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| kolakowski marxism: Main Currents of Marxism Leszek Kołakowski, 2005 The commanding study of Marxism, now in one masterful volume with a new preface and epilogue by the author. |
| kolakowski marxism: World Christianity and Marxism Denis R. Janz, 1998-04-09 Denis Janz argues that the encounter with Marxism has been the defining event for twentieth century Christianity. No other worldview shook Christianity more dramatically and no other movement had as profound an impact on so many. Now the Cold War is over and as we approach the end of the century we need, Janz says, to ask ourselves what happened. This book is the first unified and comprehensive attempt to analyze this historic meeting between these two antagonistic worlds of thought and action. The intellectual foundation of this antagonism is to be found in Karl Marx himself, and thus the book begins with an account of Marx's assault on Christianity. All the diverse philosophical and political manifestations of Marxism were ultimately rooted in Marx's thought, and supporters based their greater or lesser hostilities toward Christianity on their reading of his critique. Janz follows this with an overview of Christian responses to Marx, extending from the mid-19th century to the onset of the Cold War. He argues that within this time frame Christianity's negation of Marx was not absolute; the loud no to Marx bore with it an important, if muted, yes. With this intellectual groundwork in place, Janz turns to an examination of the encounter as it unfolded in specific national contexts: the United States, the Soviet Union, Poland, Nicaragua, Cuba, China, and Albania. The experiences of these countries varied widely, from Poland where Christianity maintained its strongest independence, to Nicaragua where a Christian alliance with Marxism contributed to revolutionary change, to Albania where a Stalinist government attempted to abolish religion entirely. From this survey emerges the evidence that world Christianity has clearly internalized some of the prominent features of its antagonist, suggesting that the Marxist project is not as utterly defunct as many have assumed. |
| kolakowski marxism: My Correct Views on Everything Leszek Kolakowski, 2010-12-10 In Leszek Kolakowski's title essay, My Correct Views on Everything (his famous rejoinder to E.P. Thompson's Open Letter to L. Kolakowski), the former Communist High Priest accounts for his apostasy from communism and explains why communism had to fail. Next, in a number of scholarly articles, he explains why communism assumed the pernicious form it had. The two other sections of the book, on Christianity and Liberal ideologies, are equally prescient. Each is both a pointed, incisive, often humorous exposition, even indictment, and yet each offers an intimate portrait of Kolakowski's spiritual and intellectual development. Included also are two interviews with the author. Far from believing that the author has correct views on everything, the reader is likely to be convinced that Kolakowski is right on more than one point. One's rejection of Marxist ideology does not have to lead, he implicitly suggests, to the dismissal of the Marxist dream of a world without greed. Being criticial of this or that item in the Church's politics should not have to make one reject Jesus's teaching. Finally, being concerned with liberalism's inability to generate moral values should not lead us past the compelling reason to accept the liberal state as the only viable political alternative both to the political and cultural follies of our times and the dangers of religious theocratic temptations. What Kolakowski offers in this wonderful collection of essays is, in short, a catechism for non-ideological Marxists, Christians, liberals, and conservatives alike. Book jacket. |
| kolakowski marxism: Metaphysical Horror Leszek Kolakowski, 2001-07 'A modern philosopher who has never once suspected himself of being a charlatan, ' writes Leszek Kolakowski at the start of this endlessly stimulating book, 'must be such a shallow mind that his work is probably not worth reading.' For over a century, philosophers have argued that philosophy is impossible or useless, or both. Although the basic agenda dates back tot he days of Socrates, there is still disagreement about the nature of truth, reality, knowledge, good and God. This may make little practical difference to our lives, but it leaves us with a feeling of radical uncertainty described by Kolakowski as 'metaphysical horror'. Is there any way out of this cul-de-sac? This trenchant analysis confronts these dilemmas head on. Philosophy may not provide definitive answers to the fundamental questions, yet the quest itself transforms our lives. It may undermine most of our certainties, yet it still leaves room for our spiritual yearnings and religious beliefs. Kolakowski has forged a dazzling demonstration of philosophy in action. It is up to readers to take up the challenge of his arguments. |
| kolakowski marxism: Why is There Something Rather Than Nothing? Leszek Kolakowski, 2017-05-04 Can nature make us happy? How can we know anything? What is justice? Why is there evil in the world? What is the source of truth? Is it possible for God not to exist? Can we really believe what we see? There are questions that have intrigued the world’s great thinkers over the ages, which still touch a cord in all of us today. They are questions that can teach us about the way we live, work, relate to each other and see the world. Here, one of the world’s greatest living philosophers, Leszek Kolakowski, explores the essence of these ideas, introducing figures from Socrates to Thomas Aquinas, Descartes to Nietzsche and concentrating on one single important philosophical question from each of them. Whether reflecting on good and evil, truth and beauty, faith and the soul, or free will and consciousness, Kolakowski shows that these timeless ideas remain at the very core of our existence. |
| kolakowski marxism: God Owes Us Nothing Leszek Kolakowski, 2012-11-09 God Owes Us Nothing reflects on the centuries-long debate in Christianity: how do we reconcile the existence of evil in the world with the goodness of an omnipotent God, and how does God's omnipotence relate to people's responsibility for their own salvation or damnation. Leszek Kolakowski approaches this paradox as both an exercise in theology and in revisionist Christian history based on philosophical analysis. Kolakowski's unorthodox interpretation of the history of modern Christianity provokes renewed discussion about the historical, intellectual, and cultural omnipotence of neo-Augustinianism. Several books a year wrestle with that hoary conundrum, but few so dazzlingly as the Polish philosopher's latest.—Carlin Romano, Washington Post Book World Kolakowski's fascinating book and its debatable thesis raise intriguing historical and theological questions well worth pursuing.—Stephen J. Duffy, Theological Studies Kolakowski's elegant meditation is a masterpiece of cultural and religious criticism.—Henry Carrigan, Cleveland Plain Dealer |
| kolakowski marxism: The Presence of Myth Leszek Kolakowski, 1989 [An] important essay by a philosopher who more convincingly than any other I can think of demonstrates the continuing significance of his vocation in the life of our culture.—Karsten Harries, The New York Times Book Review With The Presence of Myth, Kolakowski demonstrates that no matter how hard man strives for purely rational thought, there has always been-and always will be-a reservoir of mythical images that lend being and consciousness a specifically human meaning. Kolakowski undertakes a philosophy of culture which extends to all realms of human intercourse—intellectual, artistic, scientific, and emotional. . . . [His] book has real significance for today, and may well become a classic in the philosophy of culture.—Anglican Theological Review |
| kolakowski marxism: Marx and Russia James D. White, 2018-09-06 Marx and Russia is a chronological account of the evolution of Marxist thought from the publication of Das Kapital in Russian translation to the suppression of independent ideological currents by Stalin at the end of the 1920s. The book demonstrates the progressive emergence of different schools of Marxist thinking in the revolutionary era in Russia. Starting from Marx's own connections with Russian revolutionaries and scholars, James D. White examines the contributions of such figures as Sieber, Plekhanov, Lenin, Bogdanov, Trotsky, Bukharin and Stalin to Marxist ideology in Russia. Using primary documents, biographical sketches and a helpful timeline, the book provides a useful guide for students to orientate themselves among the various Marxist ideologies which they encounter in modern Russian history. White also incorporates valuable new research for Russian history specialists in a vital volume for anyone interested in the history of Marxism, Soviet history and the history of Russia across the modern period. |
| kolakowski marxism: The Devil in History Vladimir Tismaneanu, 2012-09-28 The Devil in History is a provocative analysis of the relationship between communism and fascism. Reflecting the author’s personal experiences within communist totalitarianism, this is a book about political passions, radicalism, utopian ideals, and their catastrophic consequences in the twentieth century’s experiments in social engineering. Vladimir Tismaneanu brilliantly compares communism and fascism as competing, sometimes overlapping, and occasionally strikingly similar systems of political totalitarianism. He examines the inherent ideological appeal of these radical, revolutionary political movements, the visions of salvation and revolution they pursued, the value and types of charisma of leaders within these political movements, the place of violence within these systems, and their legacies in contemporary politics. The author discusses thinkers who have shaped contemporary understanding of totalitarian movements—people such as Hannah Arendt, Raymond Aron, Isaiah Berlin, Albert Camus, François Furet, Tony Judt, Ian Kershaw, Leszek Kolakowski, Richard Pipes, and Robert C. Tucker. As much a theoretical analysis of the practical philosophies of Marxism-Leninism and Fascism as it is a political biography of particular figures, this book deals with the incarnation of diabolically nihilistic principles of human subjugation and conditioning in the name of presumably pure and purifying goals. Ultimately, the author claims that no ideological commitment, no matter how absorbing, should ever prevail over the sanctity of human life. He comes to the conclusion that no party, movement, or leader holds the right to dictate to the followers to renounce their critical faculties and to embrace a pseudo-miraculous, a mystically self-centered, delusional vision of mandatory happiness. |
| kolakowski marxism: Toward a Marxist Humanism Leszek Kołakowski, 1968 |
| kolakowski marxism: Marxism and Ethics Paul Blackledge, 2012-02-14 Marxism and Ethics is a comprehensive and highly readable introduction to the rich and complex history of Marxist ethical theory as it has evolved over the last century and a half. Paul Blackledge argues that Marx's ethics of freedom underpin his revolutionary critique of capitalism. Marx's conception of agency, he argues, is best understood through the lens of Hegel's synthesis of Kantian and Aristotelian ethical concepts. Marx's rejection of moralism is not, as suggested in crude materialist readings of his work, a dismissal of the free, purposive, subjective dimension of action. Freedom, for Marx, is both the essence and the goal of the socialist movement against alienation, and freedom's concrete modern form is the movement for real democracy against the capitalist separation of economics and politics. At the same time, Marxism and Ethics is also a distinctive contribution to, and critique of, contemporary political philosophy, one that fashions a powerful synthesis of the strongest elements of the Marxist tradition. Drawing on Alasdair MacIntyre's early contributions to British New Left debates on socialist humanism, Blackledge develops an alternative ethical theory for the Marxist tradition, one that avoids the inadequacies of approaches framed by Kant on the one hand and utilitarianism on the other. |
| kolakowski marxism: Is God Happy? Leszek Kolakowski, 2013-02-05 The late Leszek Kolakowski was one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. A prominent anticommunist writer, Kolakowski was also a deeply humanistic thinker, and his meditations on society, religion, morality, and culture stand alongside his political writings as commentaries on intellectual—and everyday—life in the twentieth century. Kolakowski’s extraordinary empathy, humor, and erudition are on full display in Is God Happy?, the first collection of his work to be published since his death in 2009. Accessible and wide ranging, these essays—many of them translated into English for the first time—testify to the remarkable scope of Kolakowski’s work. From a provocative and deeply felt critique of Marxist ideology to the witty and self-effacing “In Praise of Unpunctuality” to a rigorous analysis of Erasmus’ model of Christianity and the future of religion, these essays distill Kolakowski’s lifelong engagement with the eternal problems of philosophy and some of the most vital questions of our age. |
| kolakowski marxism: Main Currents of Marxism: The golden age Leszek Kołakowski, 1978 |
| kolakowski marxism: Open Marxism Christos Memos, 2025-01-09 Bringing together the various heterodox traditions, groups and scholars that came under the heading of Open Marxism for the first time, this book assesses the evolution of Open Marxism from the initial usage of the term by Kostas Axelos in France in the 1950s and the journal, Arguments, principally the 'anarchist Marx' of Maximilien Rubel and the 'Libertarian Marxism' of Daniel Guérin, through Open Marxism as it was developed in Eastern Europe, especially in the scholarly work of Karel Kosik in Czechoslovakia, the work of the Polish Open Marxists and the Praxis group in Yugoslavia, to Johannes Agnoli's work in post-1968 (West) Germany, and finally to the work developed by Bonefeld, Clarke, Gunn and Holloway within the framework of the Conference of Socialist Economists (CSE) in Britain since the 1980s. Its comprehensive study of the historical development of Open Marxism in all its various guises and forms reasserts the rich insights of its devastating critique of social democracy, Leninism-Stalinism and the Althusserian structuralist paradigm. It introduces a new readership to Open Marxism's negative, fundamental, and destructive critique of capitalism and examines the practical relevance of its subversive thinking to the contemporary struggle for a free and open socialist society. |
| kolakowski marxism: The Two Eyes of Spinoza & Other Essays on Philosophers Leszek Kołakowski, 2004 Known in the English-speaking world mainly as the author of Main Currents of Marxism (1976), and in France as the author of the monumental study Chrétiens sans Eglise (1966), in his Two Eyes of Spinoza and Other Essays on Philosophers Leszek Kolakowski offers the English-speaking reader for the first time a significant selection of his early writings. Originally written in Polish, German, and French, this collection is his first book ever in English on seventeenth-century thought, which subject he has been writing on since Individual and Infinity: Freedom and Antinomies of Freedom in the Philosophy of Spinoza was published in 1957. Included in Two Eyes of Spinoza are essays on The Philosophical Role of the Reformation and the Mystical Heresy, on Uriel da Costa, Spinoza, Gassendi, and Pierre Bayle, but also on Freud, Marx, Avenarius, and Heidegger. Also included is Kolakowski's well-known essay The Priest and the Jester, in which he considers the question of the theological heritage in contemporary thought. |
| kolakowski marxism: Marxism and the Philosophy of Science Helena Sheehan, 2018-01-23 A masterful survey of the history of Marxist philosophy of science Sheehan retraces the development of a Marxist philosophy of science through detailed and highly readable accounts of the debates that shaped it. Skilfully deploying a large cast of characters, Sheehan shows how Marx and Engel’s ideas on the development and structure of natural science had a crucial impact on the work of early twentieth-century natural philosophers, historians of science, and natural scientists. With a new afterword by the author. |
| kolakowski marxism: Freedom, Fame, Lying and Betrayal Leszek Kolakowski, 2019-03-06 Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski is renowned worldwide for wrestling with serious philosophical conundrums with dazzling elegance. In this new book, he turns his characteristic wit to important themes of ordinary life, from the need for freedom to the wheel of fortune, from the nature of God to the ambiguities of betrayal. Extremely lucid and l |
| kolakowski marxism: The Alienation of Reason Leszek Kołakowski, 1968 |
| kolakowski marxism: Ethics and Perplexity Javier Muguerza, 2004 Dialogical reason requires dialogue among the members of a community. Thinkers like Habermas and Apel have proposed that judgments of both fact and value become objects of public debate. The debate should determine whether these judgments can earn the assent of the community. If so, they attain a degree of intersubjective validity. Javier Muguerza's Ethics and Perplexity makes a highly original contribution to the debate over dialogical reason. The work opens with a letter that establishes a parallel between Ethics and Perplexity and Maimonides's classic Guide of the Perplexed. It concludes with an interview that repeatedly strikes sparks on Spanish philosophy's emergence from its long quarantine, as Muguerza puts it. These informal pieces--witty, informative, conversational--orbit the nucleus of the work: a formidable critique of dialogical reason. The result is a volume by turns vivid and profound. Muguerza insists that the experience of perplexity is inseparable from the exercise of philosophy. Perplexity is linked to aporia and wonder, which the ancients identified as the origin of their activity. The only solidarity among philosophers is that of searching, and philosophy is hardly more than a set of questions unceasingly posed and posed again, of forever open problems, of perplexities that assail us over and over again. Perplexity avoids both the certainty of dogmatism and the ignorance of skepticism. In fact, it is the only philosophical ailment capable of immunizing us against both. Philosophy is always a guide to the perplexed. The series Philosophy in Spain, founded to bring Spanish philosophy to the attention of English-speaking philosophers, seeks outstanding works by classic and contemporary Spanish thinkers as well as books on Spanish philosophy. |
| kolakowski marxism: Main Currents of Marxism Leszek Kolakowski, 2007-12-25 Leszek Kolakowski’s masterpiece, one of the twentieth century’s most important books—for the first time in a one-volume paperback. Renowned philosopher Leszek Kolakowski was one of the first scholars to reveal both the shortcomings and the dangers posed by communist regimes. He now presents, for the first time in one paperback volume, his definitive Main Currents of Marxism: “A prophetic work,” according to the Library of Congress, that provides “the most lucid and comprehensive history of the origins, structure, and posthumous development of the system of thought that had the greatest impact on the 20th century.” |
| kolakowski marxism: The Anglo-Marxists Edwin A. Roberts, 1997 In this book, Edwin Roberts provides a comparative intellectual history of the development of Marxist theory in Great Britian, concentrating on the years between the Great Depression and the Cold War. Roberts argues that during this period there developed among university-educated intellectuals a distinctively Anglicized form of Marxist theory that prefigured the analytical Marxism so prominent in the English-speaking world today. Roberts' important book explores this school_a precursor to contemporary analytical Marxism_examining key figures such as Haldane and Bernal and providing readers with a compelling argument for the significance of Anglo-Marxism in the tradition of Marxist thought. |
| kolakowski marxism: Marxism’s Ethical Thinkers L. Wilde, 2016-01-20 In Marxism's uneasy relationship with ethics a small number of prominent theorists considered it imperative to highlight the moral principles implicit in Marx's social theory and to develop these ethics in the light of changing conditions. They developed a humanistic Marxism in stark contrast to the crude 'end justifies the means' approach of Stalinism. This collection brings together analyses by leading scholars on those thinkers who made significant contributions to ethical thinking within the Marxist tradition - Kautsky, Bloch, Fromm, Marcuse, Lefebvre, Macpherson and Heller. |
| kolakowski marxism: Existentialism Versus Marxism George Novack, 1966 There is an increasing division between Existentialism and Marxism, despite Jean-Paul Sartre's attempts to bridge these two influential philosophies of the twentieth century. The chief difference lies in the rational and irrational conceptions of the nature of the universe and of society. The expression of this condition has become vehement and widespread, as is indicated in Existentialism versus Marxism. Included in this original and rich anthology are such classical figures as Nietzsche, Marx, and Engels, and such modern thinkers as Sartre, Camus, Marcuse, Lukacs, Schaff, et al. The editors illuminating introduction sets up the battle lines clearly, enabling the reader to understand the meaning and engage in the excitement of the confrontation. |
| kolakowski marxism: Western Marxism Fouad Sabry, 2024-08-14 Explore the intricate world of Western Marxism in the Political Science series. This book delves into the evolution and impact of critical theories in Western societies, providing deep insights into contemporary political thought and social movements. Whether you're a professional, student, or curious reader, Western Marxism elevates your understanding of complex ideas. 1: Western Marxism - Introduces the origins and key principles distinguishing Western Marxism from its Eastern counterpart. 2: Louis Althusser - Analyzes Althusser's contributions, focusing on structuralism and ideology. 3: Critique of Dialectical Reason - Examines Sartre's work on dialectics and historical materialism in Western discourse. 4: Karl Korsch - Investigates Korsch's revisionist theories and their influence on Western thought. 5: Praxis - Explores praxis as a crucial element in Western Marxist thought, linking theory and practice. 6: Raya Dunayevskaya - Surveys Dunayevskaya's contributions to Marxist humanism and reinterpretations of Marx. 7: Marxist aesthetics - Examines Marxism's influence on Western artistic movements and cultural criticism. 8: 20th-century French philosophy - Traces Marxism's impact on French philosophers like Foucault and Derrida. 9: Marxist schools of thought - Maps out diverse interpretations within Western Marxism. 10: For Marx - Revisits Althusser's work and its implications for understanding Marx. 11: Philosophy in the Soviet Union - Analyzes Marxist philosophy's evolution in the Soviet context. 12: Main Currents of Marxism - Traverses key intellectual currents within Western Marxism. 13: Marxist humanism - Explores the humanist dimensions of Western Marxist thought. 14: Young Marx - Examines Marx's early writings and their influence on Western Marxism. 15: Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 - Analyzes Marx's early explorations of alienation and labor. 16: Marxist philosophy - Synthesizes diverse strands of Western Marxist philosophy. 17: György Lukács - Investigates Lukács's contributions to Western Marxism, focusing on reification and class consciousness. 18: Orthodox Marxism - Examines orthodox Marxism's foundational tenets and their adaptations in Western thought. 19: Dialectical materialism - Explores dialectical materialism in Western Marxism, contrasting historical interpretations. 20: History and Class Consciousness - Revisits Lukács's work on ideology, consciousness, and revolutionary praxis. 21: Outline of Marxism - Provides an overview of key Marxist principles in Western contexts. Western Marxism offers essential insights and validations across critical theories, making it a must-have for any library or curriculum. This intellectual journey is key to understanding contemporary political and social dynamics. |
| kolakowski marxism: Communism Ferdinand Mount, 1993-04 From the overthrow of the tsars until the sudden collapse of Soviet communism, the most influential Western analysts have reflected on and debated the rise and fall of communism in the pages of the TLS. The diverse opinions gathered in Communism: A TLS Companion reflect the succession of Western attitudes to the birth, growth, and death of communism. Contributors to this volume include Isaac Deutscher, Eric Hobsbawm, Richard Pipes, Hugh Seton-Watson, Robert Conquest, Geoffrey Hosking, C. M. Woodhouse, Max Hayward, Leszek Kolakowski, Timothy Garton Ash, and many others of equal distinction. The volume is arranged in four sections covering the period leading to the Russian Revolution, the post-Revolution era of Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin; the Soviet Union from World War II to 1968; and the final period of disillusionment and collapse. |
| kolakowski marxism: Marxism and Beyond Leopold Łabędź, 1968 |
| kolakowski marxism: Rational Choice Marxism T. Carver, P. Thomas, 2016-07-27 To begin with, rational choice Marxism, promised to construct historical explanations and social theories with clarity and rigour. Subsequently, it took a `political turn' in addressing issues of class and production, and the prospects for electoral socialism. This anthology commences with the founding classics - Erik Olin Wright's `What is Analytical Marxism?' and Alan Carling's spirited challenge to the Marxist establishment - which are answered with critical responses detailed by Ellen Meiksins Wood and Michael Burawoy in previously uncollected debates. Also included are further debates charting the historical progression of rational choice Marxism. The editors demonstrate that the clarity and rigour originally promised by the rational choice Marxists was never in fact achieved, but that rational choice Marxism has considerably enhanced the theoretical treatment of class and production in a world of commodification and difference. |
| kolakowski marxism: The Problem with Work Kathi Weeks, 2011-09-09 The Problem with Work develops a Marxist feminist critique of the structures and ethics of work, as well as a perspective for imagining a life no longer subordinated to them. |
| kolakowski marxism: The Political Economy of Marx (2nd Edition) Michael Charles Howard, 1988-09 This edition of The political economy of Marx, Second edition is published by arrangement with Longman Group UK Limited--T.p. verso. |
| kolakowski marxism: Marxism & Scientific Socialism Paul Thomas, 2008-04-24 Engels declared at Marx’s funeral in Highgate Cemetery that just as Darwin discovered the law of development of organic nature, so Marx discovered the law of development of human history. Scientific socialism was the term Engels used to describe Marx's socio-economic philosophy and many later theorists sought to reinforce Marxist theory with a supposedly scientific basis. This book explains the development of the idea of scientific socialism through the 19th and 20th century from its origins in Engels to its last manifestation in the work of Althusser. It provides a detailed analysis of Engel's own conceptualisation, the impact of Darwin, the relationship to the 'official' historical materialism of the Soviet states and later reformulations by Althusser and others. In so doing it provides a vivid intellectual history of Marxist and socialist thought, exploring its significant insights as well its manifest failures. Marxism and Scientific Socialism will be of particular interest to those with an interest in the development of Marxism and socialism, political ideologies and the history of Western political thought. |
| kolakowski marxism: The Key to Heaven Leszek Kołakowski, 1972 |
| kolakowski marxism: Reminiscences of Lenin Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya, 2004-10-01 The reminiscences in this volume cover the period 1894 to 1917. Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya (1869-1939) was the wife of V. I. Lenin, was an old member of the Communist Party, a Soviet statesman and a distinguished educator. She was born in St. Petersburg, where she began her revolutionary career. Krupskaya is the author of a number of books on questions of education and pedagogics. Her Reminiscences of Lenin were written over a number of years and published in parts at different times. The present volume is the most complete of all her reminiscences of Lenin hitherto published. |
| kolakowski marxism: Mainlining Marx John Stanley, In recent years a host of Western Marxists have tried to emancipate Marx from responsibility for various unsavory doctrines. Political theorists have argued that Marx can avoid the weight of Stalinism and also the various theories, such as positivism, naturalism, Darwinism, technological determinism and the dialectics of nature that support Marxism. In the course of building up their defense of Marx, these modern critics have developed an elaborate but often confusing rationale whose premise consists of attributing many of the nefarious tendencies of Marxism to Engels, particularly the latter's philosophy of nature. In Mainlining Marx, John L. Stanley sets Marx's view of nature back in its proper perspective. Stanley challenges the new orthodoxy of prominent Marxist scholars who see a fundamental dichotomy between Marx and Engels with the latter believing in cosmic superlaws and the former adhering to historically grounded ones. Stanley argues both Marx and Engels used historical and transhistorical laws at various times. He is highly critical of those who abstract theoretical principles out of texts Marx wrote with specific and historical political goals in mind. He takes issue, as well, with critics who posit a Marxian belief in communist as against natural needs, and further challenges the new orthodoxy in his analysis of Marx's dissertation, showing that from the beginning Marx's thought was grounded in materialist determinism. Supplementing the chapters on Marx and his critics, the volume concludes with an essay on Georges Sorel's approach to textual analysis and interpretation, showing how Sorel, far in advance of his time realized the impossibility of completely objective analysis and the inevitable distortion of the subject under study. Throughout this volume, Stanley's critical approach utilizes Sorel's illuminating insights to point out the distortions in modern Marxian analysis. Challenging and original, Mainlining Marx is a major contribution to the study of Marxism. It will be read by economists, political scientists, and intellectual historians. John L. Stanley (1937-1998) was professor of political science at the University of California at Riverside. He was the author of The Sociology of Virtue: The Political and Social Theories of Georges Sorel and the translator and editor of The Illusions of Progress by Georges Sorel, and From Georges Sorel: Essays in Socialism and Philosophy. |
| kolakowski marxism: Bergson Leszek Kołakowski, 2001 Kolakowski shows how Henri Bergson sought to reconcile Darwin's theory with his own beliefs about the nature of the universe. Bergson believed that time could be thought of in two different ways: as an abstract measuring device used for practical purposes, or as duree, the real time we actually experience. He also held that all matter is propelled by an internal elan vital, or life-drive, and that the life of the universe is constantly creative and unpredictable. On the basis of these ideas he constructed a system of thought that embraced his views on memory, matter, consciousness, movement, religious morality, and the nature of laughter. His pantheistic and dynamic vision of the universe, which emerged at a time of crisis in Western intellectual life, was symptomatic of the struggle between a rigid scientific determinism and the Christian tradition of a divine creation. |
| kolakowski marxism: Year 1966 Katarzyna Chmielewska, Tomasz Żukowski, 2025-05-30 Year 1966 analyzes the breakthrough moment in the culture of the Polish People’s Republic when revolutionary social and cultural changes slowed down in the mid-1960s, leading to a turn toward the idea of a nation as a field of ideological dispute between different social actors. The book explores the question of what happened in Polish culture at that time: how social ties were defined, where sources of legitimization of power for the new order were sought beyond the slogans of the revolution (equality, advancement, or prosperity), how historical politics participated in this process, the fate of the great emancipation projects of the 1950s such as emancipation of women or equality for ethnic minorities, and how the meanings of the related narratives changed. It also shows how all important actors (the diverse power camp, the emerging opposition, the Church) participated in this process, adapted their own narratives, and built a new understanding of society, social ties, history, and collective identity, with effects that would weigh heavily on the democratic transformations of the 1990s. This volume is intended for researchers interested in the history and culture of Poland, communist Central and Eastern Europe, memory studies, cultural and literary history, social history, and sociology. |
| kolakowski marxism: Problems of Communism , 1965 |
| kolakowski marxism: Time and Revolution Stephen E. Hanson, 1997-01-01 Stephen Hanson traces the influence of the Marxist conception of time in Soviet politics from Lenin to Gorbachev. He argues that the history of Marxism and Leninism reveals an unsuccessful revolutionary effort to reorder the human relationship with time a |
| kolakowski marxism: A Short History Of Soviet Socialism Mark Sandle, 2003-09-16 Mark Sandle is Lecturer in Russian and East European History at De Montfort University.; This book is intended for undergraduate courses on 20th century Soviet history/the Cold War/European history/Soviet studies/History of political thought/Marxism-Leninism. The Left. |
| kolakowski marxism: Frankfurt School Fouad Sabry, 2024-08-20 Dive into the intellectual crucible of the Frankfurt School and discover why its critical theories remain pivotal in today's social and political landscapes. This book is not just an exploration but an essential journey through the foundational ideas that have shaped modern thought. 1-Frankfurt School-Origins and evolution of the Frankfurt School, from early 20th-century Germany to its global impact. 2-Outline of Critical Theory-Core principles of critical theory, critiquing societal norms and structures. 3-Max Horkheimer-Max Horkheimer's role in shaping critical theory and the Frankfurt School. 4-Theodor W. Adorno-Theodor Adorno's critique of modern culture and the culture industry. 5-Culture Industry-Analysis of the culture industry’s role in mass media, consumer culture, and societal manipulation. 6-Dialectic of Enlightenment-Adorno and Horkheimer’s critique of rationality and modern enlightenment's tensions. 7-Herbert Marcuse-Herbert Marcuse's radical critique of advanced industrial society and influence on social movements. 8-Critical Theory-The Frankfurt School's interdisciplinary approach to power, ideology, and emancipation. 9-Marxist Philosophy-Intersection of Frankfurt School critical theory and Marxist philosophy in challenging capitalism. 10-Western Marxism-Evolution of Western Marxism through the Frankfurt School, focusing on culture and ideology. 11-Jürgen Habermas-Jürgen Habermas's contributions to critical theory and communicative rationality. 12-List of works in critical theory-Comprehensive list of key texts in critical theory for further research. 13-Communicative action-Habermas's theory of communicative action and its impact on democratic discourse. 14-Freudo-Marxism-Intersection of Freudian psychoanalysis and Marxian theory within the Frankfurt School. 15-The Philosophical Discourse of Modernity-Habermas's examination of modernity and its philosophical implications. 16-Main Currents of Marxism-The Frankfurt School's contributions to the evolution of Marxist thought. 17-Reification (Marxism)-Concept of reification in Marxist theory, critiquing alienation and commodification. 18-History and Class Consciousness-Georg Lukács's work on history and class consciousness in revolutionary theory. 19-Marx's method-Marx's methodological approach within the Frankfurt School's broader framework. 20-Outline of Marxism-Overview of Marxist theory’s core tenets within critical theory. 21-Marxist cultural analysis-Frankfurt School's Marxist cultural analysis, focusing on power, hegemony, and resistance. This book is a vital resource for professionals, students, and enthusiasts seeking to deepen their understanding of the Frankfurt School's enduring relevance. Each offers a nuanced perspective, inviting readers to engage critically with complex ideas that resonate in contemporary discourse. Embrace the transformative power of knowledge and discover why exploring the Frankfurt School is an investment in understanding our world today. |
Leszek Kołakowski - Wikipedia
Leszek Kołakowski (/ ˌ k ɒ l ə ˈ k ɒ f s k i /; Polish: [ˈlɛʂɛk kɔwaˈkɔfskʲi]; 23 October 1927 – 17 July 2009) was a Polish philosopher and historian of ideas.He is best known for his critical analysis …
Leszek Kolakowski | Polish Philosopher & Marxist Historian ...
Leszek Kolakowski was a Polish philosopher and historian of philosophy who became one of Marxism’s greatest intellectual critics. Kolakowski was educated privately and in the …
Jester and Priest: On Leszek Kolakowski - The Nation
Sep 4, 2013 · Kolakowski the faithful Marxist would have found much to satirize in John Paul II’s repressive intolerance, but instead the reluctant fundamentalist mocked the pope’s Western …
Leszek Kolakowski: Scholar and Activist - Library of Congress
Kolakowski had by then become one of Poland's leading revisionist Marxists. His publication of "What Is Socialism?"—a short, incisive critique of Stalinism—was banned in Poland but …
Settling scores with God: Leszek Kolakowski at the End of ...
Jun 21, 2023 · Kolakowski built a polyphonic reputation: as a fervent Stalinist and one of Stalinism’s leading critics; as an anti-clerical atheist and a conservative Catholic; as a …
Remembering Leszek Kolakowski, 1927-2009 by Paul Hollander
Jul 22, 2009 · Kolakowski's life, divided as it was between communist Poland and the West helped him to avoid the peculiar blend of moral relativism and moral absolutism that …
Leszek Kolakowski - Library of Congress
Jul 17, 2009 · Out of deep scholarship and relentless inquiry, Leszek Kolakowski made clear from within the Soviet system the intellectual bankruptcy of the Marxist ideology and the necessity …
Robert Kolakowski Obituary (2010) - Jersey City, NJ - The ...
Aug 9, 2010 · ROBERT K. KOLAKOWSKI BAYONNE Robert K. (Bob) Kolakowski, 55, of Bayonne, passed away on Friday, August 6, 2010, at the Bayonne Medical Center with his …
Leszek Kolakowski, 1927 – 2009 – CERC
Leszek Kolakowski’s philosophical project was a long, rigorous, deeply humane protest against that kind of spiritual vandalism. Kolakowski knew that European civilization was built on the …
Leszek Kolakowski, renowned philosopher, 1927-2009
Jul 21, 2009 · Leszek Kolakowski, renowned philosopher, 1927-2009 Jul 21, 2009 Leszek Kołakowski, Professor Emeritus on the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought and in …
Leszek Kołakowski - Wikipedia
Leszek Kołakowski (/ ˌ k ɒ l ə ˈ k ɒ f s k i /; Polish: [ˈlɛʂɛk kɔwaˈkɔfskʲi]; 23 October 1927 – 17 July 2009) was a Polish philosopher and historian of ideas.He is best known for his critical analysis of …
Leszek Kolakowski | Polish Philosopher & Marxist Historian ...
Leszek Kolakowski was a Polish philosopher and historian of philosophy who became one of Marxism’s greatest intellectual critics. Kolakowski was educated privately and in the underground …
Jester and Priest: On Leszek Kolakowski - The Nation
Sep 4, 2013 · Kolakowski the faithful Marxist would have found much to satirize in John Paul II’s repressive intolerance, but instead the reluctant fundamentalist mocked the pope’s Western …
Leszek Kolakowski: Scholar and Activist - Library of Congress
Kolakowski had by then become one of Poland's leading revisionist Marxists. His publication of "What Is Socialism?"—a short, incisive critique of Stalinism—was banned in Poland but circulated …
Settling scores with God: Leszek Kolakowski at the End of ...
Jun 21, 2023 · Kolakowski built a polyphonic reputation: as a fervent Stalinist and one of Stalinism’s leading critics; as an anti-clerical atheist and a conservative Catholic; as a passionate defender of …
Remembering Leszek Kolakowski, 1927-2009 by Paul Hollander
Jul 22, 2009 · Kolakowski's life, divided as it was between communist Poland and the West helped him to avoid the peculiar blend of moral relativism and moral absolutism that characterizes the …
Leszek Kolakowski - Library of Congress
Jul 17, 2009 · Out of deep scholarship and relentless inquiry, Leszek Kolakowski made clear from within the Soviet system the intellectual bankruptcy of the Marxist ideology and the necessity of …
Robert Kolakowski Obituary (2010) - Jersey City, NJ - The ...
Aug 9, 2010 · ROBERT K. KOLAKOWSKI BAYONNE Robert K. (Bob) Kolakowski, 55, of Bayonne, passed away on Friday, August 6, 2010, at the Bayonne Medical Center with his loving family at …
Leszek Kolakowski, 1927 – 2009 – CERC
Leszek Kolakowski’s philosophical project was a long, rigorous, deeply humane protest against that kind of spiritual vandalism. Kolakowski knew that European civilization was built on the …
Leszek Kolakowski, renowned philosopher, 1927-2009
Jul 21, 2009 · Leszek Kolakowski, renowned philosopher, 1927-2009 Jul 21, 2009 Leszek Kołakowski, Professor Emeritus on the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought and in …
