(OPE-L) Re: On the Marxist theory of history

[gerald_a_levy <gerald_a_levy@xxxxxxx>]

Title: On the Marxist theory of history (dialectical but Euro

Re Rakesh's post Thursday, May 15:

 

Rakesh --  I found your post to be difficult reading. If I

read it correctly, I understand your main claims to be

that the 'Marxist theory of history' is Eurocentric,

supremacist and teleological and this has rendered it

incapable of comprehending the specific structural

characteristics of non-capitalist social formations and

their diversity.  This position needs to be drawn out more

by you, I think.

 

A couple of brief comments:

 

1) The Darwinian influence on Marx's conception of history

can be seen in his statement in the "Introduction" to the

_Grundrisse_ that "the anatomy of man is the key to the

anatomy of the ape."   This is objectionable for a variety

of reasons.  Not only is it a misleading analogy, but I think

it is both bad anatomy and bad history.  History can not

be simply "read backwards" in a kind of reverse Darwinian

sequence.  If you mean more specifically that one can't

comprehend the characteristics of individual ancient and/or non-

European societies only by way of reference to "modern

society" as it historically developed as capitalism in

Europe, then I agree with you. 

 

2) You suggest that there is a "suspect teleology" in the

Marxist philosophy of history to the extent that there are assertions

of an "inner drive for freedom" on the part of humanity.  I

think I agree with this as a criticism.  The concept of freedom,

like history itself, can not be "read backwards."  That is,

"freedom" as a concept historically developed  in

particular societies and it can not be legitimately be claimed

that all human societies historically have been "driven"

by this (relatively modern, culturally specific) goal.

 

In solidarity, Jerry