Diverse Perspectives on Marxist Philosophy: East and West

by Sara Luther, John J Neumaier, Howard Parsons

Overview

In the first dialogue of its kind after the abandonment of communism in Eastern Europe, philosophers from Russia, Hungary, Canada, and the United States engage in a timely and searching exchange of views. In a critical examination of Marxism's theory and practice, they ask: What in it was true and relevant to human progress? What are its successes, limitations, and failures? How can it be improved?

This volume brings together scholars from Russia, Hungary, Canada, and the United States to analyze and discuss the past, present, and future status of Marxist philosophy. Their contributions take on special significance in light of the changes in the economies and governments of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and the displacement of Marxism as the official state philosophy.

The essays examine questions fundamental to Marxist philosophy: the hegemonic and post-hegemonic role of Marxism in social movements; the creative presence of Marxism in the history of philosophy and thought; its successes and the causes of its failures in theory and practice; the pathways of correction; the need to broaden Marxism by making use of Western concepts; and many other critical questions that must be raised to understand the ongoing development of Marxist thought. Essential reading for all scholars and researchers concerned with the place of Marxism in history and thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313293962
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/16/1995
Series:	Contributions in Philosophy , #53
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.44(d)
Lexile:	1460L (what's this?)

About the Author

SARA F. LUTHER is a former Minnesota state legislator. Her writings include The United States and the Direct Broadcast Satellite (1988).

JOHN J. NEUMAIER is a former president of Moorhead State University and of the State University of New York College at New Paltz. He is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Social Theory, State University of New York Empire State College.

HOWARD L. PARSONS is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Bridgeport. He has published extensively on Marxist thought and religion.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Post-hegemonic Marxism by Frank Cunningham
Marxism in Philosophy—Philosophy in Marxism by András Gedö
Is Marxism Guilty? by Mily N. Gretsky
The Concept of Democracy in "Reunified" German Philosophy: A Survey of German Academic Opinion by Dorothy Spektorov McClellan and James E. McClellan, Jr.
"Official Marxism" Has Failed in Russia, What Will Follow? by Vladimir N. Shevchenko
Social Conflict: An Integration of Russian Marxism and Western Sociology by Anatoly Dmitriev
Humanism as the Highest Value in the Integrational Process between East and West: Historical Aspects and the Contemporary Situation by Anna Petrovna Sertsova and Grigorii Dmitrievich Karpov
Moral Content and Social Explanation: From the Perspective of Analytical Marxism by Robert Ware
Marxism and the Problem of Violence by T.I. Oizerman
Marxist Philosophy and the Society of the Future by Zaid Orudzhev
The Concept of Self under Capitalism and Marxism, and the Demands of the 21st Century by Howard L. Parsons
From a Thesis on Bertrand Russell to the Eleventh Thesis on Feuerbach: Philosophy as Biography by John J. Neumaier
Selected Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

A dozen papers presented by Russian, North American, and Hungarian scholars to an August 1993 conference in Moscow, muse on the state of Marxism after 70 years in government power in several countries, a few years in political and philosophical exile, and a century of relentless attacks by capitalists. Among the topics are democracy, social conflict, humanism, and the concept of the self. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews