A Reconstruction of Historical Materialism
Jorge Larrain(Author)
Gregg Revivals (Publisher)
Published on 27. August 1992
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-0-7512-0048-5 (ISBN)
Description
The aim of this book is to justify the need for, and to carry out, a reconstruction of historical materialism. In advocating that historical materialism be viewed as a theory of practice, the author argues against the determinism of "orthodox" Marxism, but is nevertheless sensitive to the cleavages and disjunctures that are present in the works of Marx and Engels, and the need to resolve them. Traditionally, reconstruction has been presented in two different ways. First, as the introduction of rigour and scientificity into Marxism in order to show that structural factors which can be precisely defined are able fully to determine and explain social change and historical developments. Second, as an attempt to rescue Marxism from the rigidities of orthodox Soviet Marxism, in order to show that, although social change and history are structurally conditionsed, the result from human practices and class struggles that are not fully pre-ordained. After identifying some areas of tension in Marx's and Engels' thought, Jorge Larrain shows how the orthodox interpretation emerged, and how it has subsequently been defended.
He then offers and extensive critique of its tenets and proposes an alternative solution which alters some of the emphases and proportions laid down by Marx and Engels themselves. Scholars and students in sociology, politics and philosophy should find this book a clear discussion of the most relevant issues concerning historical materialism, and a cogent presentation of arguments in favour of reconstructing it as a theory of practice.
He then offers and extensive critique of its tenets and proposes an alternative solution which alters some of the emphases and proportions laid down by Marx and Engels themselves. Scholars and students in sociology, politics and philosophy should find this book a clear discussion of the most relevant issues concerning historical materialism, and a cogent presentation of arguments in favour of reconstructing it as a theory of practice.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
references, index
Dimensions
Height: 144 mm
Width: 221 mm
Weight
350 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7512-0048-5 (9780751200485)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
On reconstruction - the need for reconstruction; the meaning of reconstruction; the tensions in Marx and Engels's thought; the Orthodox interpretation - dialectics and dialectical materialism; consciousness as reflection; the primacy of productive forces; historical necessity; the critique of historical materialism - the problems of diamat; consciousness and superstructure; the content of productive forces; history as the growth of productive forces; some elements for the reconstruction of historical materialism - historical materialism and human practice; character and scope of historical materialism; practice and the resolution of tensions in Marx's thought; main tenets of reconstructed historical materialism.