Marx, Aristotle and beyond : aspects of Aristotelianism in Marxist social ontology
Marx's debt to Aristotle has been noted, but inadequately. Usually commentators focus on the parallels between discrete ethical theories of both writers. However, for Marx, ethics is not a discrete field, but is founded on a conception of social ontology. This thesis links the two by showing that, precisely because of its Aristotelian roots, Marx's political economy of bourgeois society demands an ethical view arising from alienated labour. Marx conceives of bourgeois society as an organic whole. But this entails that is social matter can only exist potentially, and not fully setting up a tension that points to the eventual supercession of its social form. In this manner, Marx's Aristotelian hylomorphism provides the link between the early and the later Marx, between the critique of alienation and the mature works of political economy. This reading of Marx is facilitated by combining it with recent developments in philosophy. The works of HarrĂ©, Kripke and Wiggins, in particular have helped retrospectively to justify Marx's intuitive realism. Their contributions on explanation identity and sortals are applied in order to elucidate and justify his ontology. In the course of this, the problematic boundary between
Pike, Jonathan E.
B Philosophy (General) ; JC Political theory ; HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism
Marx, Aristotle and beyond : aspects of Aristotelianism in Marxist social ontology. Marx's debt to Aristotle has been noted, but inadequately. Usually commentators focus on the parallels between discrete ethical theories of both writers. However, for Marx, ethics is not a discrete field, but is founded on a conception of social ontology. This thesis links the two by showing that, precisely because of its Aristotelian roots, Marx's political economy of bourgeois society demands an ethical view arising from alienated labour. Marx conceives of bourgeois society as an organic whole. But this entails that is social matter can only exist potentially, and not fully setting up a tension that points to the eventual supercession of its social form. In this manner, Marx's Aristotelian hylomorphism provides the link between the early and the later Marx, between the critique of alienation and the mature works of political economy. This reading of Marx is facilitated by combining it with recent developments in philosophy. The works of HarrĂ©, Kripke and Wiggins, in particular have helped retrospectively to justify Marx's intuitive realism. Their contributions on explanation identity and sortals are applied in order to elucidate and justify his ontology. In the course of this, the problematic boundary between
marx aristotle beyond aspect aristotelianism marxist social ontology marx debt aristotle note inadequately usually commentator focus parallel discrete ethical_theory writer however marx ethic discrete field found conception social ontology link showing precisely aristotelian root marx political_economy bourgeois society demand ethical view arise alienate labour marx conceive bourgeois society organic whole entail social matter exist potentially fully set tension point eventual social form manner marx aristotelian hylomorphism provide link marx_critique alienation mature work political_economy read marx facilitate combine recent_development philosophy work kripke particular help justify marx intuitive realism contribution explanation identity apply order_elucidate justify ontology course problematic boundary