Marxism, philosophy and biology

[ScottH9999@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 5/21/02 12:57:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
jkschw@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> >ScottH9999@xxxxxxx wrote:
>  >
>  > >  I find it somewhat ironic that Michael should say that this theory
>  > > should have in turn influenced him and others in the area of political
>  > > economy. The question in my mind is why didn't Marxist philosophy have
a
>  > > more DIRECT influence here?
>  > >
>  >
>
>  Um, because Marxism is a  theory of society? In fact the main social
theory
>  that influenced biology, inspiring both Darwin  and (the socialist) Alfred
>  Russell Wallace, is Malthus.


Marxism is indeed a theory of society, and a theory of REVOLUTION (something
that many modern "Marxists" would like to forget). But it is also more than
both of these things. Marxism has long been the most introspective scientific
theory, which is to say, in part, that it has been very concerned to analyze
itself, to formalize, generalize and constantly reexamine the principles it
has developed, and so forth.

In other words, Marxism has also developed a characteristic philosophy. (For
Marxists traditionally, and for me, philosophy--properly speaking--is simply
the most GENERAL and ABSTRACT science.) This philosophy, in turn, has
applications well beyond that of human society, and extend to nature and the
world in general. It is thus no wonder that it might influence folks like
Steven Jay Gould in evolutionary biology.

--Scott Harrison