,! ,FATE ( ,M>XISM 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CORNELIUS ,CA/ORIADIS 

,TEXT 3 

,NOTE FROM ,M>XI/S ,9T]NET ,>*IVE 

,BETWE5 #aifa & #aife ,SOCIALISME \ ,B>B>IE PUBLI%$ 79 ITS ISSUES #c#f-#d7 AN IMPORTANT >TICLE BY ,PAUL ,C>DAN 5TITL$ ,M>XISME ET ,!ORIE ,REVOLUTIONNAIRE4 ,P>T ,I DEALT ) '! HI/ORICAL FATE ( M>XISM & ! NOTION ( OR?ODOXY' & ?IS PAMPHLET IS BAS$ ON ?AT SECTION4 ,P>T ,I,I W5T ON TO DISCUSS '! M>XI/ !ORY ( HI/ORY'4 ,WE PUBLI%$ IT UND] ! TITLE ,HI/ORY & ,REVOLUTION 9 ,AUGU/ #a#i#g#a4 ,FUR!R SECTIONS1 NOT YET TRANSLAT$1 DEAL ) '! M>XI/ PHILOSOPHY ( HI/ORY'1 '! TWO ELEM5TS 9 M>XISM & :AT HI/ORICALLY BECAME ( !M'1 '! BALANCE %EET'1 & '! NATURE ( REVOLUTION>Y !ORY'4 

,! PRES5T TEXT FIR/ APPE>$ 9 ,SOLID>ITY 7,LONDON7 VOL4 ,I,V1 NO4 #c 7,AUGU/ #a#i#f#f74 ,A LAT] REPR9T WAS PRODUC$ BY ,SOLID>ITY 7,CLYDESIDE74 

,DIGITALIZ$ BY ,= ,WORK]S' ,P[] ON ,JANU>Y #b#c1 #b#a#a4 ,M>K$-UP BY ,JONAS ,HOLMGR5 = ! ,M>XI/S ,9T]NET ,>*IVE4 

,:I* ,M>XISM8 

,= ANYONE S]I\SLY CONC]N$ ) ! SOCIAL QUE/ION1 AN 5C\NT] ) M>XISM IS BO? IMM$IATE & 9EVITABLE4 ,IT IS PROBABLY EV5 WRONG TO USE ! WORD '5C\NT]'1 9 ?AT SU* A T]M CONVEYS BO? SOME?+ EXT]NAL TO ! OBS]V] & SOME?+ ?AT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPP54 ,M>XISM TODAY HAS CEAS$ TO BE SOME P>TICUL> !ORY OR SOME P>TICUL> POLITICAL PROGRAM ADVOCAT$ BY ?IS OR ?AT GR\P4 ,IT HAS DEEPLY P]MEAT$ \R LANGUAGE1 \R IDEAS & ! V]Y REALITY >\ND US4 ,IT HAS BECOME P>T ( ! AIR WE BREA! 9 COM+ 9TO ! SOCIAL WORLD4 ,IT IS P>T ( ! HI/ORICAL L&SCAPE 9 ! BACKGR\NDS ( \R COM+S & GO+S4 

,= ?IS V]Y REASON TO SPEAK ( M>XISM HAS BECOME ONE ( ! MO/ DIFFICULT TASKS IMAG9ABLE4 ,WE >E 9VOLV$ 9 ! SUBJECT MATT] 9 A HUNDR$ DIFF]5T WAYS4 ,MOREOV] ?IS ,M>XISM1 9 REALIZ+ ITSELF1 HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO P9 D[N4 ,= ) :I* M>XISM %\LD WE DEAL8 ,) ! M>XISM ( ,KHRUS*EV OR ) ! M>XISM ( ,MAO ,TSE ,TUNG8 ,) ! M>XISM ( ,TOGLIATTI OR ) ?AT ( ,?OREZ8 ,) ! M>XISM ( ,CA/RO1 ( ! ,YUGOSLAVS1 OR ( ! ,POLI% REVISIONI/S8 ,OR %\LD ONE P]HAPS DEAL ) ! M>XISM ( ! ,TROTSKYI/S 7AL?\< H]E TOO ! CLAIMS ( GEOGRAPHY REASS]T !MSELVES3 ,BRITI% & ,FR5* TROTSKYI/S1 TROTSKYI/S 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES & TROTSKYI/S 9 ,LAT9 ,AM]ICA TE> ONE ANO!R TO PIECES1 MUTUALLY D5\NC+ ONE ANO!R AS NON M>XI/74 ,OR %\LD ONE DEAL ) ! ,M>XISM ( ! ,BORDI<I/S OR ( ! ,S,P,G,B1 ( ,RAYA ,DUNAYEVSKAYA OR ( ,C,L,R ,JAMES1 OR ( ?IS OR ?AT ( ! /ILL SMALL] GR\P ( ! EXTREME 'LEFT'8 ,AS ,I WELL KN[N EA* ( !SE GR\PS D5\NCES ALL O!RS AS BETRAY+ ! SPIRIT ( 'TRUE' M>XISM :I* IT ALONE APP>5TLY EMBODIES4 ,A SURVEY ( ! :OLE FIELD WILL IMM$IATELY %[ ?AT !RE IS NOT ONLY ! ABYSS SEP>AT+ '(FICIAL' FROM 'OPPOSITIONAL' M>XISMS4 ,!RE IS ALSO ! VA/ MULTIPLICITY ( BO? '(FICIAL' & 'OPPOSITIONAL' V>IETIES EA* SEE+ ITSELF AS EXCLUD+ ALL O!RS4 

,!RE IS NO SIMPLE Y>D/ICK BY :I* ?IS COMPLEX SITUATION C\LD BE SIMPLIFI$4 ,!RE IS NO 'TE/ ( EV5TS :I* SPEAKS = ITSELF'4 ,BO? ! M>XI/ POLITICIAN 5JOY+ ! FRUITS ( (FICE ! M>XI/ POLITICAL PRISON] F9D !MSELVES SPECIFIC SOCIAL CIRCUM/ANCES1 & 9 !MSELVES !SE CIRCUM/ANCES CONF] NO P>TICUL> VALID TO ! P>TICUL> VIEWS ( ?OSE :O EXP\ND !M4 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 P>TICUL> CIRCUM/ANCES MAKES IT ESS5TIAL C>EFULLY TO 9T]PRET :AT V>I\S SPOKESM5 = M>XISM SAY4 ,CONSECRATION 9 P[] GIVES NO MORE VALIDITY TO :AT A MAN SAYS ?AN DOES ! HALO ( ! M>TYR OR IRRECONCILABLE OPPON5T4 ,= DOES NOT M>XISM ITSELF TEA* US TO VIEW ) SUSPICION BO? :AT EMANATES FROM 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ AU?ORITY & :AT EMANATES FROM OPPOSITIONS ?AT P]PETUALLY FAIL TO GET EV5 A TOE HOLD 9 HI/ORICAL REALITY8 

,A ,RETURN ,TO ,! ,S\RCES 

,! SOLUTION TO ?IS DILEMMA CANNOT BE PURELY & SIMPLY A 'RETURN TO ,M>X'4 ,:AT W\LD SU* A RETURN IMPLY8 ,FIR/LY IT W\LD SEE NO MORE1 9 ! DEVELOPM5T ( IDEAS & ACTIONS 9 ! LA/ EI<TY YE>S1 & 9 P>TICUL> 9 ! DEVELOPM5T ( SOCIAL DEMOCRACY1 L59ISM1 /AL9ISM1 TROTSKYISM1 ETC1 ?ANN LAY] UPON LAY] ( DISFIGUR+ SCABS COV]+ A HEAL?Y BODY ( 9TACT DOCTR9E4 ,?IS W\LD BE MO/ UNHI/ORICAL4 

,IT IS NOT ONLY ?AT ,M>X'S DOCTR9E IS F> FROM HAV+ ! SY/EMATIC SIMPLICITY & LOGICAL CONSI/5CY ?AT C]TA9 PEOPLE W\LD LIKE TO ATTRIBUTE TO IT4 ,NOR IS IT ?AT SU* A 'RETURN TO ! S\RCES' W\LD NECESS>ILY HAVE SOME?+ ACADEMIC AB\T IT 7AT BE/ IT C\LD ONLY CORRECTLY REE/ABLI% ! !ORETICAL CONT5T ( A DOCTR9E BELONG+ TO ! PA/ - AS ONE MI<T ATTEMPT TO DO1 SAY1 = ! WRIT+S ( ,DESC>TES OR ,/4 ,?OMAS ,AQU9AS74 ,SU* AN 5DEAVOR C\LD LEAVE ! MA9 PROBLEM UNSOLV$1 NAMELY ?AT ( DISCOV]+ ! SIGNIFICANCE ( ,M>XISM = CONTEMPOR>Y HI/ORY & = ?OSE ( US :O LIVE 9 ! WORLD ( TODAY4 

,! MA9 REASON :Y A 'RETURN TO ,M>X' IS IMPOSSIBLE IS ?AT UND] ! PRETEXT ( FAI?FULNESS TO ,M>X - & 9 ORD] TO A*IEVE ?IS FAI?FULNESS - SU* A 'RETURN' W\LD HAVE TO />T BY VIOLAT+ ONE ( ! ESS5TIAL PR9CIPLES 5UNCIAT$ BY ,M>X HIMSELF4 ,M>X WAS1 9 FACT1 ! FIR/ TO /RESS ?AT ! SIGNIFICANCE ( A !ORY CANNOT BE GRASP$ 9DEP5D5TLY ( ! HI/ORICAL & SOCIAL PRACTICE :I* IT 9SPIRES & 9ITIATES1 TO :I* IT GIVES RISE1 9 :I* IT PROLONGS ITSELF & UND] COV] ( :I* A GIV5 PRACTICE SEEKS TO JU/IFY ITSELF4 

,:O1 TODAY1 W\LD D>E PROCLAIM ?AT ! ONLY SIGNIFICANCE ( ,*RI/IANITY = HI/ORY IS TO BE F\ND 9 READ+ UNALT]$ V]SIONS ( ! ,GOSPELS OR ?AT ! HI/ORICAL PRACTICE ( V>I\S ,*UR*ES OV] P]IOD ( SOME #b1 YE>S CAN TEA* US NO?+ FUNDAM5TAL AB\T ! SIGNIFICANCE ( ?IS RELIGI\S MOVEM5T8 ,A 'FAI?FULNESS TO ,M>X' :I* W\LD SEE ! HI/ORICAL FATE ( M>XISM AS SOME?+ UNIMPORTANT W\LD BE JU/ AS LAU<ABLE4 ,IT W\LD 9 FACT BE QUITE RIDICUL\S4 ,:]EAS = ! ,*RI/IAN ! REVELATIONS ( ! ,GOSPELS HAVE A TRANSC5D5TAL & AN 9TEMPORAL VALIDITY1 NO !ORY C\LD EV] HAVE SU* QUALITIES 9 ! EYES ( A M>XI/4 ,TO SEEK TO DISCOV] ! MEAN+ ( M>XISM ONLY 9 :AT ,M>X WROTE 7:ILE KEEP+ QUIET AB\T :AT ! DOCTR9E HAS BECOME 9 HI/ORY7 IS TO PRET5D - 9 FLAGRANT CONTRADICTION ) ! C5TRAL IDEAS ( ?AT DOCTR9E - ?AT REAL HI/ORY DOESN'T C\NT & ?AT ! TRU? ( A !ORY IS ALWAYS & EXCLUSIVELY TO BE F\ND 'FUR!R ON'4 ,IT F9ALLY COMES TO REPLAC+ REVOLUTION BY REVELATION & ! UND]/&+ ( EV5TS BY ! EXEGESIS ( TEXTS4 

,ALL ?IS W\LD BE BAD 5\<4 ,BUT !RE IS WORSE4 ,! 9SI/5CE ?AT A REVOLUTION>Y !ORY BE CONFRONT$1 AT ALL /AGES1 BY HI/ORICAL REALITY.<#a.> IS EXPLICITLY PROCLAIM$ 9 ,M>X'S WRIT+S4 ,IT IS 9 FACT P>T ( ! DEEPE/ MEAN+ ( ,M>XISM4 ,M>X'S M>XISM DID NOT SEEK TO BE - & C\LD NOT BE - JU/ ONE !ORY AMONG O!RS4 ,IT DID NOT SEEK TO HIDE ITS HI/ORICAL ROOTS OR TO DISSOCIATE ITSELF FROM ITS HI/ORICAL REP]CUSSIONS4 ,M>XISM WAS TO PROVIDE ! WEAPONS NOT ONLY = 9T]PRET+ ! WORLD BUT = *ANG+ IT4.<#b.> ,! FULLE/ MEAN+ ( ! !ORY WAS1 ACCORD+ TO ! !ORY ITSELF1 ?AT IT GAVE RISE TO & 9SPIR$ A REVOLUTION>Y PRACTICE4 ,?OSE :O1 SEEK+ TO EXCULPATE M>XI/ !ORY1 PROCLAIM ?AT NONE ( ! HI/ORICAL PRACTICES :I* = #a YE>S HAVE CLAIM$ TO BASE !MSELVES ON M>XISM >E 'REALLY' BAS$ ON M>XISM1 >E 9 FACT R$UC+ M>XISM TO ! /ATUS ( A M]E !ORY1 TO ! /ATUS ( A !ORY JU/ LIKE ANY O!R4 ,!Y >E SUBMITT+ M>XISM TO AN IRREVOCABLE JUDGM5T4 ,!Y >E 9 FACT SUBMITT+ IT1 QUITE LIT]ALLY1 TO A ',LA/ ,JUDGM5T'4 ,= DID NOT ,M>X ?OR\<LY ACCEPT ,HEGEL'S GREAT IDEA3 ',WELTGES*I*TE I/ ,WELTG]I*T'4.<#c.> 

,M>XISM ,AS ,IDEOLOGY 

,LET US LOOK AT :AT HAPP5$ 9 REAL LIFE4 ,9 C]TA9 /AGES ( MOD]N HI/ORY A PRACTICE 9SPIR$ BY M>XISM HAS BE5 G5U9ELY REVOLUTION>Y4 ,BUT 9 MORE REC5T PHASES ( HI/ORY IT HAS BE5 QUITE ! OPPOSITE4 ,& :ILE !SE TWO PH5OM5A NE$ 9T]PRET+ 7& WE WILL RETURN TO !M7 !Y UND\BT$LY PO9T TO ! FUNDAM5TAL AMBIVAL5CE ( M>XISM4 ,IT IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE ?AT 9 HI/ORY1 AS 9 POLITICS1 ! PRES5T WEI<S F> MORE ?AN ! PA/4 ,& = US1 ! PRES5T CAN BE SUMM$ UP 9 ! /ATEM5T ?AT = ! LA/ #d YE>S ,M>XISM HAS BECOME AN IDEOLOGY 9 ! FULL MEAN+ ?AT ,M>X HIMSELF ATTRIBUT$ TO ?IS WORD4 ,IT HAS BECOME A SY/EM ( IDEAS :I* RELATE TO REALITY NOT 9 ORD] TO CL>IFY IT & TO TRANS=M IT1 BUT ON ! CONTR>Y 9 ORD] TO MASK IT & TO JU/IFY IT 9 ! AB/RACT4 

,IT HAS BECOME A MEANS ( ALL[+ PEOPLE TO SAY ONE ?+ & TO DO ANO!R1 TO APPE> O!R ?AN !Y >E4 

,9 ?IS S5SE M>XISM FIR/ BECAME IDEOLOGY :5 IT BECAME ,E/ABLI%M5T DOGMA 9 C\NTRIES P>ADOXICALLY CALL$ 'SOCIALI/'4 ,9 !SE C\NTRIES 'M>XISM' IS 9VOK$ BY GOV]NM5TS :I* QUITE OBVI\SLY DO NOT 9C>NATE WORK+ CLASS P[] & :I* >E NO MORE CONTROLL$ BY ! WORK+ CLASS ?AN IS ANY B\RGEOIS GOV]NM5T4 ,9 !SE C\NTRIES 'M>XISM' IS REPRES5T$ BY 'LEAD]S ( G5IUS' - :OM !IR SUCCESSORS CALL 'CRIM9AL LUNATICS' )\T MORE ADO4 ',M>XISM' IS PROCLAIM$ ! IDEOLOGICAL BASIS ( ,TITO'S POLICIES & ( ?OSE ( ! ,ALBANIANS1 ( ,RUSSIAN POLICIES & ( ?OSE ( ! ,*9ESE4 ,9 !SE C\NTRIES M>XISM HAS BECOME :AT ,M>X CALL$ ! 'SOLEMN COMPLEM5T ( JU/IFICATION'4 ,IT P]MITS ! COMPULSORY TEA*+ ( ',/ATE & ,REVOLUTION' TO /UD5TS1 :ILE MA9TA9+ ! MO/ OPPRESSIVE & RIGID /ATE /RUCTURES KN[N TO HI/ORY4 ,IT 5ABLES A SELF-P]PETUAT+ & PRIVILEG$ BUREAUCRACY TO TAKE REFUGE BEH9D TALK ( ! 'COLLECTIVE [N]%IP ( ! MEANS ( PRODUCTION' & ( 'ABOLITION ( ! PR(IT MOTIVE'4 

,BUT M>XISM HAS ALSO BECOME IDEOLOGY 9 SO F> AS IT REPRES5TS ! DOCTR9E ( ! NUM]\S SECTS1 PROLIF]AT+ ON ! DECOMPOS+ BODY ( ! '(FICIAL' M>XI/ MOVEM5T4 ,= US ! WORD SECT IS NOT A T]M ( ABUSE4 ,IT HAS A PRECISE SOCIOLOGICAL & HI/ORICAL MEAN+4 ,A SMALL GR\P IS NOT NECESS>ILY A SECT4 ,M>X & ,5GELS DID NOT CON/ITUTE A SECT1 EV5 :5 !Y W]E MO/ ISOLAT$4 ,A SECT IS A GR\P :I* BL[S UP 9TO AN ABSOLUTE A S+LE SIDE1 ASPECT OR PHASE ( ! MOVEM5T FROM :I* IT DEVELOP$1 MAKES ( ?IS ! T\*/ONE ( ! TRU? ( ITS DOCTR9E 7OR ( ! TRU?1 FULL /OP71 SUBORD9ATES EV]Y?+ ELSE TO ?IS 'TRU?' & 9 ORD] TO REMA9 'FAI?FUL' TO IT IS QUITE PREP>$ TOTALLY TO SEP>ATE ITSELF FROM ! REAL WORLD & H5CE=? TO LIVE 9 A WORLD ( ITS [N4 ,! 9VOCATION ( M>XISM BY ! SECTS ALL[S !M TO ?9K ( !MSELVES & TO PRES5T !MSELVES AS SOME?+ O!R ?AN :AT !Y >E1 NAMELY AS ! FUTURE REVOLUTION>Y P>TY ( ?AT V]Y PROLET>IAT 9 :I* !Y NEV] SUCCE$ 9 IMPLANT+ !MSELVES4 

,F9ALLY M>XISM HAS BECOME IDEOLOGY 9 YET ANO!R S5SE4 ,= SEV]AL DECADES N[ IT HAS CEAS$ TO BE A LIV+ !ORY4 ,ONE C\LD SE>* ! POLITICAL LIT]ATURE ( ! LA/ #c YE>S 9 VA9 EV5 TO DISCOV] FRUITFUL APPLICATIONS ( ! !ORY1 LET ALONE ATTEMPTS TO EXT5D IT OR TO DEEP5 IT4 

,WE DON'T D\BT ?AT :AT WE >E N[ SAY+ WILL PROVOKE 9DIGNANT PROTE/S AMONG ?OSE :O1 :ILE PR(ESS+ TO 'DEF5D ,M>X'1 DAILY BURY HIS CORPSE A LITTLE DEEP] UND] ! ?ICK LAY]S ( !IR DI/ORTIONS & /UPIDITIES4 ,WE DON'T C>E4 ,?IS IS NO P]SONAL QU>REL4 ,9 ANALYZ+ ! HI/ORICAL FATE ( M>XISM WE >E NOT IMPLY+ ?AT ,M>X HAD ANY K9D ( MORAL RESPONSIBILITY = :AT HAPP5$4 ,IT IS M>XISM ITSELF1 9 :AT WAS BE/ & MO/ REVOLUTION>Y 9 IT1 NAMELY ITS PITYLESS D5\NCIATION ( HOLL[ PHRASES & IDEOLOGIES & ITS 9SI/5CE ON P]MAN5T SELF-CRITICISM1 :I* COMPELS US TO TAKE /OCK ( :AT M>XISM HAS BECOME 9 REAL LIFE4 

,IT IS NO LONG] POSSIBLE TO MA9TA9 OR TO R$ISCOV] SOME K9D ( 'M>XI/ OR?ODOXY'4 ,IT CAN'T BE DONE 9 ! LUDICR\S 7& LUDICR\SLY L9K$7 WAY 9 :I* ! TASK IS ATTEMPT$ BY ! HI< PRIE/S ( /AL9ISM & BY ! SECT>IAN H]MITS1 :O SEE M>XI/ DOCTR9E :I* !Y PRESUME 9TACT1 BUT 'AM5D'1 'IMPROVE' OR 'BR+ UP TO DATE' ON ?IS OR ?AT SPECIFIC PO9T1 AT !IR CONV5I5CE4 ,NOR CAN IT BE DONE 9 ! DRAMATIC & ULTIMATI/IC WAY SUGGE/$ BY ,TROTSKY 9 #a#i#d.<#d.> :O SAID1 MORE OR LESS3 ',WE KN[ ?AT M>XISM IS AN IMP]FECT !ORY L9K$ TO A GIV5 P]IOD ( HI/ORY4 ,WE KN[ ?AT !ORETICAL ELABORATION %\LD CONT9UE4 ,BUT TODAY1 ! REVOLUTION BE+ ON ! AG5DA1 ?IS TASK WILL HAVE TO WAIT'4 ,?IS >GUM5T IS CONCEIVABLE - AL?\< SUP]FLU\S - ON ! EVE ( AN >M$ 9SURRECTION4 ,UTT]$ A QU>T] ( A C5TURY LAT] IT CAN ONLY S]VE TO MASK ! 9]TIA & /]ILITY ( ! TROTSKYI/ MOVEM5T1 S9CE ! DEA? ( IT'S F\ND]4 

,A ,M>XI/ ',ME?OD'8 

,SOME WILL AGREE ) US SO F>1 BUT WILL SEEK F9AL REFUGE 9 ! DEF5SE ( A 'M>XI/ ME?OD' ALLEG$LY UNAFFECT$ BY :AT WE HAVE JU/ DISCUSS$4 ,IT IS NOT POSSIBLE1 H[EV]1 TO MA9TA9 'OR?ODOXY' AS ,LUKACS ATTEMPT$ LONG BE=E !M 79 #aiai #a PRECISE71 BY LIMIT+ IT TO A M>XI/ ME?OD1 :I* C\LD SOMEH[ BE SEP>AT$ FROM ITS CONT5T & :I* C\LD SOMEH[ BE NEUTRAL 9 RELATION TO ITS CONT5T4.<#e.> 

,AL?\< A /EP =W>D 9 RELATION TO V>I\S K9DS ( 'OR?ODOX' CRET9ISM1 ,LUKACS' POSITION IS BASICALLY UNT5ABLE4 ,IT IS UNT5ABLE = A REASON :I* ,LUKACS =GETS1 DESPITE HIS FAMILI>ITY ) DIALECTICAL ?9K+1 NAMELY ?AT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE1 EXCEPT IF ONE TAKES ! T]M 'ME?OD' AT ITS MO/ SUP]FICIAL LEVEL1 TO SEP>ATE A ME?OD FROM ITS CONT5T P>TICUL>LY :5 ONE IS DEAL+ ) HI/ORICAL & SOCIAL !ORY4 

,A ME?OD1 9 ! PHILOSOPHICAL S5SE1 IS DEF9$ BY ! SUM TOTAL ( ! CATEGORIES IT USES4 ,A RIGID DI/9CTION BETWE5 ME?OD & CONT5T ONLY BELONGS TO ! MORE NAIVE =MS ( TRANSC5D5TAL IDEALISM 7OR 'CRITICISM'74 ,9 ITS E>LY /AGES ?IS ME?OD ( ?\<T S\<T TO SEP>ATE & TO OPPOSE MATT] OR CONT5T 7:I* W]E 9F9ITE & UNDEF9$7 TO C]TA9 F9ITE OP]ATIVE CATEGORIES4 ,ACCORD+ TO ?IS P]MAN5T FLUX ( ! SUBJECT MATT] C\LD NOT ALT] ! BASIC CATEGORIES :I* W]E SE5 AS ! =M )\T :I* ! SUBJECT MATT] C\LD NOT BE GRASP$ OR COMPREH5D$4 

,BUT ?IS RIGID DI/9CTION BETWE5 MAT]IAL & CATEGORY IS ALREADY TRANSC5D$ 9 ! MORE ADVANC$ /AGES ( 'CRITICI/' ?\<T1 :5 IT COMES UND] ! 9FLU5CE ( DIALECTICAL ?\<T4 ,=M]LY ! PROBLEM >ISES3 H[ DO WE DET]M9E :I* IS ! APPROPRIATE ANALYTICAL CATEGORY = ?IS OR ?AT TYPE ( RAW MAT]IAL8 ,IF ! RAW C>RIES )9 ITSELF ! APPROPRIATE 'HALLM>K' ALL[+ IT TO BE PLAC$ 9 ?IS OR ?AT IT IS NOT JU/ 'AMORPH\S'2 & IF IT IS G5U9ELY AMORPH\S !N IT C\LD 9DIFF]5TLY BE 9 ONE CATEGORY OR 9 ANO!R & ! DI/9CTION BETWE5 TRUE & FALSE BREAKS D[N4 ,IT IS PRECISELY ?IS CONTRADICTION :I*1 AT SEV]AL TIMES 9 ! HI/ORY ( PHILOSOPHY1 HAS L$ FROM A 'CRITICI/' TYPE ( ?9K+ TO ?9K+ ( A DIALECTICAL TYPE4.<#f.> 

,?IS IS H[ ! QUE/ION IS POS$ AT ! LEVEL ( LOGIC4 ,:5 ONE CONSID]S ! GR[? ( KN[L$GE AS HI/ORY1 ONE SEES ?AT IT WAS (T5 ! 'DEVELOPM5T ( ! SUBJECT MATT]' ?AT L$ TO A REVISION ( ! PREVI\SLY ACCEPT$ CATEGORIES OR EV5 TO !IR BE+ EXPLOD$ & SUP]S$$4 ,! 'PHILOSOPHICAL' REVOLUTIONS PRODUC$ 9 MOD]N PHYSICS BY RELATIVITY !ORY OR BY QUANTUM !ORY >E JU/ TWO EXAMPLES AMONG MANY4.<#g.> 

,! IMPOSSIBILITY ( E/ABLI%+ A RIGID SEP>ATION BETWE5 ME?OD & CONT5T1 BETWE5 CATEGORIES & RAW MAT]IAL BECOMES EV5 MORE OBVI\S :5 ONE PASSES FROM KN[L$GE ( ! PHYSICAL WORLD TO UND]/&+ ( HI/ORY4 ,A DEEP] 9QUIRY 9TO ALREADY AVAILABLE MAT]IAL - OR ! DISCOV]Y ( NEW MAT]IAL - MAY LEAD TO A MODIFICATION ( ! CATEGORIES & !RE=E ( ! ME?OD4 ,BUT !RE IS1 9 ADDITION1 SOME?+ MU* MORE FUNDAM5TAL1 SOME?+ HI<LI<T$ PRECISELY BY ,M>X & BY ,LUKACS !MSELVES4.<#h.> ,?IS IS ! FACT ?AT ! CATEGORIES ?R\< :I* WE APPROA* & APPREH5D HI/ORY >E !MSELVES REAL PRODUCTS ( HI/ORICAL DEVELOPM5T4 ,!SE CATEGORIES CAN ONLY BECOME CLE> & EFFECTIVE ME?ODS ( HI/ORICAL KN[L$GE :5 !Y HAVE TO SOME EXT5T BECOME 9C>NAT$ OR FULFILL$ 9 REAL =MS ( SOCIAL LIFE4 

,LET US GIVE A SIMPLE EXAMPLE4 ,9 ! ?9K+ ( ! ANCI5T ,GREEKS ! DOM9ANT CATEGORIES DEF9+ SOCIAL RELATIONS & HI/ORY W]E ESS5TIALLY POLITICAL 7! P[] ( ! CITY1 RELATIONS BETWE5 CITIES1 RELATIONS BETWE5 'MI<T' & 'RI<T'1 ETC474 ,! ECONOMY ONLY RECEIV$ M>G9AL ATT5TION4 ,?IS WAS NOT BECAUSE ! 9TELLIG5CE OR 9SI<T ( ! ,GREEKS W]E LESS 'DEVELOP$' ?AN ?OSE ( MOD]N MAN4 ,NOR WAS IT BECAUSE !RE W]E NO ECONOMIC FACTS1 OR BECAUSE ECONOMIC FACTS W]E TOTALLY IGNOR$4 ,IT WAS BECAUSE 9 ! SOCIAL REALITY ( ?AT P>TICUL> EPO* ! ECONOMY HAD NOT YET BECOME A SEP>ATE1 AUTONOM\S FACTOR 7A FACTOR '= ITSELF' AS ,M>X W\LD SAY7 9 HUMAN DEVELOPM5T4 ,A SIGNIFICANT ANALYSIS ( ! ECONOMY & ( ITS IMPORTANCE = SOCIETY C\LD ONLY TAKE PLACE 9 ! #a#g? C5TURY & MORE P>TICUL>LY 9 ! #a#h? C5TURY4 ,IT C\LD ONLY TAKE PLACE 9 P>ALLEL ) ! REAL DEVELOPM5T ( CAPITALISM :I* MADE ( ! ECONOMY ! DOM9ANT ELEM5T 9 SOCIAL LIFE4 ,! C5TRAL IMPORTANCE ATTRIBUT$ BY ,M>X & ! M>XI/S TO ECONOMIC FACTORS IS BUT AN ASPECT ( ! UNFOLD+ ( ?IS HI/ORICAL REALITY4 

,IT IS !RE=E CLE> ?AT !RE CANNOT EXI/ A 'ME?OD' ( APPROA*+ HI/ORY1 :I* C\LD REMA9 IMMUNE FROM ! ACTUAL DEVELOPM5T ( HI/ORY4 ,?IS IS DUE TO REASONS F> MORE PR(\ND ?AN ! 'PROGRESS ( KN[L$GE' OR ?AN 'NEW DISCOV]IES' ETC4 ,IT IS DUE TO REASONS P]TA9+ DIRECTLY TO ! V]Y /RUCTURE ( HI/ORICAL KN[L$GE1 & FIR/ ( ALL TO ! /RUCTURE ( ITS OBJECT3 ! MODE ( BE+ ( HI/ORY4 ,:AT IS ! OBJECT WE >E TRY+ TO KN[ :5 WE /UDY HI/ORY8 ,:AT IS HI/ORY8 ,HI/ORY IS 9SEP>ABLE FROM MEAN+4 ,HI/ORICAL FACTS >E HI/ORICAL 7& NOT NATURAL1 OR BIOLOGICAL7 9ASMU* AS !Y >E 9T]WOV5 ) MEAN+ 7OR S5SE74 ,! DEVELOPM5T ( ! HI/ORICAL WORLD IS1 IPSO FACTO1 ! DEVELOPM5T ( A UNIV]SE ( MEAN+4 ,!RE=E1 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE RADICALLY TO SEP>ATE FACT FROM MEAN+ 7OR S5SE71 OR TO DRAW A %>P LOGICAL DI/9CTION BETWE5 ! CATEGORIES WE USE TO UND]/& ! HI/ORICAL MAT]IAL1 & ! MAT]IAL ITSELF4 ,&1 AS ?IS UNIV]SE ( MEAN+ PROVIDES ! 5VIRONM5T 9 :I* ! 'SUBJECT' ( ! HI/ORICAL KN[L$GE 7I4E4 ! /UD5T ( HI/ORY7 LIVES1 IT IS ALSO NECESS>ILY ! MEANS BY :I* HE GRASPS1 9 ! FIR/ 9/ANCE1 ! :OLE HI/ORICAL MAT]IAL4 ,NO EPO* CAN GRASP HI/ORY EXCEPT ?R\< ITS [N IDEAS AB\T HI/ORY2 BUT !SE IDEAS >E !MSELVES A PRODUCT ( HI/ORY & P>T & P>CEL ( ! HI/ORICAL MAT]IAL 7:I* WILL BE /UDI$ AS SU* BY ! NEXT EPO*74 ,PLA9LY SPEAK+ ! ME?OD ( ! BIOLOGI/ IS NOT A BIOLOGICAL PH5OM5ON2 BUT ! ME?OD ( ! HI/ORIAN IS A HI/ORICAL PH5OM5ON.<#i.>4 

,EV5 !SE COMM5TS HAVE H[EV] TO BE SE5 9 PROP] P]SPECTIVE4 ,!Y DON'T IMPLY ?AT AT EV]Y MOM5T1 EV]Y CATEGORY & EV]Y ME?OD >E ?R[N 9TO QUE/ION4 ,EV]Y ME?OD IS NOT TRANSC5D$ OR RU9$ BY ! DEVELOPM5T ( REAL HI/ORY AT ! V]Y 9/ANT IT IS BE+ UTILIZ$4 ,AT ANY GIV5 MOM5T1 IT IS ALWAYS A PRACTICAL QUE/ION ( KN[+ IF HI/ORICAL *ANGE HAS REA*$ A PO9T :]E ! OLD CATEGORIES & ! OLD ME?OD HAVE TO BE REASSESS$4 ,BUT ?IS JUDGM5T CANNOT BE MADE 9DEP5D5TLY ( A DISCUSSION ( ! CONT5T4 ,9 FACT SU* AN ASSESSM5T IS NO?+ O!R ?AN A DISCUSSION ON CONT5T :I*1 />T+ ) ! OLD CATEGORIES1 COMES TO %[1 ?R\< ITS DEAL+S ) ! RAW MAT]IAL ( HI/ORY1 ?AT ONE NE$S TO GO BEYOND A P>TICUL> SET ( CATEGORIES4 

,MANY WILL SAY3 'TO BE M>XI/ IS TO REMA9 FAI?FUL TO ,M>X'S ME?OD1 :I* REMA9S VALID'4 ,?IS IS TANTAM\NT TO SAY+ ?AT NO?+ HAS HAPP5$ 9 ! HI/ORY ( ! LA/ #a YE>S :I* EI!R P]MITS ONE OR *ALL5GES ONE TO QUE/ION ,M>X'S CATEGORIES4 ,IT IS TANTAM\NT TO IMPLY+ ?AT EV]Y?+ WILL =EV] BE UND]/OOD BY !SE CATEGORIES4 ,IT IS TO TAKE UP A POSITION 9 RELATION TO CONT5T & CATEGORIES1 TO HAVE A /ATIC1 NON-DIALECTICAL !ORY CONC]N+ ?IS RELATION%IP1 :ILE AT ! SAME TIME REFUS+ OP5LY TO ADMIT IT4 

,CONCLUSIONS 

,9 FACT1 IT IS PRECISELY ! DETAIL$ /UDY CONT5T ( REC5T HI/ORY :I* COMPELL$ US TO RECONSID] ! CATEGORIES - & !RE=E ! ME?OD ( M>XISM4 ,WE HAVE QUE/ION$ !SE CATEGORIES NOT ONLY 7OR NOT SO MU*7 BECAUSE ?IS OR ?AT P>TICUL> !ORY ( ,M>X - OR ( TRADITIONAL M>XISM - HAD BE5 PROV$ 'WRONG' 9 REAL LIFE1 BUT BECAUSE WE FELT ?AT HI/ORY AS WE W]E LIV+ IT C\LD NO LONG] BE GRASP$ ?R\< !SE TRADITIONAL CATEGORIES1 EI!R 9 !IR ORIG9AL =M.<#a.> OR AS 'AM5D$' OR '5L>G$' BY PO/-M>X M>XI/S4 ,! C\RSE ( HI/ORY1 WE FELT1 C\LD NEI!R BE GRASP$1 NOR *ANG$1 BY !SE ME?ODS4 

,\R REEXAM9ATION ( M>XISM DOES NOT TAKE PLACE 9 A VACUUM4 ,WE DON'T SPEAK FROM JU/ ANY:]E OR FROM NO:]E AT ALL4 ,WE />T$ FROM REVOLUTION>Y M>XISM4 ,BUT WE HAVE N[ REA*$ ! /AGE :]E A *OICE CONFRONTS US3 TO REMA9 M>XI/S OR TO REMA9 REVOLUTION>IES4 ,WE TO *OOSE BETWE5 FAI?FULNESS TO A DOCTR9E :I*1 = A CONSID]ABLE P]IOD N[1 HAS NO LONG] BE5 ANIMAT$ BY ANY NEW ?\<T OR ANY MEAN+FUL ACTION1 & FAI?FULNESS TO \R BASIC PURPOSE REVOLUTION>IES1 :I* IS A RADICAL & TOTAL =MATION ( SOCIETY4 

,SU* A RADICAL OBJECTIVE REQUIRES FIR/ ( ALL ?AT ONE %\LD UND]/& ?AT :I* ONE SEEKS TO TRANS=M4 ,IT REQUIRES ?AT ONE ID5TIFIES :AT ELEM5TS1 9 CONTEMPOR>Y SOCIETY1 G5U9E *ALL5GE ITS FUNDAM5TAL ASSUMPTIONS & >E 9 BASIC 7& NOT M]ELY SUP]FICIAL7 CONFLICT ) ITS PRES5T /RUCTURE4 ,BUT ONE MU/ GO FUR!R4 ,ME?OD IS NOT SEP>ABLE FROM CONT5T4 ,!IR UNITY1 NAMELY !ORY1 IS 9 ITS TURN NOT SEP>ABLE FROM ! REQUIREM5TS ( REVOLUTION>Y ACTION4 ,& ANYONE LOOK+ AT ! REAL WORLD1 MU/ CONCLUDE ?AT MEAN+FUL REVOLUTION>Y ACTION CAN NO LONG] BE GUID$ BY TRADITIONAL !ORY4 ,?IS HAS BE5 AMPLY DEMON/RAT$ = SEV]AL DECADES N[ BO? BY ! EXP]I5CE ( ! MASS P>TIES ( ! 'LEFT'1 & BY ! EXP]I5CE ( ! SECTS4 

,NOTES3 

.<#a.> ,BY 'HI/ORICAL REALITY' WE OBVI\SLY DON'T MEAN P>TICUL> EV5TS1 SEP>AT$ FROM ALL O!RS4 ,WE MEAN ! DOM9ANT T5D5CIES ( SOCIAL EVOLUTION1 AFT] ALL ! NECESS>Y 9T]PRETATIONS HAVE BE5 MADE4 

.<#b.> ,K4 ,M>X4 ,ELEV5? ,!SIS ON ,FEU]BA*4 

.<#c.> ',UNIV]SAL ,HI/ORY IS ! ,LA/ ,JUDGM5T'4 ,DESPITE ITS !OLOGICAL =M1 ?IS /ATEM5T1 EXPRESSES ONE ( ,HEGEL'S MO/ RADICALLY A!I/IC IDEAS4 ,IT MEANS ?AT !RE IS NO?+ TRANSC5D5TAL2 ?AT !RE IS NO APPEAL AGA9/ :AT HAPP5S H]E & N[4 ,WE >E1 DEF9ITIVELY1 :AT WE >E 9 ! PROCESS ( BECOM+1 :AT WE %ALL HAVE BECOME4 

.<#d.> ,9 HIS ',9 ,DEF5SE ( ,M>XISM'4 

.<#e.> ,SEE ! ESSAY ',:AT ,IS ,OR?ODOX ,M>XISM8' ,LUKACS' BOOK ',HI/ORY & ,CLASS ,CONSCI\SNESS4 ,AN ,5GLI% TRANSLATION ( ?IS ESSAY WAS REC5TLY PUBLI%$ BY ,9T]NATIONAL ,SOCIALISM1 ,NOS4 #bd & #be 77 ,C4 ,WRI<T ,MILLS ADOPTS A RA!R SIMIL> VIEWPO9T 9 HIS BOOK ,! ,M>XI/S4 

.<#f.> ,! CLASSICAL EXAMPLE ( SU* A TRANSITION IS ! PASSAGE FROM ,KANT TO ,HEGEL1 VIA ,FI*TE & ,S*ELL+4 ,BUT ! BASIC PATT]N CAN BE DISC]N$ 9 ! LAT] WORKS ( ,PLATO1 OR AMONG ! NEO-,KANTIANS1 FROM ,RICK]T TO ,LA/4 

.<#g.> ,IT IS OBVI\SLY NOT JU/ A QUE/ION ( TURN+ ?+S UPSIDE D[N4 ,NEI!R LOGICALLY NOR HI/ORICALLY HAVE ! CATEGORIES ( PHYSICS BE5 'SIMPLY A RESULT' 7& EV5 LESS 'SIMPLY A REFLECTION'7 ( ! SUBJECT MATT]4 ,A REVOLUTION 9 ! REALM ( CATEGORIES MAY ALL[ ONE TO GRASP RAW MAT]IAL :I* HI!RTO DEFI$ DEF9ITION 7AS HAPP5$ ) ,GALILEO74 ,MOREOV] ADVANCES 9 EXP]IM5TAL TE*NIQUE MAY AT TIMES 'COMPEL' NEW MAT]IAL TO APPE>4 ,!RE IS !RE=E A TWO-WAY RELATION%IP - BUT C]TA9LY NO 9DEP5D5CE - BETWE5 CATEGORIES & SUBJECT MATT]4 

.<#h.> ,SEE ,LUKACS ,! ,*ANG+ ,FUNCTION ( ,HI/ORICAL ,MAT]IALISM 7LOC4 CIT474 

.<#i.> ,!SE CONSID]ATIONS >E DEVELOP$ MORE ON P4 #b ET SEQ4 ( ! ,FR5* TEXT4 

.<#a.> ,9 ! PRES5T >TICLE WE CANNOT 5T] 9TO A DETAIL$ DISCUSSION AS TO :I* ( ! CONCEPTS ( CLASSICAL M>XISM HAVE TODAY TO BE DISC>D$ = A REAL GRASP ( ! NATURE ( ! MOD]N WORLD & ( ! MEANS ( *ANG+ IT4 ,! SUBJECT IS DISCUSS$ 9 DETAIL 9 AN >TICLE ,RECOMM5C] LA ,REVOLUTION 7PUBLI%$ 9 ,JANU>Y #aifd 9 ISSUE ,NO4#b#e ( ,SOCIALISME \ ,B>B>IE7 ( :I* WE HOPE TO PUBLI% EXTRACTS 9 =?COM+ ISSUES4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,FEBRU>Y #a1 #bba 3 ,! ,FATE ( ,M>XISM -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #g1 #bbb 3 ,! ,FATE ( ,M>XISM -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/