ABSTRACT

In reading the works of those whom he interpreted to be the followers of Ricardo, viz. James Mill, John McCulloch and Thomas de Quincey, 1 Marx found little that could be considered to represent clarification or development of the analyses in the Principles. Marx's view was that the Principles had the potential to be reworked into a much more consistent and coherent analysis of the nature of capitalism. This potential had not been adequately pursued, certainly not by this group of so-called disciples. On the contrary, Marx made some harsh comments about their endeavours to clarify and popularise the essentials of Ricardo's contribution. In this sense, though, de Quincey was an exception, for Marx devoted little attention to his work and expressed no particular views about its intellectual status beyond acknowledging its strong links with Ricardo's Principles. 2