Marxism and Human Nature

ISBN-13: 9780415191470 / Angielski / Twarda / 1998 / 216 str.

Sean Sayers

Opis

The author of this book defends the theory that human nature is in fact an historical phenomenon. Drawing on the work of Marx and Hegel, he develops a historical account of human needs and powers which provides the basis for a distinctive form of Marxist humanism. According to this view, human beings are not merely passive individual consumers; they are active, social and productive beings. The first half of the book explores the role work plays in our lives and how it contributes to our fulfilment. The moral and social implications of these ideas are analyzed in the second half in the context of current work by both analytic and postmodernist thinkers.

Recenzje

'Sayer's book is an articulate, sophisticated and clear discussion of human nature as a historical phenomenon. It is beautifuly written and has insights into a rich range of topics from the role of work in contemporary society to the ambivalent nature of social progress. Anyone interested in sociology, politics and philosophy of our society will find this book thought-provoking and fruitful.' - Professor David McLellan, University of Kent

Spis treści

Part 1 WORK AND HUMAN NATURE; 1 INTRODUCTION: HUMAN NATURE AS A HISTORICAL PHENOMENON; Chapter 2 CONCEPTS OF HUMAN FULFILMENT; Chapter 3 THE NEED TO WORK; Chapter 4 THE ROLE OF LEISURE; Chapter 5 ALIENATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; Part 2 VALUES AND PROGRESS; Chapter 6 THE ACTUAL AND THE RATIONAL; Chapter 7 ANALYTICAL MARXISM AND MORALITY; Chapter 8 MORAL VALUES AND PROGRESS; Chapter 9 MARXISM AND HUMAN NATURE; Appendix: GORZ ON WORK AND LIBERATION; Notes; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX;

O autorze

Sean Sayers is Reader in Philosophy at the University of Kent at Canterbury. Well known for his work on Marx's philosophy, he is the author of, among other books, Reality and Reason (1985) and Hegel, Marx and Dialectic (1994). He is also a founding editor of the journal Radical Philosophy.