Moses Hess 1845 the Essence of Money - Copia

7/25/2019 Moses Hess 1845 the Essence of Money - Copia

1/40

Moses Hess 1845

The Essence of Money

Source:Rheinische Jarhrbcher zur gesellschaftlichen Reform,Darmstadt, 1845;

Transcribed: by Adam Buick.web: https://www.marxists.or/archi!e/hess/1845/esse"ce#mo"ey.htm

$ommerce has set the mark o% se&%ish"ess,

'he si"et o% its a&e"s&a!i" power(po" a shi"i" ore, a"d ca&&ed it o&d:

Be%ore whose imae bow the !u&ar reat,

'he !ai"&y rich, the miserab&e proud,

'he mob o% peasa"ts, "ob&es, priests a"d

ki"s,

A"d with b&i"di" %ee&i"s re!ere"ce the

power

'hat ri"ds them to the dust o% misery.

But i" the temp&e o% their hire&i" hearts

)o&d is a &i!i" od ... *+, &i"es 5#-

A&& thi"s are so&d: the !ery &iht o% 0ea!e"

s !e"a&; earth2s u"spari" i%ts o% &o!e,

'he sma&&est a"d most despicab&e thi"s

'hat &urk i" the abysses o% the deep,

A&& ob3ects o% our &i%e, e!e" &i%e itse&%,

A"d the poor pitta"ce which the &aws a&&ow

% &iberty, the %e&&owship o% ma",

'hose duties which his heart o% huma" &o!e

hou&d ure him to per%orm i"sti"cti!e&y,

Are bouht a"d so&d as i" a pub&ic mart

% u"disuisi" se&%ish"ess, that sets

" each its price, the stamp mark o% her


2/40

rei".

6!e" &o!e is so&d; the so&ace o% a&& woe

s tur"ed to dead&iest ao"y, o&d ae

shi!ers i" se&%ish beauty2s &oathi" arms ...

*+, &i"es 177#188

But hoary headed e&%ish"ess has %e&t

ts death b&ow a"d is totteri" to the ra!e:

Abrihter mor" awaits the huma" day,

he" e!ery tra"s%er o% earth2s "atura& i%ts

ha&& be a commerce o% ood words a"d

works;

he" po!erty a"d wea&th, the thirst o%

%ame,'he %ear o% i"%amy, disease a"d woe,

ar with its mi&&io" horrors, a"d %ierce hee&

ha&& &i!e but i" the memory o% 'ime,

ho, &ike a pe"ite"t &iberti"e, sha&& start,

9ook back, a"d shudder at his you"er

days. *+, &i"es 4#5

*he&&ey, Queen Mab

1

9i%e is excha"e o% creati!e &i%e#acti!ity. 'he body o%

each &i!i" bei", i.e., o% the a"ima&, the p&a"t, the i"di!idua&

ma", is the medium o% its &i%e because this is the medium o%

the excha"e o% the creati!e &i%e#acti!ity o% this or a"y bei",

its i"a&ie"ab&e mea"s o% &i%e, he"ce those ora"s o% the body

which are the ce"tra& poi"ts o% the excha"es are a&so its

"ob&est, most i"a&ie"ab&e ora"s, i.e., the brai" a"d the

heart. hat ho&ds ood %or the bodies o% the sma&&est u"its


3/40

ho&ds a&so %or those o% the &arest a"d a&so %or the

u"co"scious so#ca&&ed earth&y bodies as %or the co"scious so#

ca&&ed socia& bodies. 'he atmosphere o% the 6arth, the

i"a&ie"ab&e medium o% the excha"e o% earth&y productio"s,is the e&eme"t o% earth&y &i%e; the sphere i" which me"

excha"e their socia& &i%e#acti!ity with each other # "ame&y

i"tercourse *Verkehr i" society # is the i"a&ie"ab&e e&eme"t

o% socia& &i%e. i"&e me" beha!e as co"scious a"d

co"scious&y acti" i"di!idua&s here i" the sphere o% the

excha"e o% their socia& &i%e, 3ust as they beha!e as

u"co"scious i"di!idua&s, as bodies, i" the sphere o% their

bodi&y &i%e#acti!ity, i" the atmosphere o% the 6arth. 'hey ca"

as &itt&e &i!e i% separated %rom the medium o% their socia& &i%e

tha" they ca" &i!e bodi&y i% separated %rom the medium o%

their bodi&y &i%e#acti!ity # tha" i% their &i%e#air is take" %rom

them. 'hey beha!e with reard to the who&e socia& body i"

the same way that the i"di!idua& members a"d ora"s

beha!e with reard to the body o% a si"&e i"di!idua&. 'hey

die i% they are separated %rom each other. 'heir rea& &i%e

co"sists o"&y i" co&&aboratio", o"&y i" co""exio" with the

who&e socia& body.

2

'he mutua& excha"e o% i"di!idua& &i%e#acti!ity, the

i"tercourse, the mutua& stimu&atio" o% i"di!idua& powers,

this co&&aboratio" is the rea& esse"ce o% i"di!idua&s, their rea&

capacity *Vermogen. 'hey ca""ot rea&ise, make use o%,

exercise, acti!ate their powers, they do "ot bri" them to


4/40

&i%e, or *i% they ha!e brouht them to &i%e they die out aai",

i% they do "ot mutua&&y excha"e their &i%e#acti!ity i"

i"tercourse with the %e&&ow#members o% the same

commu"ity or with the parts o% the same body. As the6arth2s air is the workp&ace o% the 6arth so is the i"tercourse

o% me" the huma" workp&ace i" which i"di!idua& me" come

to the rea&isatio", to the exercise o% their rea& &i%e or capacity.

'he stro"er their i"tercourse, the stro"er a&so is their

creati!e power a"d as &o" as their i"tercourse is restricted

so too is their creati!e power. ithout their &i%e#medium,

without excha"e o% their i"di!idua& powers, i"di!idua&s do

"ot &i!e. 'he i"tercourse o% me" does "ot arise %rom their

esse"ce; it is their rea& esse"ce a"d is i"deed "ot o"&y their

theoretica& esse"ce, their rea& &i%e#co"scious"ess, but a&so

their practica&, their rea& &i%e# acti!ity. 'hi"ki" a"d doi"

o"&y arise %rom the i"tercourse, the co&&aboratio" o%

i"di!idua&s, a"d what is ca&&ed the mystica& pirit< is 3ust

this &i%e#air, this workp&ace, this co&&aboratio" o% ours. A"y

%ree acti!ity # a"d there is "o other si"ce %ree acti!ity that a

bei" does "ot draw out o% himse&% a"d so bri" it about

%ree&y is "ot a %ree acti!ity at a&&, at &east "ot his but that o%

a"other bei" # so, a"y rea&, practica& as we&& as theoretica&

&i%e#acti!ity is a species#act, a co&&aboratio" o% di%%ere"t

i"di!idua&s. 'hese co&&aboratio"s abo!e a&& rea&ise thecreati!e power a"d are there%ore the rea& esse"ce o% each

i"di!idua&.

3


5/40

'he huma" esse"ce, huma" i"tercourse, de!e&ops, as

a"y esse"ce, i" the course o% a history throuh ma"y

stru&es a"d destructio"s. 'he rea& esse"ce, the

co&&aboratio" o% i"di!idua&s o% the huma" species, had, as a&&rea&ity, a de!e&opme"t or creatio" history. 'he socia& wor&d,

huma" ora"isatio", had its "atura& history, its e"esis, its

history o% creatio", as a"y other wor&d, as a"y other ora"ic

body. But the "atura& history o% ma"ki"d bea" whe" that o%

the 6arth had %u&&y de!e&oped, whe" the 6arth had a&ready

produced its &ast a"d hihest ora"isatio", the huma" body,

a"d thus with it a&& its bodi&y ora"isatio". 'he "atura&

history o% the 6arth which, accordi" to the !iews o% the

eo&oists, &asted %or ma"y mi&&io"s o% years a"d has bee"

o!er a"d e"ded %or ma"y thousa"ds o% years; the 6arth is

%u&&y de!e&oped. 'he "atura& history o% ma"ki"d co"!erse&y

is "ot yet e"ded; we sti&& &i!e i" its stru&es. =a"ki"d is "ot

yet %u&&y de!e&oped, but its %u&& de!e&opme"t is "ear. e

a&ready see i" the dista"ce the promised &a"d o% ora"ised

ma"ki"d; we ca" a&ready reach it with our eyes, this &a"d o%

promise to which the who&e history o% ma"ki"d up ti&& "ow

poi"ts # a&thouh we ca""ot yet tread o" it with our %eet. t is

%a&se to see i" the %u&& de!e&opme"t o% the "atura& history o%,

i"the e"d o% the history o% the creatio" o% ma"ki"d the e"d

o% ma"ki"d itse&%, its Doomsday< # a" optica& i&&usio" towhich were sub3ect those who cou&d thi"k o% "o other rea&ity

tha" the existi" o"e, e!e" thouh they were "ot satis%ied

with it a"d so wa"ted a"other, a"d who see i" the %a&& o%

their bad a"d i" the rise o% a better wor&d the destructio" o%


6/40

the wor&d a"d the approach o% the herea%ter. Are a&so sub3ect

to the i&&usio"s o% Doomsday< those who do "ot be&ie!e i" a

better herea%ter but who do "ot be&ie!e either i" a better &i%e

i" this wor&d dow" here tha" exists at prese"t, who maketheirs the $hristia" doma o% the imper%ectio" o% &i%e i" this

wor&d dow" here but without accepti" the co"so&atio" o%

the herea%ter, who dream o% i"%i"ite proress a"d accept "o

other e"d, "o other comp&etio", %or it tha" death or some

&i%e&ess host which they ca&& pirit.< 'he phi&osophers too

be&o" to those who ca" imai"e "o other rea&ity tha" the

existi" o"e; they be&o" to those a"tedi&u!ia" species who

see i" the %a&& o% the o&d wor&d o"&y their ow" %a&& a"d i" the

comp&eted ora"isatio" o% ma"ki"d o"&y death # because a

correct i"sti"ct te&&s them that they themse&!es are a"

i"tera& part o% the o&d, decade"t a"d bad, rea&ity. % the

a"tedi&u!ia" mo"sters that the 6arth produced be%ore its

comp&etio", be%ore its maturity, i" its rowi"#up years, had

had co"scious"ess they wou&d ha!e reaso"ed a"d boasted i"

the same way as our phi&osophers, theo&oia"s a"d priests.

'hey too wou&d "ot ha!e be&ie!ed i" a"y superior creatio"s,

i" a"y comp&eted earth&y %orms, i" me"; they too wou&d ha!e

be&ie!ed that they saw comi" i" the dec&i"e o% the !ermi" o%

the primiti!e wor&d the %a&& o% the wor&d. But as &itt&e as the

e"d o% the 6arth came with its comp&eted co"ditio" whichwas rather the bei""i" o% its rea& &i%e, so &itt&e comes the

e"d o% ma"ki"d with its comp&eted co"ditio", i.e., with its

per%ectio"; o" the co"trary it is its true bei""i".


7/40

4

A "ecessity i" huma" de!e&opme"t, i" the %ormatio"

or "atura& history, "ecessary i" the creatio" o% me", is their

mutua& destructio" arisi" %rom the co"tradictio" o% their

i"tercourse i" the midst o% their iso&atio". 'he history o% the

creatio" o% the huma" esse"ce, o% ma"ki"d, appears %irst as

a se&%#destructio" o% this esse"ce. =e" a&ready sacri%iced

themse&!es to their hea!e"&y a"d earth&y ido&s &o" be%ore

there was a hea!e"&y a"d earth&y, re&iious a"d po&itica&

eco"omy to 3usti%y it. 'hey destroyed themse&!es because i"

the bei""i" they cou&d o"&y mai"tai" themse&!es as

iso&ated i"di!idua&s, because they cou&d "ot co&&aborate

harmo"ious&y as members o% o"e a"d the same ora"ic

who&e, as members o% ma"ki"d. % a" ora"ised excha"e o%

products, a" ora"ised acti!ity, a co&&aboratio" o% a&& had

a&ready bee" possib&e straihtaway me" wou&d "ot ha!e

"eeded to wrest or ac>uire as iso&ated i"di!idua&s o" their

ow" accou"t their materia& a"d spiritua& "eeds throuh

"aked %orce or re%i"ed deceit; they wou&d "ot ha!e had to

seek their spiritua& a"d materia& oods outside themse&!es,

they wou&d ha!e %ormed themse&!es by themse&!es, that is to

say they cou&d ha!e exercised their %acu&ties i" commu"ity.

But this amou"ts to sayi" that i% me" had come i"to thewor&d as a %ormed huma" esse"ce they wou&d "ot ha!e

"eeded to pass throuh a period o% %ormatio". " other

words, i% ma"ki"d had "ot beu" with iso&ated i"di!idua1s

me" wou&d "ot ha!e had to %iht their way throuh eoistic


8/40

stru&es to obtai" their sti&& extra"eous *fremd a"d

exterior oods. At the e"d o% these bruta& stru&es %or our

ow" esse"ce, "ow that our esse"ce is %ormed at &east

theoretica&&y, we ca" i"deed co"cei!e o% a"d bri" i"to bei"a huma" society without se&%#destructio", a reaso"ab&e,

ora"ic, huma" society with ma"y#sided, harmo"ious

co&&aborati" productio"s, with ma"y#sided ora"ised

spheres o% acti!ity correspo"di" to the !arious &i%e#aims,

the ma"y#sided acti!ities o% me", so that each %ormed ma"

ca" %ree&y exercise his %acu&ties a"d ta&e"ts accordi" to his

!ocatio" a"d i"c&i"atio". 'his is possib&e "ow si"ce "ow the

huma" capacity, the huma" esse"ce *the productio" a"d

commu"icatio" o% the co"sumptio" o% products %or the

purpose o% %urther productio" has de!e&oped to excess.

?atura& %orces "o &o"er sta"d opposed to ma" as

extra"eous a"d hosti&e; he k"ows them a"d uses them %or

huma" e"ds. =e" themse&!es are drawi" c&oser e!ery day.

'he barriers o% space a"d time, re&iio" a"d "atio"a&ism, the

barriers o% i"di!idua&s are crashi" dow" toether, to the

terror o% the "arrow#mi"ded but to the de&iht o% the

e"&ihte"ed %rie"ds o%: ma"@ e "eed do "o more tha"

.reco"ise the surrou"di" &iht o% %reedom, "o more tha"

dismiss the "ihtwatchma", so as to be ab&e to a&& c&asp

ha"ds 3oyous&y. es, "ow ma"ki"d is ma3or; "othi"pre!e"ts it %rom at &ast comi" i"to its heritae, the %ruit o%

ma"y thousa"ds o% years2 s&a!e &abour a"d e1eme"ta&

stru&es@ "deed its prese"t misery itse&% pro!es this most

co"!i"ci"&y; %or it is "ot the co"se>ue"ce o% the shortae,


9/40

but o% the excess o% producti!e capacities. 6"&a"d

pe"etrates i"to the most remote parts o% the 6arth i" search

o% co"sumers, but the who&e 6arth is or soo" wi&& be too

sma&& a market %or its products which co"sta"t&y rise i"eometric proressio" whi&e its co"sumers i"crease i"

arithmetic. proressio" so that the =a&thusia" theory

#accordi" to which, as is k"ow", the co"sumers shou&d

i"crease i" eometric a"d the products i" arithmetic

proressio" # is i" actua& %act the opposite o% the truth. es,

me" are "ow ripe %or the tota& e"3oyme"t o% their %reedom or

their &i%e. 'his was "ot so at the bei""i". 'he producti!e

capacity o% me" had %irst to be %ormed, the huma" esse"ce

had to be de!e&oped. 'o bei" with there were o"&y raw

i"di!idua&s, whe" the simp&e e&eme"ts o% ma"ki"d which

either had "ot yet come i"to co"tact with each other a"d,

&ike the p&a"ts, obtai"ed their "ourishme"t, their bodi&y &i%e#

"eeds, >uite direct&y %rom the 6arth or they o"&y came i"to

co"tact with each other by excha"i" their %orces i" a

bruta&, a"ima&ike stru&e. 'he %irst %orm o% the excha"e

o% products, o% i"tercourse, cou&d thus o"&y be robbery with

murder *Raubmord, a"d the %irst %orm o% huma" acti!ity

cou&d o"&y be s&a!e &abour. " this sti&& u"co"tested basis o%

historica& riht "o ora"ised excha"e cou&d occur: there

cou&d o"&y be a se&o%% *Verschacherung o% products #which is there%ore what occurred. 'he &aws resti" o" this

historica& basis ha!e o"&y reu&ated robbery with murder

a"d s&a!ery, they ha!e o"&y raised to a ru&e, to a pri"cip&e

what was a" the bei""i" o"&y co"ti"e"t, u"co"scious a"d


10/40

i"!o&u"tary. 0istory up to "ow is "othi" other tha" the

history o% the reu&atio", the 3usti%icatio", the comp&etio"

a"d the e"era&isatio" o% robbery with murder a"d s&a!ery.

0ow %i"a&&y it has come to this that we a&& without exceptio"a"d at e!ery mome"t se&& o%% our acti!ity, our creati!e power,

our capacity ## how the ca""iba&ism, the mutua& robbery

with murder a"d s&a!ery, with which the history o% ma"ki"d

had beu" has bee" raised to a pri"cip1e # a"d how %irst a"d

%oremost the ora"ic commu"ity ca" arise %rom this e"era&

exp&oitatio" a"d u"i!ersa& ser!itude, that sha&& be

demo"strated i" what %o&&ows.

5

'he i"di!idua& raised to a" e"d, the species deraded

to a mea"s; that is the i"!ersio" o% huma" a"d "atura& &i%e i"

e"era&. =a" co"scious&y sacri%ices his i"di!idua& &i%e to the

&i%e o% the species i% they both e"ter i"to co&&isio". 6!e" "o"#thi"ki" bei"s, the a"ima&s, who %ee& %oret their i"sti"ct,

their dri!e %or se&%#preser!atio" whe" this comes i"to

co&&isio" with their species#esse"ce or creati!e i"sti"ct.

9o!e, where!er it a&so appears, is more power%u& tha"

eoism. 'he he" oes i"to a" u"e>ua& %iht i% she must

de%e"d her chicks aai"st attack. $ats !o&u"tari&y o hu"ry

%or days o" e"d to satis%y their species i"sti"ct a"d by rie%

o!er the &oss o% their you" which are habitua&&y. take" %rom

them by crue& me". ?ature is o"&y a&ways co"cer"ed with

se&%#creatio", with the preser!atio" o% the &i%e o% the species,

o% actua& &i%e#acti!ity. "di!idua&s a&ways die i" the "atura&


11/40

wor&d a"d they o"&y comme"ce to die o%% %rom the mome"t

whe" they ha!e ceased to be capab&e o% procreatio". "deed

with ma"y i"di!idua&s o% the a"ima& wor&d the day o%

marriae is the day o% death. ith ma" who ca" per%orm aspecies#act throuh thi"ki", %ee&i" a"d wi&&i" the radua&

dwi"d&i" o% a&& its spiritua& %orces is a sure hera&d o% his

"atura& death. 'he "atura& co"ceptio" o% the wor&d which

sees &i%e itse&% i" the species a"d the mea"s to &i%e i" the

i"di!idua& bases itse&% o" this wor&d order. 'he i"!erted

co"ceptio" o% the wor&d rei"s rather i" the co"ditio" o%

eoism because this co"ditio" is itse&% a" i"!erted wor&d. or

our phi&isti"es, our $hristia" shopkeepers *Krmer a"d our

Cewish $hristia"s the i"di!idua& is the e"d, the &i%e o% the

species bei" rather the mea"s to &i%e. 'hey ha!e created %or

themse&!es a wor&d apart. 'he c&assic theoretica& %orm o% this

i"!erted wor&d is the $hristia" hea!e". " the rea& wor&d the

i"di!idua& dies; i" the $hristia" hea!e" he &i!es %or e!er. "

the rea& wor&d the species acts i" a"d throuh the i"di!idua&;

i" hea!e" the esse"ce o% the species, )od, &i!es outside the

i"di!idua&s a"d these are "ot the medium throuh which

)od &i!es a"d throuh which the esse"ce o% the species &i!es

but, co"!erse&y, the i"di!idua& &i!es by mea"s o% )od. 'he

esse"ce o% the species is here deraded to the mea"s %or the

&i%e o% the i"di!idua&. 'he $hristia" < "eeds his )od; he"eeds him %or his i"di!idua& existe"ce, %or his ho&y a"d

immorta& sou&, %or the sa&!atio" o% his sou&@ % did "ot hope

to participate i" immorta&ity, wou&d care "either about )od

"or about the who&e o% domatics.< 'he who&e esse"ce o%


12/40

$hristia"ity is co"tai"ed i" these %ew words %rom a !ery

pious ma". $hristia"ity is the theory, the &oic o% eoism.

$o"!erse&y the c&assic rou"d o% eoistic practice is the

moder" $hristia" wor&d o% shopkeepers *Krmerwelt: herea&so is a hea!e", a %ictio", a" imai"ary a"d prete"ded

be"e%it %or the &i%e o% the i"di!idua&, deri!ed %rom the sick

eoistic mad"ess o% depra!ed ma"ki"d. 'he i"di!idua& who

wa"ts to &i!e "ot throuh himse&% %or the species, but

throuh the species %or himse&% a&o"e, must create

practica&&y a" i"!erted wor&d. " our wor&d o% shopkeepers

the i"di!idua& is practica&&y, 3ust as i" the $hristia" hea!e"

he is theoretica&&y, the e"d a"d the species o"&y the mea"s to

&i%e. 0ere a&so the &i%e o% the species does "ot ma"i%est itse&%

throuh the i"di!idua&; here as i" hea!e" the &i%e o% the

species is p&aced outside o% i"di!idua&s a"d deraded to a

mea"s; here there is mo"ey. hat )od is to the theoretica&

&i%e, mo"ey is to the practica& &i%e i" this i"!erted wor&d: the

exter"a&ised *entussert capacity o% me", their so&d#o%% &i%e#

acti!ity. =o"ey is huma" !a&ue expressed i" %iures; it is the

mark o% our s&a!ery, the i"de&ib&e bra"d o% our ser!itude.

=o"ey is the co"ea&ed b&ood sweat o% the miserab&e

wretches who bri" to market their i"a&ie"ab&e property,

their most perso"a& capacity, their &i%e#acti!ity itse&%, to

barter it %or a caput mortuum,a so#ca&&ed capita& a"d toco"sume ca""iba&istica&&y their ow" %at. A"d a&& o% us, we are

these miserab&e wretches@ e ca" i"deed ema"cipate

ourse&!es theoretica&&y %rom the i"!erted co"scious"ess o%

the wor&d; but as &o" as we are "ot a&so out o% this i"!erted


13/40

wor&d practica&&y we must, as the pro!erb says, how& with the

wo&!es. es, we must co"sta"t&y a&ie"ate *erussen our

esse"ce, our &i%e, our ow" %ree &i%e#acti!ity, i" order to eke

out our miserab&e existe"ce. e co"sta"t&y buy our ow"i"di!idua& existe"ce at the &oss o% our %reedom. A"d o%

course it is "ot 3ust us pro&etaria"s but a&so us capita&ists

who are these miserab&e wretches who suck their b&ood a"d

eat themse&!es. A&& o% us, we ca""ot %ree&y act our &i%e, "or

ca" we create or work %or each other. e a&& ca" o"&y eat up

our &i%e; we ca" o"&y mutua&&y de!our each other i% we do"2t

wa"t to die o% star!atio". or this mo"ey which we eat up

a"d which we work to ac>uire is our ow" %&esh a"d b&ood

which i" its exter"a&isatio" *!ntusserung must be

ac>uired, captured a"d eate" up. e are a&& # this we are "ot

a&&owed to hide %rom ourse&!es # ca""iba&s, beasts o% prey,

b&oodsuckers. e are so as &o" as we do"2t act a&& %or

others, but ha!e to ai" our &i!i" each %or himse&%.

6

=o"ey is, accordi" to the pri"cip&es o% po&itica&

eco"omy, the e"era& mea"s o% excha"e, thus the medium

o% &i%e, the huma" capacity, the rea& creati!e power, the rea&

wea&th o% ma"ki"d. % this exter"a&ised wea&th rea&&y

correspo"ded to i"tri"sic wea&th the" each ma" wou&d be

worth exact&y as much as the cash or mo"ey !a&ues that he

ow"ed # 3ust as a co"siste"t theo&oy !a&ues a ma" by the

exte"t o% his orthodoxy, so a co"siste"t eco"omics !a&ues

him by the weiht o% his purse. But i" %act eco"omics &ike


14/40

theo&oy is "ot at a&& co"cer"ed with me". 6co"omics is the

scie"ce o% the ac>uisitio" o% earthy oods 3ust as theo&oy is

the scie"ce o% the ac>uisitio" o% hea!e"&y oods. But me" are

"ot oods@ or the pure&y scie"ti%ic< eco"omist a"dtheo&oia" me" ha!e "o !a&ue. here co"!erse&y both these

ho&y scie"ces are app&ied, thus i" the practice o% our moder"

wor&d o% shopkeepers, ma" is rea&&y o"&y !a&ued accordi" to

his pursue, 3ust as i" the practice o% the $hristia" =idd&e

Aes, which sti&& %&ourishes i" part, ma" was o"&y 3uded

accordi" to his pro%essio"s o% %aith.

7

=o"ey is the product o% mutua&&y estra"ed

*entfremdet ma", o% exter"a&ised ma". =o"ey is "ot the

"ob&e meta&< # we "ow ha!e paper mo"ey, tate mo"ey a"d

ba"k mo"ey tha" meta&&ic mo"ey. =o"ey is what has come

to pass %or huma" creati!e power, the rea& &i%e#acti!ity o% thehuma" esse"ce. 0e"ce capita& is, accordi" to the de%i"itio"

o% po&itica& eco"omy, accumu&ated, pi&ed#up &abour a"d,

where productio" arises %rom the excha"e o% products,

mo"ey is excha"e !a&ue. hat ca""ot be excha"ed, what

ca""ot be so&d, thus has "o !a&ue. here me" ca" "o &o"er

be so&d they are "o &o"er worth a pe""y, but o"&y whe"

they se&& or hire out< themse&!es. 'he eco"omists e!e"

c&aim that the !a&ue o% a ma" wou&d i"crease to the exte"t

that he was "o &o"er so&d a"d was co"se>ue"t&y ob&ied, i"

order to &i!e, to himse&% se&& himse&%; they draw the

co"c&usio" %rom this that the %ree< ma" has more !a&ue


15/40

tha" the s&a!e. 'his is >uite true. 0u"er is a much stro"er

impu&se to work tha" the s&a!eow"er2s whip a"d reed %or

mo"ey a much stro"er i"ce"ti!e %or the pri!ate ow"er to

exert his e"eries tha" the co"desce"di" smi&e o% thesatis%ied &ord. 'he eco"omists %oret o"&y that the !a&ue< o%

%reedom< must %a&& to the exte"t that it becomes more

e"era&. 'he more %ree< me" there are rushi" to do s&a!e

&abour, i.e., the more there are o" sa&e, the cheaper they wi&&

be or are. Accursed competitio" rui"s the price o% %ree< me"

a"d i" %act o" the basis o% eoistic pri!ate ac>uisitio" there

is to the other way to restore the !a&ue< o% me" tha" the re#

estab&ishme"t o% s&a!ery.

8

A"cie"t s&a!ery is huma" i"tercourse based o"

robbery with murder i" a "atura& %orm; a"d it is a&so the

most huma" %orm. t is "atura& a"d huma" that o"e o"&y &etso"ese&% be so&d u"wi&&i"&y; co"!erse&y it is u""atura& a"d

u"huma" to o"ese&% to se&& o"ese&% !o&u"tari&y. 'he moder"

wor&d o% shopkeepers cou&d o"&y come to this hih poi"t o%

base"ess, o% u""atura&ity a"d i"huma"ity by mea"s o%

$hristia"ity, the u""atura&itypar principe. =a" had %irst to

&ear" to &ook dow" o" huma" &i%e so as to exter"a&ise it

!o&u"tari&y. 0e had to u"&ear" co"sideri" the rea& &i%e, rea&

%reedom as a price&ess ood so as to o%%er these %or sa&e.

=a"ki"d had %irst to pass throuh the schoo& o% ser!itude so

as to come to embrace s&a!ery as a pri"cip&e. ur moder"

shopkeepers are the worthy desce"da"ts o% the mediae!a&


16/40

ser%s as these &atter, the $hristia" s&a!es, were the worthy

desce"da"ts o% the heathe" s&a!es. Cust as mediae!a&

ser%dom was a" i"te"si%ied a"cie"t s&a!ery so the moder"

$hristia" wor&d o% shopkeepers is a" i"te"si%ied mediae!a&ser%dom. 'he A"cie"ts had "ot yet raised the exter"a&isatio"

o% huma" &i%e to $hristia" se&%#exter"a&isatio", "or the

decompositio" o% huma" society to co"scious"ess, they had

"ot raised these %actua& situatio"s to a pri"cip&e. 'he

A"cie"ts were "a!e: they simp&y accepted what &ay i" the

esse"ce o% the wor&d they mo!ed *a"d i" which we sti&& mo!e

today: the exter"a&isatio" o% ma". Cust as re&iio" recei!ed

%rom the A"cie"ts the huma" sacri%ices that it dema"ded so

po&itics a&so recei!ed its without seeki" to estab&ish this

scie"ti%ica&&y< "or to hypocritica&&y exp&ai" it away i" the

%ace o% a sti&& s&umberi" bad co"scie"ce. t is whe" the bad

co"scie"ce woke up that $hristia"ity bea". $hristia"ity is

the sophistry o% the awoke" bad co"scie"ce o% ma"ki"d, it is

the attempt to be %reed %rom the reproaches o% this bad

co"scie"ce. But the $hristia" does "ot et rid o% his >ua&ms

o% co"scie"ce by %reei" miserab&e ma"ki"d %rom its misery,

but by co"!i"ci" himse&% that this huma" misery is "ot a"

i"!ersio" but rather somethi" that is riht, that the rea& &i%e

is riht&y the exter"a& &i%e, a"d that the exter"a&isatio" o% &i%e

is the "orma& co"ditio" o% the wor&d i" e"era&. 'he$hristia" draws a disti"ctio" betwee" the i"ter"a&< a"d the

exter"a&< ma", betwee" rea&ity a"d "o"#rea&ity. 'he huma"

spirit,< i.e., the remai"s that are &e%t o!er whe" a&& that is

bodi&y< has bee" remo!ed *a"d what is &e%t o!er is i"!isib&e


17/40

because it isprecise&y "othi", is thus ho&y a"d i"a&ie"ab&e

&i%e o% ma"; but the huma" body< is the impious, bad,

co"dem"ab&e, exter"a& a"d thus a&so a&ie"ab&e *erusslich

&i%e. 'he u"rea& ma" ca""ot se&& himse&% as a s&a!e; the rea&ma" is a"yhow a !i&e thi" a"d so "ot o"&y ca" he but he

shou&d be i" misery: the ki"dom o% hea!e" be&o"s to the

miserab&e. 'he direct co"se>ue"ce o% this doctri"e was that

s&a!ery was &e%t to exist %actua&&y a"d was e!e" co"sidered to

be &eitimate, except that it was "o &o"er me" but simp&e

bodies that were bei" so&d: a reater proress but a

proress deeper i"to the morass. A%terwards o"ce the

pri"cip&e o% sa&eabi&ity was ac>uired i" this way the route

was ope" %or the u"i!ersa& ser!itude, %or the e"era& mutua&

a"d !o&u"tary se&&i"#o%% o% our shopkeepers.

9

'he esse"ce o% our moder" wor&d o% hucksters, mo"ey,is the rea&ised esse"ce o% $hristia"ity. 'he shopkeeper#state,

the so#ca&&ed %ree< state is the promised ki"dom o% )od,

the wor&d o% shopkeepers is the promised ki"dom o%

hea!e", 3ust as co"!erse&y )od is o"&y idea&ised capita& a"d

hea!e" the theoretica& wor&d o% shopkeepers. $hristia"ity

disco!ered the pri"cip&e o% sa&eabi&ity but it was "ot

co"cer"ed with the app&icatio" o% its pri"cip&e. or, %or it,

rea&ity was e!i& a"d "othi", thus it cou&d "ot co"cer" itse&%

at a&& with rea&ity i" e"era& a"d so "ot with the rea&isatio" o%

its pri"cip&e. $hristia"ity was >uite i"di%%ere"t to the %act

that me" exter"a&ised themse&!es rea&&y, i.e., that they


18/40

became bo"dsme", bodi&y s&a!es. 'his exter"a&< practice it

aba"do"ed to the exter"a&,< wor&d&y< authorities. Eea&

ser!itude i" spite o% its theoretica& 3usti%icatio" was pure&y

co"ti"e"t as &o" as this was sti&& more or &ess acceptab&e i"theoretica& exter"a&isatio", i" the $hristia" %aith, as &o" as

this had "ot bee" brouht i"to $hristia" practice. 'o bei"

with $hristia"ity cha"ed "othi" o% the rea&ity o% c&assica&

s&a!ery; existi" s&a!ery remai"ed # a"d was o"&y e"riched

by a pri"cip&e. But a "ew pri"cip&e is "ot a "ew existe"ce, a

disti"ctio" !ery curre"t with our "ew $hristia"s. the &ast

phi&osophers. ho ca" be surprised at such c&e!er"essF

he" o"&y a theory is i!e" # a"d $hristia"ity &ike

phi&osophy has o"&y i!e" a theory # the re&atio"ship to the

practice o% &i%e wi&& be i"di%%ere"t; the theory is a truth,

tauht a"d &ear"ed, i!e" a"d recei!ed %or itse&%< a"d "ot

%or the sake o% app&icatio". 'hus i" the =idd&e Aes as i"

A"ti>uity whether a ma" became a rea& s&a!e or whether he

remai"ed i" the %ree< wor&d was >uite co"ti"e"t. 'he

disti"ctio" betwee" =ediae!a& ser%dom a"d A"cie"t s&a!ery

&ay o"&y i" the idea. $o"!erse&y i" the rea&ity there was "ot

the s&ihtest di%%ere"ce betwee" them. 'he o"e was "either

better "or worse tha" the other. " the =idd&e Aes a ma"

cou&d as &itt&e make a c&aim to rea& %reedom i" !irtue o% his

esse"ce tha" i" A"ti>uity; i" A"ti>uity this esse"ce was "otyet k"ow" a"d %or this reaso" was "ot reco"ised, but i" the

=idd&e Aes the huma" esse"ce was o"&y reco"ised i"

spirit< a"d i" truth,< i" the di!i"e beyo"d a"d %or this

other reaso" was "ot reco"ised i" the rea&ity o% &i%e. o i"


19/40

the =idd&e Aes as &itt&e as i" A"ti>uity the prob&em was "ot

to make ma" i" e"era&, i.e. ., each ma", i"to a rea& s&a!e. "

the o"e case as i" the other there%ore there sti&& existed some

%reedom: i" the =idd&e Aes as &itt&e as i" A"ti>uity thereexisted i" the %acts" i.e., co"ti"e"t&y, a&o"side those

some< me" who accordi" toAristot&e were bor"< %or

s&a!ery< a&so some< %ree bor", we&& bor"< or !ery hih&y

bor",< hih&y bor"< me". " the rea&ity ser!itude was thus

sti&& excha"e based o" robbery with murder i"a "atura&

%orm. =ediae!a& ser%dom was "ot i" the rea&ity a se&%#

exter"a&isatio" o% me" a"d it cou&d "ot be; %or ma" ca""ot

make himse&% i"to a direct, "atura& bo"dsma". 'he direct &i%e

o% ma", his "atura& body, ca" be appropriated o"&y by other

me". Direct bo"dae imp&ies me" who are "ot bo"dsme".

'he ser% o% the =idd&e Aes cou&d "ot ow" ser%s; he ow"ed

"othi" # "ot e!e" his ow" body was his ow" property # so

he cou&d "ot ow" other bodies. % the $hristia"s had bee"

i"terested i" &eis&ati" %or this wor&d dow" here they wou&d

ha!e had to >uick&y rea&ise that the wor&d&y< situatio" sti&&

co"tradicted their pri"cip&e a"d that there sti&& rei"ed here

much too much "atura&"ess.< But they were "ot i"terested

i" this because they were theoretica& eoists. ?e!erthe&ess

whe" i" the course o% time, ha!i" become e"&ihte"ed a"d

practica&, they wa"ted to put $hristia"ity i"to practice dow"here, whe" they wa"ted to app&y pure< $hristia"ity, to

rea&ise the dea,< it was disco!ered that the spiritua&ua&ity had bee" created whereas

a %reedom o% beasts o% prey based o" the e>ua&ity o% the dead

had bee" co"siste"t&y achie!ed. A"d it is this %reedom that

has bee" "amed the "atura& %reedom o% ma"@ hat

e"&ihte"ed &aw#i!ers@ 'hey spoke to poor me" a&o" the

%o&&owi" &i"es: ou are %ree by "ature a"d your "atura&

%reedom, your "aked perso"a&ity must remai" your

i"!io&ab&e, i"a&ie"ab&e property. But as co"cer"s your socia&

&i%e *a"d that o% course co"cer"s e!erythi", %or you ca""ot

pro&o" your "atura& &i%e i% you do "ot ac>uire the mea"s o%

&i%e produced by society a"d so as co"cer"s your &i%e youmust stru&e iso&ated&y with each other. ou must use your

"atura& %reedom to ac>uire your mea"s o% &i%e. ou o"&y

ac>uire them by a&ie"ati" your "atura& %reedom, but

a&ie"ate it !o&u"tari&y@ ?obody is %orced to a&ie"ate his


26/40

"atura& %reedom, to se&&, re"t or hire himse&%, i% he pre%ers to

die o% hu"er. But take care "ot to disturb the others, who

ha!e u"derstood better, %rom cashi" i", %rom co"!erti"

i"to mo"ey their "atura& %reedom, take care "ot to disturbthese ho"est peop&e i" their busi"ess@ ou wa"t to ear" a

&i!i", so you must !o&u"tari&y o%%er your "atura& %reedom

%or sa&e, as do a&& other ho"est peop&e. 'hus i% you ha!e

ac>uired somethi" you ca" i" your tur" buy a"d use the

"atura& %reedom o% others.uire a"d obtai" some o% this dead, sou&ess,

i"ora"ic matter, some o% this rubbish a%ter which we chase

&ike hosts a%ter their &ost bodies; but we do "ot thereby

ha!e a"y rea& &i!i" property or socia& possessio", somethi"

which determi"es a"d co"ditio"s our &i%e a"d our acti!ity i"

society, our socia& acti!ity, but o"&y the materia&ised

$hristia" )od, the spirit or spirits i" which we ca" co"ser!e

our earth&y corpse, mai"tai" it i" a dead, sto"e#&ike

existe"ce. =o"ey ca" "e!er e!er become property; it must

rather be co"sidered by a&& "ot yet corrupted huma" "ature

as somethi" so exter"a&, so &itt&e the property o% ma" that

the i"timate attachme"t betwee" the possessor a"d his

possessio" which co"stitutes the character o% a"y true a"d

rea& property appears here as the most re!o&ti" a"d

despicab&e depra!ity. 0e who o" the other ha"d ide"ti%ies

with his property, with his rea& socia& possessio", to thepoi"t o% bei" as i"timate&y attached to it as the sou& is to the

body; the ma" who %i&&s his post so %u&&y that a separatio" o%

him %rom his sphere o% acti!ity is 3ust u"thi"kab&e *a

phe"ome"o" that is "ow the exceptio" because mo"ey is


31/40

"ow the co"te"t o% a&& socia& e%%orts, is a ma" o% ho"our, a

true ma". or it is "ot the $hristia" a"d phi&osophica&

e&e!atio" abo!e the commo" &i%e but the de!otio", the &i%e

a"d acti!ity %or others that makes ma" ma". o theattachme"t o% the possessor a"d possessio" is a&so the

character o% rea& a"d so o% socia& property as we&& as o%

"atura& property i" e"era&. A&& that ha!e appropriated

rea&&y, a"d so my &i!i" property, is i"timate&y attached to

me a"d must a"d shou&d be so. But what is someo"e who is

i"timate&y attached to our so#ca&&ed property, to mo"ey#

propertyF ho is so ide"ti%ied with his mo"ey that he is "ot

separated %rom itF A miserab&e wretch@ ?e!erthe&ess we

must co"sider this u"i!ersa& rubbish as so much our %irst

co"ditio" o% &i%e, so much our i"dispe"sab&e property, that

we ca""ot co"ser!e ourse&!es without it. ou must there%ore

co"sta"t&y stri!e to appropriate somethi" that ca""ot be

appropriated, that a&ways remai"s %ar, o" the other side %or

you. ou ca" possess with your mo"ey o"&y a sou&ess body

to which you ca" "e!er i!e a sou&, which ca" "e!er become

your property@ ou must co"sider yourse&% happy to be ab&e

to excha"e your ow" body, your ow" %&esh a"d b&ood, your

&i%e#acti!ity, %or this rubbish, happy to be ab&e to se&& yourse&%

## somethi" which i" the =idd&e Aes a"d A"ti>uity was

co"sidered at the &east as a mis%ortu"e. ou must co"sideryourse&% happy to be a moder" bo"dsma"; %or you are

a&ways exposed to the da"er o% %a&&i" back i"to the orii"a&

co"ditio" o% the b&essed spirits which the &aw#i!ers ha!e

brouht dow" %rom the $hristia" hea!e" a"d which they


32/40

ha!e proc&aimed the "orma& co"ditio" o% "atura&< ma" #

you are a&ways exposed to the da"er o% becomi" a pure,

%ree, "aked perso"@

13

'he wor&d o% shopkeepers is the practica& wor&d o%

i&&usio" a"d &ies. ("der the appeara"ce o% abso&ute

i"depe"de"ce there is abso&ute wa"t; u"der the appeara"ce

o% the most &i!i" i"tercourse there is the most dead&y

separatio" o% e!ery ma" %rom his %e&&ow me"; u"der the

appeara"ce o% a" i"!io&ab&e property uara"teed to e!eryo"e

the capacity o% e!eryo"e is take" %rom them i" rea&ity; u"der

the appeara"ce o% e"era& %reedom there is e"era&

ser!itude. ?o wo"der that i" the rea&ised wor&d o% &ies

disho"esty is the ru&e a"d ho"esty the i"%ri"eme"t, that

base"ess shou&d ha!e a&& the ho"ours a"d the ma" o% ho"our

shou&d %a&& i"to misery a"d shame; that hypocrisy ce&ebratesits triumph a"d is take" as the truth; that there shou&d be

di!isio" amo"st the ma3ority a"d determi"atio" amo"st

the mi"ority; that %i"a&&y the %reest u"dersta"di" is the

most destructi!e a"d co"!erse&y the "arrowest ser!i&ity is

the most co"ser!ati!e e&eme"t@

14

'he iso&ated i"di!idua&, separated %rom his roots, %rom

his &i%e#e&eme"t, as a rotte" %ruit %a&&i" %rom a &i!i" tree

a"d thereby perishi", ca" o"&y be arti%icia&&y remo!ed %rom


33/40

his decompositio" or co"ser!ed. A &i!i" bei" does "ot

co"ser!e itse&% but ma"i%ests itse&%, produces itse&% a"ew at

each mome"t. But i" order to be ab&e to &i!e rea&&y, i.e., to

ma"i%est or produce themse&!es, the !arious iso&atedmembers o% o"e a"d the same ora"ic body must be

i"disso&ub&y &i"ked to each other as we&& as to their

commu"a& &i%e#e&eme"ts or materia&s; they a"d their bodies

a"d their &i%e#atmosphere must "ot be separated %rom each

other. 'his separatio", iso&atio" a"d disi"teratio" o%

i"di!idua&s is the characteristic o% the a"ima& wor&d, o%

eoism. A"d ma"ki"d has had this a"ima& characteristic ti&&

"ow because it was sti&& bei" created; %or the a"ima& wor&d

itse&% is "othi" other tha" de!e&opi" ma"ki"d i" creatio".

" other words, ma"ki"d has a doub&e history o% creatio":

the %irst is that o% its sti&& u"co"scious or bodi&y existe"ce

a"d this we meet i" the a"ima& wor&d; the seco"d creatio"

history, which %o&&ows %rom a"d a%ter the %irst a"d which

comp&etes it, exists who&&y a"d comp&ete&y; this creatio" is

that o% its co"scious, spiritua& or socia& existe"ce a"d this we

meet i" the socia& a"ima& wor&d. e "ow %i"d ourse&!es at

the summit, at the cu&mi"ati" poi"t o% the socia& a"ima&

wor&d; we are thus "ow socia& beasts o% prey, %u&&y#de!e&oped

co"scious eoists who sa"ctio" i" %ree competitio" the war

o% a&& aai"st a&&, i" the so#ca&&ed rihts o% ma" the rihts o%iso&ated i"di!idua&s, o% pri!ate perso"s, o% the abso&ute

perso"a&ity,< a"d i" %reedom o% trade mutua& exp&oitatio",

thirst %or mo"ey. 'his thirst %or mo"ey is "othi" but the

thirst %or b&ood o% the socia& beast o% prey. e are "o &o"er


34/40

rass#eaters &ike our ood#"atured a"cestors, who i"deed

were a&so socia& beasts but were "ot yet beasts o% prey, the

reat ma3ority o% whom &et themse&!es be %ed &ike ood#

"atured domestic a"ima&s. e are b&oodsuckers whomutua&&y ski" a"d de!our each other. Cust as the a"ima&

tastes i" b&ood o"&y his ow" &i%e i" a" a"ima&ike, bruta&

way, so ma" tastes i" mo"ey his ow" &i%e i" a bruta&, a"ima

&ike, ca""iba&istic way. =o"ey is the socia& b&ood, but

exter"a&ised, spi&t b&ood. 'he Cews had the wor&d#historic

missio" i" the "atura& history o% the socia& a"ima& wor&d o%

de!e&opi" the beast o% prey out o% ma"; they ha!e %i"a&&y

%u&%i&&ed their missio". 'he mystery o% Cudaism a"d

$hristia"ity has bee" made pub&ic i" the moder" Cewish#

$hristia" wor&d o% shopkeepers. 'he mystery o% the b&ood o%

$hrist, &ike the mystery o% the o&d Cewish b&ood cu&t, appears

here %i"a&&y comp&ete&y u"!ei&ed as the mystery o% the beast

o% prey. " a"cie"t Cudaism the cu&t o% b&ood was o"&y

prototypic; i" the $hristia" =idd&e Aes it was rea&ised

theoretica&&y, idea&&y, &oica&&y, i.e., the exter"a&ised, sp&it

b&ood o% ma"ki"d was co"sumed rea&&y but o"&y i" the

imai"atio", as the b&ood o% the ma"#)od. " the moder"

Cewish#$hristia" wor&d o% shopkeepers this be"t a"d dri!e

o% the socia& a"ima& wor&d "o &o"er comes out either

symbo&ic or mystic but as who&&y prosaic. " the re&iio" o%the socia& beasts o% prey there was sti&& some poetry. t was

"ot at a&& the poetry o% &ympus, but i"deed that o%

B&ocksber. 'he socia& a"ima& wor&d %irst became commo"

a"d prosaic whe" "ature aai" e"%orced its rihts a"d the


35/40

iso&ated ma", this piti%u& s&a!e o% A"ti>uity a"d ser% o% the

=idd&e Aes, "o &o"er wa"ted to be satis%ied with hea!e"&y

"ourishme"t; whe" he bea" to stru&e %or materia& i"stead

o% %or spiritua& treasures a"d whe" he wa"ted to p&ay out hisexter"a&ised &i%e, his sp&it b&ood i" a !isib&e purse rather tha"

i" a" i"!isib&e stomach. o the ho&y 3u&i" tricks became

pro%a"e, hea!e"&y trickery became earth&y, the poetic %iht o%

)od a"d the De!i& became a prosaic a"ima& %iht a"d the

mystica& theophay became a pub&ic a"throphay. 'he

church o% )od, the hea!e"&y !au&t where the priest, the

hye"a o% the socia& a"ima& wor&d, ce&ebrated a" imai"ary

%u"era& mea& cha"ed itse&% i"to the mo"ey tate, i"to this

earth&y batt&e%ie&d where beasts o% prey with e>ua& rihts

suck each other2s b&ood. " the mo"ey tate, the tate o% %ree

competitio", a&& pri!i&ee a"d a&& disti"ctio"s o% ra"k come to

a" e"d. 'here rei"s, as has bee" said, a poetry#&ess %reedom

o% beasts o% prey based o" the e>ua&ity o% death. " %ace o%

mo"ey ki"s are "o &o"er e"tit&ed to co">uer as the &io"s o%

the a"imame", 3ust as &itt&e as the &oomy priests sti&& ha!e

the riht to re%resh themse&!es with the sme&& o% corpses

because they are their hye"as. Eather ha!e they o"&y the

riht, &ike the other a"imame", arisi" %rom commo"

"atura& riht, %rom their commo" >ua&ity o% beasts o% prey,

b&oodsuckers, Cews, mo"ey#wo&!es.

15

=o"ey is the &i%e#ki&&i" mea"s o% i"tercourse which

has so&idi%ied i"to a dead &etter 3ust as the &etter is the spirit#


36/40

ki&&i" mea"s o% i"tercourse which has so&idi%ied i"to dead

mo"ey. 'he i"!e"tio" o% mo"ey a"d &etters is attributed to

the Ghoe"icia"s, the same peop&e to whom is a&so attributed

the i"!e"tio" o% the Cewish )od. A writi" 3oker be&ie!es hehas said somethi" !ery i"te&&ie"t aai"st the abo&itio" o%

mo"ey i" compari", i" o"e o% his writi"s

e"tit&ed$ewegung der #roduction,the spiritua& capita&

which we possess i" writi"s *especia&&y i" his ow" to the

materia& capita& which we possess i" mo"ey, a"d the" he

adds: A" abo&itio" o% mo"ey wou&d ha!e the same

si"i%ica"ce as a" abo&itio" o% writi": this wou&d be a" edict

to wor&d history to retur" to its mother2s womb.< irst =r

chu&H has o!er&ooked the di%%ere"ce betwee" the materia&

capita& which we possess i" mo"ey a"d the spiritua& capita&

which we ca" appropriate throuh writi". 'his di%%ere"ce is

as reat as that betwee" true a"d %a&se property. ca"

i"deed appropriate %or myse&% throuh writi" spiritua&

treasures. But it wou&d "ot occur to a"yo"e to wish to stamp

the treasure which we appropriate throuh word a"d writi"

as the pri!ate property o% i"di!idua&s who cou&d the"

tra"smit it to their pri!ate heirs. ca" i"deed i"herit a"d

ac>uire a &ibrary a"d its so#ca&&ed treasures; ca" a&so

recei!e so#ca&&ed re!e&atio"s %rom the 0o&y criptures; but

the more this ac>uisitio" comes "ear to bei" a mo"eyac>uisitio", the more exter"a&, co"ti"e"t it is, the more it is

sub3ect to pro%it a"d &oss, the more worth&ess, spirit#&ess is

my spiritua&< treasure. r does =r chu&H be&ie!e that

a&ready recei!ed the spirit with the &etters a"d the booksF


37/40

9a"uae is a &i!i", spirit#rich mea"s o% i"tercourse but

&etters are "ot. piritua& mo"ey is o"&y !a&id i" so %ar as it is

ora"ica&&y attached to ma". 9a"uae ca" be ora"ica&&y

attached to ma" because it is a" ora"ic, articu&ated who&e.But mo"ey ca""ot be ora"ica&&y attached to ma", as

a&ready show" abo!e. =o"ey there%ore resemb&es writi"

"ot as a &i!i" &a"uae but as a dead &etter. 'he &etter # this

is !ery si"i%ica"t # must ha!e bee" i"!e"ted &ike mo"ey by

those who i"!e"ted =o&och. But &a"uae was "e!er a"d

"owhere i" the wor&d i"!e"ted. he"a" i"!e"tio" is "o

&o"er "ecessary, "o &o"er usab&e, whe" it has e!e" become

harm%u&, it is "ot used a"y more, without it there%ore ha!i"

to be retur"ed to the mother2s womb.< t is "ot disputed

that the i"!e"tio" o% &etters a"d coi"s was a use%u&< a"d

e!e" a "ecessary< i"!e"tio", but it is disputed that it wi&&

there%ore a&so be i" the %uture. t is >uite riht that i" the o&d

co"ditio" o% the iso&atio" o% me", i" the o&d mutua&

estra"eme"t o% me", a" exter"a& symbo& had to be i"!e"ted

to represe"t the spiritua& a"d materia& excha"e o% products.

'hrouh this abstractio" %rom rea&, spiritua& a"d &i!i"

i"tercourse the capacity, the creati!e %orce o% me" was

i"creased duri" their estra"eme"t; i" other words, they

%ou"d i" this abstract mea"s o% i"tercourse a mediati"

esse"ce %or their ow" estra"eme"t; they had to seek theu"i%yi" esse"ce outside o% themse&!es, i. e., a" i"huma",

super#huma" esse"ce, si"ce they were "ot me", i.e., were

"ot u"ited. ithout this i"huma" mea"s o% i"tercourse they

wou&d "e!er ha!e e"tered i"to i"tercourse. But as soo" as


38/40

me" u"ite, as soo" as a direct i"tercourse betwee" them ca"

take p&ace the i"huma", exter"a&, dead mea"s o% i"tercourse

must "ecessari&y be abo&ished. 'his dead a"d dead&y mea"s

o% i"tercourse ca""ot a"d wi&& "ot be abo&ished arbitrari&y;its abo&itio" there%ore happe"s as &itt&e throuh a" edict< as

did its creatio". " the same way that the "eed %or a"

exter"a& mea"s o% u"io" duri" the period o% the i"ter"a&

disi"teratio" o% the huma" species had brouht i"to bei"

spiritua& a"d

materia& ido&s, so the "eed %or a direct a"d

i"timate u"io" o% me" wi&& demo&ish these ido&s aai". 9o!e

which %&ed to hea!e" whi&e the 6arth was "ot yet ab&e to

rasp it wi&& aai" ha!e its seats o% &i!i" i" the p&ace where

it was bor" a"d "urtured, the breast o% ma". e wi&& "o

&o"er !ai"&y seek our &i%e outside a"d abo!e us. ?o

extra"eous esse"ce, "o third midd&e term wi&& a"y more

i"trude betwee" us so as to u"ite us exter"a&&y a"d

appare"t&y to mediate< us, whi&e separati" a"d sp&itti" us

i"ter"a&&y a"d rea&&y. ith commercia& specu&atio"s wi&&

cease phi&osophica& a"d theo&oica& specu&atio"s a"d with

po&itics wi&& cease re&iio". Dri!e" by the i"ter"a& "ecessity

o% our "ature a"d by the exter"a& "ecessity o% our re&atio"s

we wi&& put a" e"d o"ce a"d %or a&& to a&& these absurdities

a"d hypocritica& "o"se"se o% our phi&osophers, scho&ars,

priests a"d statesme", who harmo"ise so we&& with thei"huma"ity a"d base"ess o% our boureois society; we wi&&

do this by u"iti" toether i" a commu"ity a"d expe&&i" a&&

these extra"eous bodies a"d a&& these exter"a& mea"s o%

commu"icatio", these thor"s i" our %&esh.


39/40

16

'he ora"ic commu"ity which we are &ooki" %orward

to ca" o"&y come i"to bei" as a resu&t o% the hihest

de!e&opme"t o% a&& our %orces a"d by mea"s o% the pai"%u&

stimu&us o% "ecessity a"d o% !icious passio"s. 'he ora"ic

commu"ity, the ripe %ruit o% huma" de!e&opme"t, cou&d "ot

come i"to bei" as &o" as we were "ot who&&y de!e&oped

a"d we cou&d "ot de!e&op ourse&!es u"&ess we e"aed i"

i"tercourse with each other. But duri" the de!e&opme"t o%

this i"tercourse we sti&&

rapp&ed with each other as si"&e

a"d iso&ated i"di!idua&s. e rapp&ed with each other %or

our materia& a"d spiritua& mea"s o% i"tercourse because as

iso&ated i"di!idua&s we "eeded this mea"s o% i"tercourse to

&i!e. e "eeded it because we were "ot u"ited, but the u"io"

or the co&&aboratio" o% our %orces is our &i%e. e thus had to

seek our ow" &i%e outside o% us a"d to secure it i" mutua&

stru&e. But throuh this stru&e we ha!e wo" somethi"

e"tire&y di%%ere"t %rom what we were stri!i" a"d hopi" to

wi". e thouht we were wi""i" a" exter"a& ood, but we

were de!e&opi" ourse&!es. But this mad"ess was sa&utary

a"d be"e%icia& %or us %or as &o" as it co"tributed rea&&y to

de!e&op our %orces a"d %acu&ties. A%ter these had de!e&oped

we wi&& o"&y mutua&&y rui" ourse&!es i% we do "ot pass o" tocommu"ism. ur %orces are "ow "o &o"er %urther

de!e&oped throuh stru&e, %or the ood reaso" that they

are a&ready de!e&oped. But we a&so see e!ery day that, o" the

o"e ha"d, we o"&y waste our %orces %ruit&ess&y a"d that, o"


40/40

Documents

Moses Hess 1845 the Essence of Money - Copia