File spoon-archives/marxism2.archive/marxism2_1996/96-10-21.210, message 118


Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 20:00:56 -0600 (MDT)
From: hans despain <HANS.DESPAIN-AT-m.cc.utah.edu>
Subject: Re: Marxist theory


When one says "[some] things cannot be worked out on a theoretical level 
alone" i would take it to mean that a social theorist should be a 
realist in a Lukacsian (and Marxian) sense: that is, a theorist should 
have a *historical* perspective, with a grasp of *contemproary* 
problems, to be put forward to solve them in the *future*.  That is to be 
committed to a particular orientation to the real, which is itslef in a 
developmental process.

These are ontological questions of inquiry, which i too take to be of the 
utmost important for theory.  In fact a Marxian orientation suggests that 
the most important problems boil down to (a) ontological (complex) 
relationships which must be sovled in practice; and (b) (usually) cannot 
(merely) be reduced to psychological, sociological , epistemological, 
or logical problems.

If by theory (1) we mean only (b) above, i would agree that such discussions 
are highly limited as a problem/solution matrix; and highly suspect as 
social theory.  However, if by theory (2) we mean both (a) and (b), 
theoretical discussion and issues become paramount in a very *real* and 
*practical* sense.

At the same time i (like Justin) would encourage concrete critiques, and 
omissive critiques, along with demanding a realist criteria for social 
science in general. 

However, all this "defense" of theory aside, Doug also seems to see the 
importance of theoretical work.  Why should we assume that all theory is 
void of reality?  And why should we assume that a "theory" list would not 
met a realist criteria.

Finally, theory must explain what we experience, social phenomena can be 
explained in many different ways, and there can be many different ideas 
about emancipation of human beings and absenting constraints on human 
freedoms.  Such issues are not only practical questions, but theoretical 
and philosophical.  Besides, *Capital*, and most of Marx's work are 
theoretical and philosophical texts about political economy and social 
reality, which themselves must be interpreted as such.

hans d.


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