Internal relations, the concrete universal, and historical materialism

Kevin M. Brien

doi:10.1177/0309816814564761

Internal relations, the concrete universal, and historical materialism

Kevin M. Brien

Washington College, USA

Kevin M. Brien, Washington College, USA. Email: kbrien2{at}washcoll.edu

Abstract

This paper attempts to clarify how the internal relation and the concrete universal are both crucial canons of interpretation at play in Marx’s mature method of dialectical explanation, which moves from the abstract to the concrete-in-thought. The paper argues that just as Marx’s notion of the commodity is the master conceptual knot for Marx’s elaboration of Capital via a movement from the abstract to the concrete-in-thought, so praxis is the master conceptual knot for integrating the humanism of the early Marx with the theory of historical materialism, and with Marx’s later work, via a movement from the abstract to the concrete-in-thought.

© The Author(s) 2015

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Google Scholar

[2] Brewster B

[3] Althusser L

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(ed.) (1977) Varieties of Marxism. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff.

Google Scholar

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Google Scholar

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[8] Brien KM

(2013) A meditation on universal dialogue. Dialogue and Universalism 23(3): 35–62.

CrossRef Google Scholar

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[10] Brien KM

(1978) Human Freedom in Marx. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms International.

Google Scholar

[11] Brien KM

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(1996) Marx and the spiritual dimension. Topoi: An International Review of Philosophy 15(2): 211–23.

Google Scholar

[13] Brien KM

[14] ↵

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(2011) Marx’s Radical Humanism. International Critical Thought 1(2): 186–203.

CrossRef Google Scholar

[15] Brien KM

[16] Brien KM

(1986) Marx, Reason, and the Art of Freedom. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Google Scholar

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[18] Brien KM

(2006) Marx, Reason, and the Art of Freedom, 2nd ed. Amherst, NY: Humanity Books.

Google Scholar

[19] Brien KM

[20] Brien KM

(2009) Rethinking Marx and the spiritual. Rethinking Marxism 21(1): 103–16.

CrossRef Google Scholar

[21] Brien KM

[22] Gouldner A

(1980) The Two Marxisms. New York: Seabury Press.

Google Scholar

[23] Gouldner A

[24] Sung-K’ang Huang

(1965) Li Ta-Chao and the Impact of Marxism on Modern Chinese Thinking. The Hague: Mouton & Co.

Google Scholar

[25] Sung-K’ang Huang

[26] Sun-K’ang Huang

Ta-chao Li

(1919) My views on Marxism. In Sun-K’ang Huang (1965).

Google Scholar

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[28] Ta-chao Li

[29] Barlow TE

Dazhao Li

(2002) Spring. In Barlow TE (ed.) New Asian Marxisms. Durham: Duke University Press.

Google Scholar

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[31] Dazhao Li

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(2009) Li Dazhao’s materialist conception of history. East-West Connections; online at <http://thefreelibrary.com>, accessed 14 April 2011.

Google Scholar

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(1967 [1867]) Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, Engels F (ed.) New York: International Publishers.

Google Scholar

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Struik D

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(1964 [1844]) Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, trans. Milligan M , ed., intro. Struik D . New York: International Publishers.

Google Scholar

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Marx K

(1973 [1858]) Grundrisse: Foundations of the Critique of Political Economy, trans. Nicolaus M. Middlesex: Penguin.

Google Scholar

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(1977) Preface to a Critique of Political Economy. In McLellan D (ed.) Karl Marx: Selected Writings. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Google Scholar

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[46] Marx K

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Guddat KH

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(1997) Writings of the Young Marx on Philosophy and Society, trans. Easton LD, Guddat KH . Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co.

Google Scholar

[48] Easton LD,

[49] Guddat KH

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(1967) Li Ta-Chao and the Origins of Chinese Marxism. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Google Scholar

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Meisner M

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Google Scholar

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Meisner M

(1971) Li Ta-Chao and the intellectual prerequisites for the Maoist strategy of revolution. In Hsueh Chun-Tu (ed.) Revolutionary Leaders of Modern China. London: Oxford University Press.

Google Scholar

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(1990) Marx’s Theory of Scientific Knowledge. Amherst, NY: Humanity Books.

Google Scholar

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Google Scholar

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(1992) Varieties of Humanistic Marxism. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Google Scholar

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Google Scholar

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Google Scholar

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(1940) Dialectical and Historical Materialism. New York: International Publishers.

Google Scholar

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(1953) Economic Problems of Socialism in the U.S.S.R. New York: International Publishers.

Google Scholar

[72] Stalin J

Internal relations, the concrete universal, and historical materialism

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