On the Supposed Break in Marx

An interpretative point popularized by Louis Althusser is that Marx's early philosophical and political writings should not be viewed as connected or contributing to his later historical materialism. However, Althusser's standpoint of a "break" in Marx cannot be correct. An analy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science & society (New York. 1936) 2014-10, Vol.78 (4), p.454-483
Main Author: HOROWITZ, MORGAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alienation
Althusser, Louis
Balibar, Etienne (1942- )
Bourgeois
Civil society
Commitment
Communism
Consciousness
Democracy
Dialectics
Epistemology
Government and politics
Historical Materialism
Historicity
Humanity
Ideology
Labor
Marx, Karl
Marxism
Materialism
Philosophy
Political economy
Political factors
Political ideologies
Politics
Private property
Religion
Scholarship
Science
Social Relations
Society
Theory
Writing
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Summary:An interpretative point popularized by Louis Althusser is that Marx's early philosophical and political writings should not be viewed as connected or contributing to his later historical materialism. However, Althusser's standpoint of a "break" in Marx cannot be correct. An analysis of Marx's early works reveals continuity with and development to commitments and problems that are familiar in Marx's later writings. Certain political, democratic commitments are inherent to the development of Marx's project, and a normative standpoint is not thereby transcended. Marx's use of a political democratic idea, consideration of our species-being potential, as well as his critique of social relations in regard to alienation, lead to an articulation of and commitment to communism.
ISSN:0036-8237
1943-2801
DOI:10.1521/siso.2014.78.4.454