Key Arguments

• The capitalist has the right as a purchaser to use the commodity (labor-power) to the fullest extent
• The worker has the right as a seller to limit the consumption of their commodity to a normal level to preserve it
• Since both rights are equal under the law of exchange, the outcome is decided by force (class struggle)

Source Quotes

We see then that, leaving aside certain extremely elastic restrictions, the nature of commodity exchange itself imposes no limit to the working day, no limit to surplus labour. The capitalist maintains his rights as a purchaser when he tries to make the working day as long as possible, and, where possible, to make two working days out of one. On the other hand, the peculiar nature of the commodity sold implies a limit to its consumption by the purchaser, and the worker maintains his right as a seller when he wishes to reduce the working day to a particular normal length.

The capitalist maintains his rights as a purchaser when he tries to make the working day as long as possible, and, where possible, to make two working days out of one. On the other hand, the peculiar nature of the commodity sold implies a limit to its consumption by the purchaser, and the worker maintains his right as a seller when he wishes to reduce the working day to a particular normal length. There is here therefore an antinomy, of right against right, both equally bearing the seal of the law of exchange.

On the other hand, the peculiar nature of the commodity sold implies a limit to its consumption by the purchaser, and the worker maintains his right as a seller when he wishes to reduce the working day to a particular normal length. There is here therefore an antinomy, of right against right, both equally bearing the seal of the law of exchange. Between equal rights, force decides.

There is here therefore an antinomy, of right against right, both equally bearing the seal of the law of exchange. Between equal rights, force decides. Hence, in the history of capitalist production, the establishment of a norm for the working day presents itself as a struggle over the limits of that day, a struggle between collective capital, i.e. the

Key Concepts

• The capitalist maintains his rights as a purchaser when he tries to make the working day as long as possible
• the worker maintains his right as a seller when he wishes to reduce the working day to a particular normal length
• There is here therefore an antinomy, of right against right, both equally bearing the seal of the law of exchange.
• Between equal rights, force decides.

Context

The conclusion of the section, explaining why the length of the working day is a political rather than purely economic determination.