A Critical Examination of the Theory of Natural Resource Value——Based on the Perspective of Marxist Political Economy

Proponents of “the theory of natural resource value” argue that natural resources inherently contain an intrinsic substance of value that does not derive from external sources. They simplistically attribute contemporary socio-ecological problems to an "unwavering belief" in Marx's labor theory of value. They claim that ecological issues can be resolved merely by assigning value to natural resources and incorporating them into the capitalist economic system. Unfortunately, “the theory of natural resource value” itself is fraught with limitations, and its critiques of Marx's labor theory of value are entirely untenable. In reality, natural resources cannot independently constitute the substance of value; they only acquire value when they embody objectified human labor. Therefore, asserting that natural resources possess value requires certain qualifying conditions. However, to claim that natural resources are the source of value based on “the theory of natural resource value” is a complete theoretical fallacy. Under the capitalist mode of production, the sole source of value can only be undifferentiated abstract human labor. Any attempt to discuss the value of natural resources outside the framework of the labor theory of value is nothing more than a futile and unproductive fantasy.