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Re: [OPE-L] Albritton



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At 06:07 26/03/2006, jerry wrote:
Hi Mike L,

> Characteristically, rather than examining my evidence and reasoning,
> Albritton declares this to be 'theory as wish-fulfillment and not a theory
> as rigorous analysis of capitalism' and proceeds to erupt in Althusserian
> outrage over 'humanism' and 'essentialism'. There's no surprise here---
> the Uno-Sekine conception of pure capitalism at its very core rejects any
> suggestion that capitalism contains the seeds of its own destruction; its
> purpose is to present capitalism 'as if it were a
self-perpetuating entity'
> (Uno, 1980: 125).

I don't really grasp the connection (wedding) that you are trying to make
between Uno-theory and Althusserian theory -- as  condensed in your
referring to Rob Albritton as "Rob Althusser."

what a hilarious slip!

You lost me: when and where have Althusserians advanced a "conception of pure capitalism" as if capitalism was a "self-perpetuating entity"? Shouldn't Althusser's conception of overdetermination and antagonism towards "Hegelianisms" tell us that Uno-theory (in which basic theory is separated from stages theory) and Althusserian theory are quite distinct?

sorry, Jerry (and all)--- the points may be clearest by looking at rob's review and my response. It's Rob who combines Uno-Sekine theory (not the only variant of Uno-theory) and Althusser. By citing the text of my response (for lack of time to do otherwise) I introduced this confusing matter rather than staying with my substantive point which is that a response to Rob's critique of Chris (and me) should begin by recognising that he starts not from Capital but from Uno-Sekine. Incidently, I should stress that, despite our obvious theoretical differences, Rob and I are friends and have both worked on the Havana Marx conferences. in solidarity, michael


In solidarity, Jerry

Michael A. Lebowitz Professor Emeritus Economics Department Simon Fraser University Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6

Currently based in Venezuela. Can be reached at
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(58-212) 573-4111
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