The historical destiny of capitalism in the digital age:A theoretical reflection based on the law of declining profit rate
Marx discovered the law of declining profit rate within capitalism,which posits that under the influence of the fundamental contradictions of capitalism,the relationship between the rate of surplus value and the organic composition of capital leads to a continual decline in the rate of profit due to the expanding social reproduction.This observation high-lights the inevitable historical fate of capitalism's demise.However,in the era of digital capitalism,new modes of pro-duction have emerged,altering the trends in surplus value rates.With digital capitalism extending its reach to"labor be-havior",the production of digital surplus value has become a new form of surplus value production,coexisting with tradi-tional forms.The vast scale of digital labor significantly increases the level of exploitation across society,complicating the dynamic relationship between the surplus value rate and the organic composition of capital.This scenario appears to offer a"reverse"possibility for changes in the profit rate,suggesting a potential for a"rebirth"of capitalism.Nevertheless,e-ven if the profit rate could rise,the general data produced by digital labor merely functions as means of production,di-rectly reinvested into expanded reproduction.This does not alter the operational logic of capital;rather,it further intensi-fies capital accumulation and exacerbates digital capital monopolies.Essentially,digital capitalism represents a new form created by capital in its quest for new avenues,ultimately intensifying the fundamental contradictions of capitalism and failing to alter its trajectory towards historical extinction.
digital capitalismprofit ratedigital laborhistorical destiny of capitalism
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