How to Be a Marxist in Philosophy

Description

In How to Be a Marxist in Philosophy one of the most famous Marxist philosophers of the 20th century shares his concept of what it means to function fruitfully as a political thinker within the discipline and environs of philosophy. This is the first English translation to Althusser's provocative and, often, controversial guide to being a true Marxist philosopher. Althusser argues that philosophy needs Marxism. It can't exist fully without it. Similarly, Marxism requires the rigour and structures of philosophy to give it form and focus. He calls all thinking people to, 'Remember: a philosopher is a man who fights in theory, and when he understands the reasons for this fight, he joined the ranks of the struggle of workers and popular classes.' In short, this book comprises Althusser's elucidation of what praxis means and why it continues to matter. With a superb introduction from translator and Althusser archivist G.M. Goshgarian, this is a book that will re-inspire contemporary Marxist thought and reinvigorate our notions of what political activism can be.

Louis Althusser was a prominent French philosopher of the late 20th century. His works include seminal writings on Marx, and the relation between post-war Marxist thought and other emerging discourses across the humanities (namely, structuralism). His works include For Marx and Reading Capital. G. M. Goshgarian translates fiction and philosophy from French, German and Armenian into English. He is the editor and translator of several volumes of Althusser's work, including Philosophy for Non-Philosophers (Bloomsbury, 2017).

What has attracted the attention of scholars is the radically new direction Althusser's thought took, a direction that is only now slowly coming to light ... That Goshgarian put this project together is fortunate: he is a talented translator and an impeccable scholar, and thus his introduction is of enormous value. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. * CHOICE * Engaging and instructive ... [captures] Althusser's political zeal into a powerful socio-political critique of the relations of the production of knowledge. * Marx and Philosophy Review of Books * Louis Althusser traversed so many lives... so many personal, historical, philosophical and political adventures; marked, inflected, influenced so many discourses, actions and existences by the radiant and provocative force of his thought... that the most diverse and contradictory accounts could never exhaust their source. -- Jacques Derrida One reads him with excitement. There is no mystery about his capacity to inspire the intelligent young. -- Eric Hobsbawm