I've already read a couple of books, but they were all light reading or straight to the point. Today I started volume 1 of Capital. I read for about 2 hours and I realized I feel like I can't do this; it's very dense and abstract. Are there any habits, thoughts, or other helpful things that keep you focused?
On that note OP, let me know if you want to discuss Capital. It is one of my favorite bits of theory (I know, so unique).
I'd be glad! I'm just getting started so I've been reading on the different value forms. I had a bit of trouble understanding how the equivalent form differs from the relative form? Doesn't the relative form express the same equivalence relation by putting 2 quantities of different commodities up as equal to each other?
Yes, algebraically, the equivalent form and the relative form are interchangeable or "accidental":
The difference between the forms is purely semantic. If I exchange 5 apples for your 3 oranges, that is a value relation. I am equally correct in saying that your 3 oranges express the value of my 5 apples, as you are correct in saying that my 5 apples express the value of your 3 oranges. Each statement is correct but the meaning is different. The equivalent form is the commodity which expresses value, whereas the relative form is the commodity whose value needs expressing. It seems like a trivial distinction at first, but its significance is in the emergence of the money commodity. If any commodity can take on the role of the equivalent form, then it follows that one particular commodity may in practice take on the role of universal equivalent. This is money. And in its full development, we do not regard money in its relative form; we regard money as a pure embodiment of value, as being value in itself, and not needing to express its value in another equivalent.