78 | Perry Anderson's Considerations on Western Marxism
Dec 5, 2023
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The hosts discuss the influence of Perry Anderson and his book 'Considerations on Western Marxism'. They explore the emergence of Western Marxism and the shift from economics to philosophy. They also discuss the connection between political organizations and Marxist themes, the shift to practical concerns in Marxism, the narrowing of academic philosophy, and the decline of mass politics in Western Marxism.
58:22
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Quick takeaways
The shift towards philosophy in Western Marxism disconnected it from practical engagement with social struggles, severing the dynamic bond between theory and mass revolutionary action.
The dilemma faced by Western Marxist thinkers between disciplined organizational constraints and isolation led to the narrowing of Western Marxism and a lack of a dynamic relationship between theory and practice.
The preoccupation with philosophy and method in Western Marxism neglected the material concerns of class struggle, leading to detachment from the working class and a decline in revolutionary theory.
Deep dives
The theoretical shift in Western Marxism
Anderson explores the shift in Western Marxism from the practical and political concerns of classical Marxism to the hyper-focus on method and philosophy. He argues that influential figures like Sartre, Adorno, and Horkheimer, despite being chairs of philosophy at universities, had limited knowledge of the classical tradition and its engagement with economic and political structures. This shift towards philosophy and away from practical engagement with social struggles severed the dynamic bond between Marxism and mass revolutionary action.
The challenges of disciplinary organization and isolation
Anderson highlights the dilemma faced by Western Marxist thinkers, who had to choose between joining disciplined organizations like communist or social democratic parties, which constrained their philosophical creativity, or resigning themselves to isolation, sacrificing political engagement for theoretical exploration. He raises questions about the impact of disciplinary organization on theoretical work, and the potential for isolation to foster philosophical creativity at the cost of real-world analysis. Anderson suggests that this tension has contributed to the narrowing of Western Marxism and the lack of a dynamic relationship between theory and practice.
The dominance of philosophy and the detachment from class struggle
Anderson critically examines the growing preoccupation with philosophy and method in Western Marxism, arguing that it became detached from the material concerns of class struggle and the working class it sought to serve. He contends that an increasing number of Western Marxist thinkers became chairs of philosophy at universities, shifting the focus away from economic and political structures. The emphasis on method and pre-Marxian philosophical influences led to a neglect of socialist thought and social science, culminating in a detachment from the class that Marxism aimed to represent.
The narrowing of Western Marxism and the decline of mass politics
Anderson reflects on the consequences of the narrowing of Western Marxism, emphasizing its detachment from mass revolutionary movements. He suggests that the decline of mass politics and the lack of a revolutionary mass movement have hindered the development of Marxist theory. Anderson argues that without a truly revolutionary movement in the working class, the final shape of revolutionary theory will not emerge, and theorists from the West will be silent. He suggests that the conditions for critical theory to flourish and assume a correct and final form rely on a close connection with a revolutionary mass movement.
The challenge of reconnecting theory and practice in contemporary philosophy
The essay raises important questions about the relationship between theory and practice in contemporary philosophy. In light of the historical shortcomings of Western Marxism, it prompts us to rethink the division between theory and practice and consider how philosophy can reconnect with real-world struggles. It calls for a renewed focus on the material conditions of class struggle, a rejection of narrow disciplinary boundaries, and the development of a dynamic relationship between theory and revolutionary movements. Anderson's work serves as a reminder of the urgency of engaging with practice to ensure philosophy remains relevant and transformative.
In this episode we get the Perry Anderson treatment and ask if we philosophers are the problem with how Western Marxism has evolved over time. We discuss what Anderson calls the formal and thematic shifts that happened within this theoretical tradition once the philosophers got in the driver’s seat. Partly ethnographic, partly analytical, and a little more meta-philosophical than usual. We hope you’ll indulge us this once as we ask ourselves what the hell we’re doing.
leftofphilosophy.com | @leftofphil
References:
Perry Anderson, Considerations on Western Marxism (London: Verso Books, 1979).
Music:
Vintage Memories by Schematist | schematist.bandcamp.com
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