Discussion in the Matrix reading group (see this post for instructions on how to join) this Saturday/Sunday, and anyone who’d rather discuss the text here can do so instead (a few questions will be posted here as well) 👌
If anyone wants a reminder on the weekend for this and/or future discussions, mention it in the comments
Something worth considering is brand-name products. People are often willing to pay more for these despite having the same use value as the equivalent commodity with another brand (and they may very well have been made in the same factory). Would the brand-name product in question, if it’s popular enough, be considered a separate commodity from other brands’ commodities with the same use value?
In my view, its just a grift that happened to stick.
of course it’s a grift, but I think it’s worthwhile trying to define what kind of commodity it is
Can metaphysical things be considered commodities? Buying X brand because of “status” is meta bullshit, thats why i would just consider it a grift instead of a commoditie.
In general, ideas as commodities is a grift.
It’s not metaphysical; there has to be physical branding on the commodity (e.g. a logo for clothes, a particular operating system for phones). “Grift” is only a subjective label – everything that’s sold is a commodity, the question is whether commodities with the same use value should be categorized as different kinds of commodities based on branding