The Social Life of Things - Kirsten de Roos

            In our previous class, we discussed all the possible descriptions of what a commodity is. It was interesting to see all the different responses, ranging from raw materials to a standardized product. I think we all agreed, however, that the definition is subjective, depending on circumstances of living and other factors that may influence how a person would conceive a “commodity.” Arjun Appadurai defined commodities as “objects of economic value” (3), using Georg Simmel’s arguments in regard to how value is measured. Value is an important part of understanding what a commodity is, so it was invaluable on Appadurai’s part to use Simmel’s work Philosophy of Money as a way to explain the meaning of value. According to Simmel, value is inherent in the subjects themselves, not in the objects. This psychological idea is on point, allowing for us to see that a person’s desire for an item results its demand to be created.  

            My classmates indicate, in their responses, the lack of discussion when it comes to scarcity. It was mentioned in class briefly, however no one really expanded on the idea. As an economic historian, scarcity is not always an important factor when it comes to defining commodities. Scarcity is determined by the production cost of an item. Thomas Malthus, an economist who wrote an essay on population growth in the late 1700s, warned that with the increase in human population, food resources would become scarce. As a result, population growth would be held in check by famine. Fortunately for us, advances in technology allowed us to come up with alternative solutions. Improvements in irrigation and fertilizers, among others, permit us to develop new ways to get more out of farmland. Advanced technology in mines and oil fields also keep high prices at bay (although it may not seem that way to us).