Marxism Today 7: Historical Materialism (Part 1)

[sidrosteel]

You sound like an individual trying to legitimize yourself in a collectivist theory. Useless. Take your moms panties off and quit looking at your sister... might wanna give both of them their makeup back too.

[MarxismToday]

@sidrosteel You're clearly unhappy but from your comments I can't tell why. Do you think historical materialism has nothing to say about individuals and see this video as an affront to your conception of the possible application of this theory? Or you are dismissing the theory altogether? Or just my presentation of it? Given the immaturity of your comments, I have a hard time seeing them as anything more than spam/abuse.

[happywilkie]

This is helping me study for college! haha. I have a problem reading things and understanding them. So, this is quite helpful! Thank you!

I love the fact that you have so many examples! It helps SO much! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

[chookers99]

very good. . Understood that without the HeeHaw about Hagel!!, although I may have understood this, as well as I did because I was aware of Hagel's influence....perhaps it would enhance your tutorial if you gave him a small mention..'you know for others' apart from this great viewing!!

[MarxismToday]

@chookers99 Good point. Most intros to Marx do include Hegel, but I didn't include him because I don't come from a strong philosophical background, and I don't know a lot about Hegel. Someday I might get around to reading him, but for the moment I'm more interested in Gramsci, Engles, and the Frankfurt school. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[chookers99]

@MarxismToday You will probably, find you know alot more than what you give yourself credit for, Infact you were half way there when you referred to man creating himself rather than being the creation of god! to an extent, you were reffering to Idealism or almost anyway. Marx was influenced by Hegal's ideas but that is just it they where ideas, Im sure your aware of Marx's quote 'life is not determined by consciousness but conciousness by life' well that is where historical materialism comes in.

[chookers99]

Marx rejected Hagel's theory of reality being constructed from thoughts and ideas and Historical Idealism being the prime mover of society....although Marx did not discard the idea dialectic...what differs hagel from marx then, is that thoughts and ideas contradict other ideas and thoughts ie. thesis vs anti thesis and resulting in a synthesis...Marx applied this to material conditions hence his explanation for revoloution...no? 

[MarxismToday]

@chookers99 Yes, I believe this is correct. Also I agree with you that I probably know enough about Hegel to have mentioned him simply by reading Marx's refutations of the Hegelians. When I was new to Marx and Historical Materialism, I never found the stuff about Hegel to be very interesting or particularly helpful in understanding Marx. Of course the origins are very interesting and informative now, but as an intro I found them stale and historical, I wanted something that could be used now.

[MarxismToday]

@chookers99 Perhaps not including Hegel was a mistake, but there are a lot of resources out there which will begin with Hegel when introducing Marx, and I am happy to provide a kind of introduction with a slightly different focus. Some might find other intros more helpful, but my hope is that some will find this intro to be accessible.

[chookers99]

@MarxismToday Your intro was great! I have found it very helpfull, And Hegal is a little dry. hence my original comment..No Heehaw about Hagel and I still understood. I suppose I was simply arguing with myself that It was probably so, because I knew of Hagel. Trust me he is not my favourate philosopher. however I was simply suggesting a mere mention rather than a life history perhaps could not hurt which You agree. But please do not find this criticism to be bad your into was great

[MarxismToday]

@chookers99 Thanks again, and I appreciate the feedback.

[chookers99]

@MarxismToday No problem keep up the good work!!

[Mojobo83]

You explain better than my prof, and there is no time to fall asleep while watching this video ;)

[MarxismToday]

@Mojobo83 Thanks very much. I'm glad to hear the video didn't put you to sleep. We are currently reviewing the "snore-factor" of our episodes, hoping to make our the delivery in our new episodes more stimulating.

[RatherMark]

Thanks, just what I was looking for.

[MarxismToday]

@RatherMark You are very welcome. We're glad to be helpful.

[OcharmaineO]

You posted this just on time. I have a test tomorrow and I couldn't understand the base and superstructure. Thanks a lot!

[MarxismToday]

@OcharmaineO I'm glad you found it informative! Hope you did well on your test!