Heterodox economists have criticised the ahistorical character of orthodox economics, focusing on its inadequate ontological foundation. This paper adds to the ontological critique of orthodox economics by arguing that organically based atomism, Marx’s ontology specifying social relations and conditions under capitalism, explains the appearance of social atomism as a result of capitalism’s organic interdependencies. It elucidates how organically based atomism, which is composed of original accumulation and alienation, abstract-alienated labour and the exposition of the value forms, and Marx’s critique of commodity fetishism, can be used to criticise the ahistorical character of orthodox economics.
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