Humanism and Socialism

by George Edward Novack

The relationship between humanism -- the rational, secular expression of the ideals of the democratic revolution -- and scientific socialism.Index, Annotation

159 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1973

Reviews

[Marc Lichtman]

The relationship between humanism—the rational, secular expression of the ideals of the democratic revolution—and scientific socialism.

“Explains the relationship between humanism and Marxist historical materialism…from a labor theory of mankind's origins to the necessity of revolutionary socialism.” —Research Book News

"This volume by George Novack (1905-1992), a leader of the Socialist Workers Party (US), explains the relationship between humanism and Marxist historical materialism over the course of eight chapters that progress from a labor theory of mankind's origins to the necessity of revolutionary socialism. The essays consider the problem of the origins of humanity; the emergence of society, speech, and thought; the role of creative practice in human life; the reality of social progress; the question of freedom; competing ideological claims to humanism; the necessary conditions for a genuine socialist humanism; and the revolutionary socialist view of the meaning of human existence. This is a paperbound edition of a work first published in 1973." (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Also recommend Labor, Nature, and the Evolution of Humanity: The Long View of History, Understanding History: Marxist Essays, and all of George Novack.

[Jay Rothermel]

Reading any book by Novack is a breath of fresh air and diamond clarity.

In 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘮 & 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 (1973), George Novack provides a Marxist defense of humanism, arguing that true human fulfillment can only be realized through the socialist transformation of society. He traces the evolution of humanity from its biological origins to the potential for a future free from alienation.

full review:

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