马克思与斯密:货币分析的两种传统及其亚里士多德根源

Karl Marx and Adam Smith:Two Traditions of Monetary Analysis and Their Aristotelian Origin

商品交换是货币分析的基础,对商品交换形式的不同理解直接影响了货币分析的两种传统,即以马克思为起始,将货币看作交换的起点和终点,“货币是增殖工具,是为了获得更多货币”的马克思主义货币分析传统,以及以斯密为起始,将商品看作交换的起点和终点,货币只是交易中介的西方主流经济学分析传统。商品交换四种形式的区分最早可追溯至亚里士多德,两种货币分析传统都受其直接影响。基于两种货币分析传统的文本分析,从亚里士多德的视角来看,西方主流经济学的货币分析以自然经济条件的物物交换为基础,导致其论证逻辑中实质上没有货币的位置,因而难以解释经济现实。马克思明确意识到古典经济学的这一问题,并对此进行了批判和超越,从商品分析到货币分析再到资本分析,揭示了资本主义社会经济运行的实质,并能对当代的经济现实给予科学解释。

Commodity exchange is the basis of monetary analysis.Different understandings of the forms of commodity exchange have a direct impact on the two traditions of monetary analysis.Starting with Marx,the currency is regarded as the starting point and end point of exchange,and the Marxist currency analysis tradition of“currency is a tool for proliferation,in order to obtain more currency”.And starting with Smith,the Western mainstream economics analysis tradition that regards commodities as the starting point and end point of exchange,and currency is only a transaction intermediary.The distinction of the four forms of commodity exchange can be traced back to Aristotle,and both traditions of monetary analysis are directly influenced by Aristotle.Based on the traditional text analysis of two kinds of monetary analysis,from the perspective of Aristotle,the monetary analysis of western mainstream economics is based on the barter exchange of natural economic conditions,which leads to the fact that there is no place of money in its argument logic,making it difficult to explain economic reality.Marx clearly realized this problem of classical economics,and criticized and surpassed it.From commodity analysis to monetary analysis and then to capital analysis,he revealed the essence of the economic operation of capitalist society and provided a scientific explanation of contemporary economic reality.