1. INTRODUCTION

This article evaluates the contribution of the so-calles «new dialectics» (Arthur, 1993b) to the on-going debate about the method underlying the labour theory of value. This relatively new interpretation adds much to the previous literature, but still needs to be adequately systematized and critically examined. The contribution of the «new dialectics» is important, first, because of the rigour of value and, second, because of the emphasis wich it places upon the relationship between the dialectical method and economic analysis.

Even though the roots of the «new dialectics» can be traced back several decades (at least to Lukacs’ work in the early 20s; see, for example, Lukacs, 1971 [1922], it was only in the late 80s that there was a consistent effort to consolidate and expand this body of knowledge. The distinguishing feature of the «new dialectics» is its emphasis on the relationship between Hegel and Marx. This includes not only the attempt to read Marx ‘s works with a view to Hegel ‘s method but, also, the search for a «Marxian» reading of Hegel. This does not imply that Marx ‘s critique of Hegel ‘s idealism is ignored (even though Marx himself never fully developed it), nor that there is an attempt to produce a synthesis of Hegel’s dialectics with Marx ‘s. On the contrary, the «new dialectics» emphasizes the need to re-interpret Hegel ‘s work with Marxian eyes; on this basis, new insights are sought with regard to the structure of Marx ‘s own work, especially Capital.

The early stage of elaboration of the «new dialectics» makes difficult to pinpoint the main elements of this line of thought, distinguish it from previous analyses, and determine the body of work that belongs to it. In spite of this, in what follows an interpretation of the «new dialectics» is proposed. This is useful not only because of the careful presentation of the case for the «new dialectics», but also because it allows the main problems with this view to be brought to light. In doing this, I draw heavily upon the works by Fred Moseley, Patrick Murray, Ali Shamsavari and Tony Smith (even though their writtings are not necessarily homogeneous in every respect), and substantiate their claims by recourse to earlier writing by Karel Kosik, E. V. Ilyenkov, Jindrich Zeleny and others.

Re-reading both Hegel and Marx The ‘new dialectics’ and the method of Capital