Real abstraction refers to the process by which individuals, when engaging in the exchange of goods, focus primarily on the economic value of the commodity rather than its specific use value. This concept was introduced by Alfred Sohn-Rethel in his book Intellectual and Manual Labour in 1978. Real abstraction occurs unconsciously, as people do not typically recognize or actively think about the abstraction that takes place during economic transactions.
In everyday life, we often engage in the exchange of goods and services. For example, when we go to a grocery store, we give money in exchange for food items. In this transaction, we are abstracting from the specific use value of the food we are purchasing. We are not thinking about the nutritional value or taste of the food, but rather its economic value and its ability to satisfy our basic needs. This abstraction allows for the efficient exchange of goods in a complex market economy.
To illustrate this concept further, let’s consider the example of buying clothes. When we shop for clothes, we usually do not think about their production process or the labor that went into making them. Instead, we focus on their price, brand, style, and how they fit our personal preferences. We abstract from the specific labor that produced the clothes and instead treat them as commodities with a certain economic value. This real abstraction is a fundamental aspect of capitalist economies, where goods are produced for exchange rather than solely for personal use.
Real abstraction is deeply ingrained in our daily lives and economic systems. It allows for the efficient functioning of markets and the allocation of resources based on economic value. However, it also has implications for how we perceive and interact with the world. By abstracting from the use value of commodities, we often overlook the social and environmental consequences of production and consumption.
For instance, when we buy a cheap piece of clothing, we may not consider the exploitative labor conditions or the environmental impact of its production. Our focus on economic value and the abstraction from the use value of the garment can lead to a disconnect between our consumer choices and the broader social and ecological implications of those choices.
Real abstraction also has implications for how we understand and analyze the dynamics of capitalism. Sohn-Rethel argued that real abstraction is a crucial aspect of capitalist ideology and shapes our perception of reality. It obscures the social relations of production and the exploitation inherent in capitalist systems. By focusing on the economic value of commodities, we are less likely to question the underlying power structures and inequalities that drive capitalist economies.
Real abstraction is the process by which individuals abstract from the use value of commodities and focus primarily on their economic value during economic transactions. It is an unconscious process that allows for the efficient exchange of goods in market economies. However, it also leads to a disconnect between our consumer choices and the broader social and ecological consequences of production and consumption. Real abstraction plays a significant role in shaping our perception of reality and understanding of capitalist systems.