is the disappearnce of labourers from Department II.