Analyzing Marx: Morality, Power and History

Miller, Richard W.

ISBN 10: 0691014132 / ISBN 13: 9780691014135

Published by Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ and Guildford, Surrey UK, 1984

About this Item

319 pp., xi. NAP. Paperback. Following the "Note on References and Acknowledgments" and the "Introduction: Uses for Marx, Uses for Philosophy; Two Versions of Marx", Contents divided into 3 Parts and 7 Chapters: Part 1: MORALITY (1) "Against Morality": The Distinctness of Morality; Equality; Equal Distribution; Equal Rights; A Mistake about Marx and Rights; Equal Concern; Utilitarianism; A Utilitarian Marx; Generality; Universal Rationality; Ideology; (2) "Replacing Morality": General Goods and Societal Goods; The Process of Change; A Model of Character; The Structure of a Non-morality; Allen Wood's Alternative; A Tempting Conclusion; Part 2: POWER (3) "The Concept of a Ruling Class": Introduction; A Charge of Neglect; What is a Ruling Class?; The State and Revolution; Testability; Structuralism and Instrumentalism; A Good Question; (4) "Questions of Power in Political Theory": Pluralism and Its Discontents; The Fate of Pluralism; Ruling Classes and Power Elites; Functionalism and Social Interests; The Claims of Methodology; Better Theories of Power; Part 3: HISTORY (5) "Productive Forces and the Forces of Change": Introduction; Marx as Technological Determinist; The Stakes Are High; Marx Was Not a Technological Determinist"; A New Glossary; The Mode of Production Interpretation; A Broader View; Marx's Models and Marx's Context; (6) "The Mode of Production and History": Some Objections: Holism, Materialism, Theories Worthy of the Name, Falsification, Internal/External; Is History Like That?; The External, Again; (7) "Replacing Positivism"; Index, pp. 315-319. Glossy front cover illustrated with a green-tinted variation of "The School of Athens" (detail) with Marx's head supplanting that of Aristotle's in the original image of Aristotle standing next to the white-bearded Plato; Title and Subtitle lettering in dark green, just above the philosophers' images, and below the Author name lettering in small white letters. 14 pp. of the first chapter (14 pp. of 36 pp.) have black ink marking (varying amounts, but none too large), while Ch.2 has one such page, and Chs.3-6 have NO markings; the rear flyleaf (alone) has been wrinkled with several creases, but has been more or less flattened for a bit of time; there is a soft vertical crease for 2" down the middle of front cover, with diminishing echoing for several pages: describes worse than it is, but there you have it: Binding is tight (NO cracks); corners essentially square (with mere hint of outward curls}; NO rubbing wear; NO remainder marks; NO previous owner names; only 15 pp. of 319 pp. have markings, principally in only the first chapter. Still solid, usable copy.

Seller Inventory # 002862

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Analyzing Marx: Morality, Power and History
• Publisher: Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ and Guildford, Surrey UK
• Publication Date: 1984
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0691014132
• ISBN 13: 9780691014135
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

In this book Marx is revealed as a powerful contributor
to the debates that now dominate philosophy
and political theory. Using the techniques of analytic
philosophy to unite Marx's general statements with
his practice as historian and activist, Richard W. Miller
derives important arguments about the rational basis
of morality, the nature of power, and the logic of testing
and explanation. The book also makes Marx's theory
of change useful for current social science, by replacing
economic determinist readings with a new
interpretation in which systems of power relations are
the basis of change.


Part One discusses Marx's criticisms of the moral
point of view as a basis for social choice. The outlook
that emerges is humane but antimoral. Part Two argues
that Marx's concept of the ruling class is a means,
of measuring political power that is ignored yet urgently
needed by present-day social science. Part
Three bases Marx's theory of history on the
dynamics of power, challenging both the standard,
economic determinist readings of the
theory and standard conceptions of science.

From the Back Cover

"This book offers a subtle, highly sophisticated, fresh and unfailingly interesting interpretation of some central themes in Marx's thought. Agreeably undogmatic, it has much to interest non-Marxist moral
philosophers, political theorists and economists. Its aim is to elucidate some central claims of Marx in a way that will challenge non-Marxist assumptions. In this aim it admirably succeeds."--Steven Lukes, Oxford University