Exploitation

Exploitation
   This term is important in Karl Marx’s theory of historical materialism and in his analysis of capitalism in particular. For Marx, exploitation in one sense is a technical term denoting the extraction of surplus value from one section of the population by another section, and typically this will take the form of a subordinate class producing surplus value that a dominant or ruling class appropriates with the use or threat of force. In slave and serf societies the exploitation is visible with direct force and threats of force used in compelling the subordinate classes to produce and relinquish to the dominant classes a surplus. In capitalist society the extraction of surplus value is more subtle with workers selling their labor power to the capitalists who then use this labor power to generate surplus value which they then own. According to Marx, the extraction of surplus value from the worker by the capitalist involves no robbery and is not unjust, because both worker and capitalist only receive what they are entitled to. The worker is entitled to the value of his labor power, and, as with any commodity, this is the amount of labor required to produce it. The labor required to produce labor power is the amount required to keep the worker alive and in a position to perform the work for which he is paid. In other words, the value of labor power is the amount of labor required to produce the food, housing, clothes, training and so on that the worker needs. In essence the worker is entitled to no more than a subsistence wage in the capitalist system of exchange, although historic conditions may see a higher wage paid.
   Despite Marx’s theory of historical materialism (according to which justice and morality are relative to specific historical modes of production), his claims to be scientific and various comments he makes suggesting exploitation is not used as a term of condemnation, the term and the theory point to a critique and denunciation of capitalism.
   See also Labor theory of value.

Historical dictionary of Marxism. . 2014.

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  • exploitation — [ ɛksplwatasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1662; « saisie judiciaire » 1340; de exploiter 1 ♦ Action d exploiter, de faire valoir une chose en vue d une production (cf. Mise en valeur). Exploitation du sol, d un domaine. ⇒ 1. culture. Mise en exploitation d une… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Exploitation — ist das französische Wort für „Ausbeutung“, „Verwertung“ und „Nutzbarmachung“. Exploitationfilm wird im Deutschen als Fremdwort für die Bezeichnung des gleichnamigen Filmgenres verwendet. Begriffsgeschichte Ein zum deutschen Fremdwort gehöriges… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • exploitation — 1803, productive working of something, a positive word among those who used it first, though regarded as a Gallicism, from Fr. exploitation, noun of action from exploiter (see EXPLOIT (Cf. exploit) (v.)). Bad sense developed 1830s 50s, in part… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Exploitation — Ex ploi*ta tion, n. [F.] The act of exploiting or utilizing. J. D. Whitney. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • exploitation — I noun employ, misapplication, misuse, overcharge, profiteering, turning to account, unethical use, use, usury, utilization, utilization for profit II index abuse (corrupt practice), function, graft, misusage …   Law dictionary

  • exploitation — [n] taking advantage bleeding*, profiteering, using; concepts 156,225 …   New thesaurus

  • exploitation — [eks΄ploi tā′shən] n. an exploiting or being exploited (in various senses) …   English World dictionary

  • Exploitation — The term exploitation may carry two distinct meanings: # The act of utilizing something for any purpose. In this case, exploit is a synonym for use . # The act of utilizing something in an unjust or cruel manner. It is this meaning of… …   Wikipedia

  • Exploitation — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L exploitation désigne l activité ou la conséquence de l activité d une organisation. Sommaire 1 Les types d exploitation …   Wikipédia en Français

  • exploitation — (èk sploi ta sion ; en vers, de cinq syllabes) s. f. 1°   Action d exploiter des terres, des bois, une mine, etc. •   Il perfectionna l administration des salines, non pas, comme on pourrait l imaginer, en augmentant le revenu qu elles… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Exploitation — El cine exploitation es un tipo de cine que «explota» de modo morboso la temática que trata. El término «exploitation» es común en el marketing cinematográfico, usado para todo tipo de filmes para refererirse a la promoción y la publicidad. De… …   Wikipedia Español

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