Alan Woods on the History of Philosophy
In this talk, Alan Woods outlines the history of philosophical ideas, and how they have laid the basis for philosophy of Marxism – dialectical materialism.
Marxist theory is our sharpest weapon in the class struggle. Here, you can find our most recent theoretical articles. For historical articles, click here
You can also visit our education hub to find a selection of articles, books, talks and reading guides.
In this talk, Alan Woods outlines the history of philosophical ideas, and how they have laid the basis for philosophy of Marxism – dialectical materialism.
In this extract from Wellred’s upcoming title ‘The History of Philosophy: A Marxist Perspective’, Alan Woods explains why Marxists must study the history of philosophy, and the enormous debt that Marxism owes to earlier thinkers.
Our latest educational series ‘The ABCs of Marxist philosophy’ is available now on podcast and YouTube. This unique resource is perfect for anyone who’s looking to get stuck into Marxist theory. Start listening and watching today!
The latest title from Wellred Books, The History of Philosophy: A Marxist Perspective, is out soon. This book is vital reading for any revolutionary who wishes to arm themselves with clear philosophical ideas that can change the world.
Is there such a thing as good and evil? Who decides, and why? Why is there so much suffering and cruelty in our society, and how can we end this? Daniel Morley will discuss all of these questions in the final episode of the series.
The 2008 crash and coronavirus crisis have revived interest in the theories of J.M. Keynes, the liberal English economist. But a look at Keynes’ life and ideas show that he was no friend of the working class. We need socialism, not Keynesianism.
What is causation? Is the universe determined and predictable? And where does that leave humanity, with its notions of free will and moral responsibility? And how does this affect our role as revolutionaries?
Thought is inherently about generalisation and universals. It takes us beyond the immediacy of the here and now, and links things. This contradiction – between part and whole, individual and type – is at the heart of philosophy’s deepest problems.
How does matter move itself? How and why does development take place in nature? Daniel Morley will answer all of these questions in this week’s episode of the ABCs of Marxist philosophy.
Marxist logic is dialectical, not formal. That means its starting point is change and contradiction – all truths become untruths because all that exists will perish. But how do we use logic to understand change? How do things change?
Logic is usually seen as a dry, boring discipline suitable only for pedants. This is because it is traditionally seen as having no relation to the real world of objects, and is instead a self-contained system of rules for thought. Marxism completely rejects this formalism and seeks to find the basis for our logic in this real world.
In the third part of this series on Marxist philosophy, Daniel Morley talks about the Marxist view on human nature.