Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 12:03:32 -0500 (EST)
From: Louis N Proyect <lnp3-AT-columbia.edu>
Subject: Re: On Althusser


> 
> Scott:
> 
> Why is this economic determinism? If you say they are *only* the reflection
> of underlying economic relations I could see it. But your formulation
> implies that underlying economic *relations and structures* are just another
> in a list of factors - that belief to me would be decidedly undialectical
> and idealist. Surely economic relations, structures and the class struggle

Louis: Scott, as usual, makes good sense here. I would rather err on the 
side of economic determinism than the sort of leftist idealism that 
typifies New Leftists like Marcuse and his nephew Laclau. Robert Fitch, 
who used to be the editor of Mother Jones when it was a radical mag, once 
said that "vulgar Marxism" was sufficient to explain 98% of reality. I 
agree, and you are not going to find anybody much more vulgar than me.


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