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The dialectics of differentiation: Marx's mathematical manuscripts and their relation to his economics

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  • Peter Hans Matthews

Abstract

The notion that Marx neither understood nor advocated the use of mathematics is a persistent one. His interest in both commercial and abstract mathematics spanned more than two decades, however, and culminated in two ‘contributions’ to the foundations of the calculus: ‘On the Concept of the Derived Function’ (1881) and ‘On the Concept of the Differential’ (1881). A detailed examination of these and other technical notebooks suggests that Marx's economics both motivated and informed his studies in mathematics and that these, in turn, influenced his understanding of economic phenomena.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Hans Matthews, 2021. "The dialectics of differentiation: Marx's mathematical manuscripts and their relation to his economics," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 79(1), pages 25-50, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocec:v:79:y:2021:i:1:p:25-50
    DOI: 10.1080/00346764.2019.1664758
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    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • B14 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Socialist; Marxist
    • C60 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - General

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