Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] Soviet philosophy preserved online
Ralph Dumain Though I think most of the productions of Soviet Marxism-Leninism should have been flushed down the toilet long before they were, and that the Soviet version of dialectical materialism has done a great deal of harm as has most else that came from that source, CB: You say this often, but you don't produce good arguments for it. You just assert it in a conclusory manner, usually with cuss words. Who cares that you think it should be flushed. You don't make even a minimum argument as to why . Comment I understand Ralph’s specific critique of the world and writings on dialectical materialism to be the “problem of emergence.” The “problem of emergence” or as it is called by some, “the dialectic of the leap” - emergence/transition, is a valid field of inquiry. In as much as his project involves years of dedication of preserving historical documents, apparently this “ preservation work” expresses a need or understanding to chronicle - preserve, history. The second criticism I understand Ralph to level is the dogmatic - schematic, presentation of the components of process logic - unraveling actuality, or lack of presentation of the dynamic of interactivity rather than causality; or the “flat” articulation of the dynamic relation between quantitative and qualitative definitions as the one interpenetrates and expresses itself through the other. The third criticism I understand Ralph to level is the standardization as mass production of the presentation mode characteristic of the Stalin regime. This mode of presentation is best presented in books like “History of the CPSU (B)” 1939; “Textbook of Marxist Philosophy” - 1936 and “Political Economy” (A Textbook issued by the Institute of Economics of the Academy off Sciences of the USSR), Moscow 1954. The final criticism of Sovietization of Marxism - as I understand the criticism, is its straight jacking into the political needs of the moment, which bends presentation to compliance with the political order. The most famous instance of this “bending to political compliance” was the Lysenko controversy. These are valid criticisms, as far as I am concerned. My tendency is to place all literature in the period it is produced and then compare it with the corresponding literature of the era. For instance, “ The Textbook of Marxist Philosophy’ - 1936, would be measured with all the books on Marxist philosophy written between say 1930 and 1940, rather than against writing on Marxist Philosophy produced in 1960 or August 2009. The purpose of such an approach is to weigh impact of the Textbook when produced. Writings on Marxist philosophy produced in say 1940, can be weighed as a response to the 1936 textbook. In my estimate the Soviet literature did more good than harm when placed in its proper historical context. Today, studying the 1936 Textbook as an entry point into materialist dialectics would present the reader with insurmountable obstacles. However, this was not the case in 1938 America. WL. ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
[Marxism-Thaxis] Soviet philosophy preserved online
Ralph Dumain Though I think most of the productions of Soviet Marxism-Leninism should have been flushed down the toilet long before they were, and that the Soviet version of dialectical materialism has done a great deal of harm as has most else that came from that source, CB: You say this often, but you don't produce good arguments for it. You just assert it in a conclusory manner, usually with cuss words. Who cares that you think it should be flushed. You don't make even a minimum argument as to why . Fine to organize on the www so extensively others' essays. What a nice service you do. But what is _your_ thinking, your theses on Marxism ? What is your thinking _at length_ ? ^ I am nonetheless dedicated to preserving unjustly forgotten and neglected work. ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
[Marxism-Thaxis] Soviet philosophy preserved online
Though I think most of the productions of Soviet Marxism-Leninism should have been flushed down the toilet long before they were, and that the Soviet version of dialectical materialism has done a great deal of harm as has most else that came from that source, I am nonetheless dedicated to preserving unjustly forgotten and neglected work. It seems that some of the Ilyenkov school and a few philosophers such as Lektorsky have survived beyond the demise of the USSR, but historical amnesia has already closed in on everything else. Soviet philosophy and dialectical materialism were always best at demystifying various manifestations of bourgeois philosophy, whether of positivist, Popperian, or irrationalist varieties, rather than constructing positive ideas of their own. (There are exceptions, though, in the USSR and other East European countries.) The main entry points into my contributions to such preservation are: http://www.autodidactproject.org/bib/ussrphil.htmlSalvaging Soviet Philosophy (1) and http://www.autodidactproject.org/bib/ussrph03.htmlSoviet Philosophy from Progress Publishers: Selected Bibliography, 1968-1990 (1) I'm going to expand this latter page, including the creation of a new section on aesthetics. Also, this page links to works on http://leninist.biz/en/taz.htmlleninist.biz, described below. In addition to my own efforts, and in many cases in conjunction with them, Robert Cymbala has, without compensation or support, undertaken the digitization of many works from Progress Publishers and other Soviet imprints. He could use some financial support, as well as more books in his bibliography to digitize. His site can be found at: http://leninist.biz/en/taz.htmlleninist.biz Books of interest recently added to this site include: http://leninist.biz/en/1988/PI292/The Problem of the Ideal by David Dubrovsky http://leninist.biz/en/1977/PU268/Philosophy in the USSR: Problems of Dialectical Materialism [several authors] http://leninist.biz/en/1985/EMT239/index.htmlEmotions, Myths and Theories by Victor G. Panov http://leninist.biz/en/1984/PP246/The Psychology of Phantasy: An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation into the Intrinsic Laws of Productive Mentality by I. Roset http://leninist.biz/en/1985/AU236/The American Utopia by Eduard Batalov http://leninist.biz/en/1975/PR246/index.htmlThe Philosophy of Revolt: Criticism of Left Radical Ideology by E. Batalov http://leninist.biz/en/1986/PTAG210/Political Thought of Ancient Greece by V.S. Nersesyants http://leninist.biz/en/1972/H306/index.htmlHumanism: Its Philosophical, Ethical and Sociological Aspects by M. Petrosyan http://leninist.biz/en/1983/CHP397/index.htmlCivilisation and the Historical Process [various authors] (1st 99 pp. only) http://leninist.biz/en/1977/PO343/index.htmlPhilosophy of Optimism: Current Problems by B.G. Kuznetsov (1st 99 pp. only) In addition, the entire volume of an historic work, in three PDF files, has been digitized: http://leninist.biz/en/1931/SCR236/Science at the Cross Roads; Papers Presented to the http://leninist.biz/en/1931/SCR236/[2nd] International Congress of the History of Science and Technology Held in London from June 20th to July 3rd, 1931 by the delegates of the U.S.S.Rhttp://leninist.biz/en/1931/SCR236/. Robert Cohen's http://www.autodidactproject.org/other/hessen-cohen.htmlIntroduction to The Social and Economic Roots of Newton's 'Principia' by Boris Hessen can be found on my web site. Excerpts from some of the other books can also be found on my web site. ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
