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> So, how do Marxists deal with that? Why would Marxists need to deal with it at all? I mean, even if you ignore that the data centers, etc., supporting the app stores, ebook stores, etc., involved are, in practice, essential parts of the means of production for the actual consumer product being delivered, all "it's possible for a solo independent business owner to own the whole means of production for a product and make and delivery the product to consumers by applying their own labor to capital they own" would mean is that "the capitalist middle class, the petit bourgeoisie, can actually exist in that society." Which Marxists generally assume to be true about capitalist societies. > Is a computer part of "the means of production"? Yes, the same as, e.g., workers hand tools are. Specifically, its part of the instruments of production, which are a subset of the means of production. > If it only means big industry, the Marxists are talking to those who live in the past. No, if it only meant big industry, Marxists would be talking to no one; workers owning their own tools, that can be anywhere between the entire instruments of production for some goods to a small part for others, have been common longer than capitalism. But then, Marxism always incorporated that, so its not an issue. |