Marx and Human Nature: Refutation of a Legend“Marx did not reject the idea of a human nature. He was right not to do so.” That is the conclusion of this passionate and polemical new work by Norman Geras. In it, he places the sixth of Marx’s Theses on Feuerbach under rigorous scrutiny. He argues that this ambiguous statement—widely cited as evidence that Marx broke with all conceptions of human nature in 1845—must be read in the context of Marx’s work as a whole. His later writings are informed by an idea of a specifically human nature that fulfills both explanatory and normative functions. The belief that Marx’s historical materialism entailed a denial of the conception of human nature is, Geras writes, “an old fixation, which the Althusserian influence in this matter has fed upon … Because this fixation still exists and is misguided, it is still necessary to challenge it.” One hundred years after Marx’s death, this timely essay—combining the strengths of analytical philosophy and classical Marxism—rediscovers a central part of his heritage. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abstraction affirm Althusser Althusser’s amongst argument assertion assumption biological Capital character of human claim common human concept of human construed context criticism denial deny dependence disclosed distinct Engels ensemble of social entity essay essence Eugene Kamenka evidence example existence explain fact Feuerbach formulation German Ideology historical materialism human characteristics human makeup human needs idea of human inherent intellectual interpretation intrinsic Karl Marx Karl Marx’s Theory labour labourpower language logical London Louis Althusser man’s nature manifested Marx’s sentence Marxism Marxists Materialism and Biology materialist mode of production nature is dissolved normative notion obviously passage physical possible precisely presupposes proposition Radical Philosophy Reading Capital reality the nature reasons reference reject the idea relations of production religion sense single individual sixth thesis social determinants social relations socialist society Soper sort speak specific Suchting textual theoretical theory of history things third sentence universal usage Wesen