Mapping ‘metabolism’ in Marx’s Capital

Abstract

This philological study investigates the German term Stoffwechsel, commonly translated as ‘metabolism,’ a concept central to biological processes in organisms. Originating from the natural sciences, Stoffwechsel is adopted, appropriated, and allegorized in Marx's Capital Volume 1, where it plays a key role in his critique of capitalism. The study adopts a dual analytical approach that mirrors the two metabolic processes: catabolism and anabolism. The catabolic phase traces the term's historical and linguistic origins, charting its incorporation into Marx's lexicon. The anabolic phase explores how Marx transforms Stoffwechsel and assesses the term’s philosophical and political implications within his ecological critique of capitalism. By drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship from political economy, linguistic philology, intellectual history, and the history of science, this study the pivotal role and evolving meaning of Stoffwechsel within Marx's critique of the economy, offering a comprehensive account of its significance in the Marxist canon.