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Marx and the Marxists: The Ambiguous Legacy
2011 Reprint of 1955 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. In this work Sidney Hook, a distinguished scholar, examines the chief issues which have divided Marxists from non-Marxists, and Marxists from each other. This volume of exposition, comment and readings is offered as an introduction to the study of Marxism in conflicting theory and practice. A valuable collection of original source readings are provided, including "The Communist Manifesto", "Historical Materialism," "The Fetishism of Commodities," "Religion and Economics," and much more by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Kautsky, Trotsky and Luxemburg.
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
About the author
Sidney Hook
133 books24 followersSidney Hook was an American pragmatic philosopher known for his contributions to public debates. A student of John Dewey, Hook continued to examine the philosophy of history, of education, politics, and of ethics. He was known for his criticisms of totalitarianism (fascism and Marxism–Leninism). A pragmatic social democrat, Hook sometimes cooperated with conservatives, particularly in opposing communism. After WWII, he argued that members of conspiracies, like the Communist Party USA and other Leninist conspiracies, ethically could be barred from holding offices of public trust.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 19, 2013
This book could only have been published after the regency of the Drunk Duchess McCarthy; especially after Mr. Welch finally stood up to McCarthy and the HUAC and said, "Finally, Sir, have you NO decency?" Published in 1955, it is, as said by another reviewer, a very good first intro to the subject. The author was youthful Communist; he later became a pragmatic social-democrat. He deservedly heaps disdain on Lenin and Stalin, and sheds light on Socialists and Social Democrats I had never heard of: Bernstein, Jaures, and DeLeon.
The first part concentrates on important people, and the second part is a smattering of their writings. Not being trained in Poli Sci or Econ, some parts were understandable as they were read, but I will not be able to do a "File>Save" and repeat from memory. I will need to refer to this work again and again. That is a statement about ME and not the author's abilities. I was only curious about why there was no mention of Marshall Tito.
I'm glad I found this used copy of the 1955 edition. If you are at ALL interested in social democracy, try to read it. (I guess now I should try to tackle Prof. Richard Wolff....)
The first part concentrates on important people, and the second part is a smattering of their writings. Not being trained in Poli Sci or Econ, some parts were understandable as they were read, but I will not be able to do a "File>Save" and repeat from memory. I will need to refer to this work again and again. That is a statement about ME and not the author's abilities. I was only curious about why there was no mention of Marshall Tito.
I'm glad I found this used copy of the 1955 edition. If you are at ALL interested in social democracy, try to read it. (I guess now I should try to tackle Prof. Richard Wolff....)
July 15, 2024
الكتاب عبارة عن جزئين ، الجزأ الأول يتناول فيه اسهامات ماركس بلغة سهلة ثم قدم الكاتب بعد ذلك انتقادات للماركسية بعضها جيد جدا وبعضها متواضع كنقده للأيديولوجيا . بعد ذلك يعرض للماركسين من أول كاوتسكي لحد ستالين.
في الجزء الثاني يضع بعض النصوص المختارة
في الجزء الثاني يضع بعض النصوص المختارة
August 11, 2023
A CRITICAL (BUT NOT UNSYMPATHETIC) ANALYSIS, FOLLOWED BY READINGS
Philosopher Sidney Hook wrote in the Preface to this 1955 book, “This volume of exposition, comment, and readings is offered as an introduction to the study of the theory and practice of Marxism… I have sought only to lay before the reader the chief issues which have divided Marxists from non -Marxists and Marxists from each other. the development of Marxism as a movement has resulted in some peculiar paradoxes which make it difficult to retain traditional conceptual formulations. Where Marxism as a movement has triumphed, as in the Soviet Union, its socialist ideals have failed of have been betrayed; where it has failed as a movement, as in the West, its ideals have made considerable headway… Events of the last twenty-five years or so have shown how important a knowledge of the ideas and movements discussed in this book is to an intelligent appreciation of political affairs… The most a book of this kind can do is to arouse the interest of the reader to a point where he is curious to find out mor about the subject it treats.”
In the first chapter, he states, “Marx makes two claims which were to be of tremendous importance subsequently. The first is that ‘no social order ever perishes before all the productive forces for which there is room in it have developed.’ The second is that ‘new higher relations of production never appear before the material conditions of their existence [forces of production, skills, and techniques] have matured in the womb of the old society itself.’ These sentences stress the economic continuity of society and deny that society can stride from one stage of society to another without going through the intermediate stages of development.” (Pg. 25)
He notes, “Rigorous examination is one thing Marx’s ideas will not stand because they were not rigorously formulated. To do justice to his intent they must often be reinterpreted and qualified. They constitute a mixture of the true, the vague, and the false.” (Pg. 35)
He asserts, The psychology of Communist conspirators cannot be grasped without a knowledge of their ideology. They are not, at least at the beginning of their careers, criminally base, but inspired by a resolute fanaticism to do what thy imagine is the work of History. They care little for human life because they are prepared to sacrifice their own upon command. They are unmoved by human compassion because they regard it, like genuine pacifism, as a sign of weakness and hypocrisy. They are untouched by love of country because to them it seems an anachronism and because the Soviet Union is their true, and voluntarily chosen, country. They are rarely moved by argument and evidence because their hearts and minds are encased in the triple-plated dogmas of Marist-Leninist=Stalinism which enables their substitute for religious faith to triumph over experience. Initially drawn to Communism by a laudable desire to diminish social injustice and human distress, they soon become corrupted by the means they employ. Their capacity for total sacrifice wedded to their belief in total solutions is the source of both their intransigence and danger.” (Pg. 87)
He observes, “the kinship between Marxism and present-day Communism is not to be found on the plane of social philosophy but rather on the plane of historical doctrine. And here, as we have seen, a most paradoxical and ironical relationship exists. For despite their invocations of Marxism, the Communists have decisively refuted by their very actions the orthodox Marxist theory of social development and the more comprehensive theory of historical materialism of which it is a part.” (Pg. 123)
He says, “Whatever Marx’s valid contributions, they can be readily incorporated in contemporary scientific study of man and society. Socialism as a philosophy is more inclusive than the theories of Marx and Marxism. These were a set of doctrines about the conditions under which and the means by which socialism was to be introduced. Having abandoned many of these doctrines in the light of their consequences, socialism today as a current of thought claims to represent a fusion of the ideals of modern democracy and modern scientific intelligence.” (Pg. 125)
He concludes, “The last word in this continuing debate has not been spoken. Historical events of the new scientific age are sure to challenge the solutions which appeared adequate for earlier practical and theoretical problems. Each reader must therefore interpret the legacy of Marx and the Marxists for himself. Whether he rejects it, accepts it or modifies it, his decision cannot be wise unless it is informed. The sole aim of this study has been to aid him in making a wise decision.” (Pg. 130)
The last half of the book consists of readings by Marx, Engels, Kautsky, Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, and others.
This book (though almost seventy years old) is a useful summary of Marxist thought, as of 1955.
Philosopher Sidney Hook wrote in the Preface to this 1955 book, “This volume of exposition, comment, and readings is offered as an introduction to the study of the theory and practice of Marxism… I have sought only to lay before the reader the chief issues which have divided Marxists from non -Marxists and Marxists from each other. the development of Marxism as a movement has resulted in some peculiar paradoxes which make it difficult to retain traditional conceptual formulations. Where Marxism as a movement has triumphed, as in the Soviet Union, its socialist ideals have failed of have been betrayed; where it has failed as a movement, as in the West, its ideals have made considerable headway… Events of the last twenty-five years or so have shown how important a knowledge of the ideas and movements discussed in this book is to an intelligent appreciation of political affairs… The most a book of this kind can do is to arouse the interest of the reader to a point where he is curious to find out mor about the subject it treats.”
In the first chapter, he states, “Marx makes two claims which were to be of tremendous importance subsequently. The first is that ‘no social order ever perishes before all the productive forces for which there is room in it have developed.’ The second is that ‘new higher relations of production never appear before the material conditions of their existence [forces of production, skills, and techniques] have matured in the womb of the old society itself.’ These sentences stress the economic continuity of society and deny that society can stride from one stage of society to another without going through the intermediate stages of development.” (Pg. 25)
He notes, “Rigorous examination is one thing Marx’s ideas will not stand because they were not rigorously formulated. To do justice to his intent they must often be reinterpreted and qualified. They constitute a mixture of the true, the vague, and the false.” (Pg. 35)
He asserts, The psychology of Communist conspirators cannot be grasped without a knowledge of their ideology. They are not, at least at the beginning of their careers, criminally base, but inspired by a resolute fanaticism to do what thy imagine is the work of History. They care little for human life because they are prepared to sacrifice their own upon command. They are unmoved by human compassion because they regard it, like genuine pacifism, as a sign of weakness and hypocrisy. They are untouched by love of country because to them it seems an anachronism and because the Soviet Union is their true, and voluntarily chosen, country. They are rarely moved by argument and evidence because their hearts and minds are encased in the triple-plated dogmas of Marist-Leninist=Stalinism which enables their substitute for religious faith to triumph over experience. Initially drawn to Communism by a laudable desire to diminish social injustice and human distress, they soon become corrupted by the means they employ. Their capacity for total sacrifice wedded to their belief in total solutions is the source of both their intransigence and danger.” (Pg. 87)
He observes, “the kinship between Marxism and present-day Communism is not to be found on the plane of social philosophy but rather on the plane of historical doctrine. And here, as we have seen, a most paradoxical and ironical relationship exists. For despite their invocations of Marxism, the Communists have decisively refuted by their very actions the orthodox Marxist theory of social development and the more comprehensive theory of historical materialism of which it is a part.” (Pg. 123)
He says, “Whatever Marx’s valid contributions, they can be readily incorporated in contemporary scientific study of man and society. Socialism as a philosophy is more inclusive than the theories of Marx and Marxism. These were a set of doctrines about the conditions under which and the means by which socialism was to be introduced. Having abandoned many of these doctrines in the light of their consequences, socialism today as a current of thought claims to represent a fusion of the ideals of modern democracy and modern scientific intelligence.” (Pg. 125)
He concludes, “The last word in this continuing debate has not been spoken. Historical events of the new scientific age are sure to challenge the solutions which appeared adequate for earlier practical and theoretical problems. Each reader must therefore interpret the legacy of Marx and the Marxists for himself. Whether he rejects it, accepts it or modifies it, his decision cannot be wise unless it is informed. The sole aim of this study has been to aid him in making a wise decision.” (Pg. 130)
The last half of the book consists of readings by Marx, Engels, Kautsky, Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, and others.
This book (though almost seventy years old) is a useful summary of Marxist thought, as of 1955.
March 25, 2010
For a person interested in a "quick and dirty" introduction to a wide range of Marxist theorists, this book is a nice, accessible entry into that world.
Part I lays out, in Sidney Hook's words, key aspects of Marxist theory. The first segment focuses on Marx' contributions; the second part evaluates those contributions; part three considers what are called "Orthodix Marxists" (such as Kautsky and Plekhanov); the fourth part examines "revisionists" such as Bernstein; part five explores Lenin's work; Part 6 looks at Trotsky; part 8 is a consideration of Stalin; the ninth part summarizes some more recent Marxist work.
The second main section of the book provides excerpts from the various
thinkers, so that the reader can get a sense of their writing "first hand," in the theorists' own words.
Overall, an older work, but one that provides a straightforward introduction to many thinkers' work within the Marxist tradition.
Part I lays out, in Sidney Hook's words, key aspects of Marxist theory. The first segment focuses on Marx' contributions; the second part evaluates those contributions; part three considers what are called "Orthodix Marxists" (such as Kautsky and Plekhanov); the fourth part examines "revisionists" such as Bernstein; part five explores Lenin's work; Part 6 looks at Trotsky; part 8 is a consideration of Stalin; the ninth part summarizes some more recent Marxist work.
The second main section of the book provides excerpts from the various
thinkers, so that the reader can get a sense of their writing "first hand," in the theorists' own words.
Overall, an older work, but one that provides a straightforward introduction to many thinkers' work within the Marxist tradition.
June 28, 2008
an alright overview of different forms of Marxism with an over emphasis on Soviet style communism.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews