For Marx (Radical Thinkers) (Radical Thinkers)

A milestone in the development of post-war Marxist thought. This is the work in which Louis Althusser formulated some of his most influential ideas. For Marx , first published in France in 1968, has come to be regarded as the founding text of the school of “structuralist Marxism” which was presided over by the fascinating and enigmatic figure of Louis Althusser. Structuralism constituted an intellectual revolution in the 1960s and 1970s and radically transformed the way philosophy, political and social theory, history, science, and aesthetics were discussed and thought about. For Marx was a key contribution to that process and it fundamentally recast the way in which many people understood Marx and Marxism. This book contains the classic statements of Althusser's analysis of the young Marx and the importance of Feuerbach during this formative period, of his thesis of the “epistomological break” between the early and the late Marx, and of his conception of dialectics, contradiction and “overdetermination.” Also included is a study of the materialist theater of Bertolazzi and Brecht and the critique of humanist readings of Marxism. Since his death in 1990, Althusser's legacy has come under renewed examination and it is increasingly recognized that the influence of his ideas has been wider and deeper than previously thought: reading For Marx, in its audacity, originality and rigor, will explain why this impact was so significant. For Marx is a milestone in the development of Western Marxism since the Second World War. The book, first published in France in 1965, has come to be regarded as the founding text of the school of 'structuralist Marxism' which was presided over by the fascinating and enigmatic figure of Louis Althusser. Structuralism constituted an intellectual revolution in the 1960s and 1970s and radically transformed the way philosophy, political and social theory, history, science, and aesthetics were discussed and thought about. For Marx was a key contribution to that process and it fundamentally recast the way in which many people understood Marx and Marxism.'' ''This book contains the classic statements of Althusser's analysis of the young Marx and the importance of Feuerbach during this formative period, of his thesis of the 'epistemological break' between the early and the late Marx, and of his conception of dialectics, contradiction, and 'overdetermination'. Also included is a study of the materialist theatre of Bertolazzi and Brecht and the critique of humanist readings of Marxism. Since his death in 1990, Althusser's legacy has come under renewed examination and it is increasingly recognized that the influence of his ideas has been wider and deeper than previously thought: reading For Marx, in its audacity, originality and rigour, will explain why this impact was so significant. -- Back cover Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 2 Copyright......Page 3 Table of Contents......Page 4 To My English Readers......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 16 Introduction: Today......Page 18 1. Feuerbach's 'Philosophical Manifestoes'......Page 40 2. On the Young Marx......Page 48 3. Contradiction and Overdetermination......Page 86 4. The' Piccolo Teatro': Bertolazzi and Brecht......Page 128 5. The '1844 Manuscripts' of Karl Marx......Page 152 6. On the Materialist Dialectic......Page 160 7. Marxism and Humanism......Page 218 Glossary......Page 248 Index......Page 258 Cover 1 Title Page 2 Copyright 3 Table of Contents 4 Untitled 8 To My English Readers 8 Acknowledgements 16 Introduction: Today 18 1. Feuerbach's 'Philosophical Manifestoes' 40 2. On the Young Marx 48 3. Contradiction and Overdetermination 86 4. The' Piccolo Teatro': Bertolazzi and Brecht 128 5. The '1844 Manuscripts' of Karl Marx 152 6. On the Materialist Dialectic 160 7. Marxism and Humanism 218 Glossary 248 Index 258