You must be aware that the reward for labour, and quantity of labour, are quite disparate things

You must be aware that the reward for labour, and quantity of labour, are quite disparate things

Karl Marx, a renowned philosopher, economist, and sociologist, emphasized the importance of understanding the distinction between the reward for labor and the quantity of labor in his works. In his critique of capitalism, Marx argued that the capitalist system inherently exploits laborers by extracting surplus value from their work. He believed that the value of a commodity is determined by the amount of socially necessary labor time required to produce it, but under capitalism, workers are not compensated fairly for the full value of their labor.

Marx's theory of surplus value posits that capitalists extract surplus value from workers by paying them less than the value they produce. This exploitation occurs because capitalists own the means of production and can dictate the terms of employment, including wages and working conditions. As a result, workers are alienated from the products of their labor and are unable to fully realize the value they create.

The disparity between the reward for labor and the quantity of labor is a central theme in Marx's critique of capitalism. He argued that under capitalism, the capitalist class accumulates wealth and power at the expense of the working class, who are forced to sell their labor power in order to survive. This unequal distribution of wealth and power perpetuates social inequality and class conflict, leading to exploitation and alienation among workers.

Marx believed that the only way to overcome this exploitation and achieve true equality was through the abolition of private property and the establishment of a socialist society based on collective ownership of the means of production. In a socialist society, the reward for labor would be based on the principle of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs," ensuring that all members of society are able to contribute and benefit equally from the fruits of their labor.