Description
Book SynopsisNathan Coombs demonstrates that the Marxist science of history has been reimagined by a strand of contemporary French theory after Louis Althusser. Taking a comparative approach, he explores the technical details of both traditions'' historical sciences. He argues that their articulations of history and event affect how we approach political transformation and view the role of theoreticians in political practice. Coombs establishes the continuities and discontinuities between classical Marxism and Althusserian theory, bringing you new readings of Hegel, Marx, Lenin, Althusser, Badiou, Meillassoux and complexity theory.
Trade Review"Coombs pays tribute to Marx as the master of historicization who challenged orthodoxies with rationalism. This absorbing study acknowledges the power of 'grand narratives' by considering how they are made to arise, and it shows us how crucial beauty, bravado and imagination are to a science of the event."-- Terrell Carver, Professor of Political Theory, University of Bristol; "This book is a timely intervention in both classical and post-Althusserian Marxist philosophies. Drawing upon both traditions, Coombs makes a compelling case for a nuanced rather than combative understanding of the relationship between historical necessity and the contingency of events."-- Iain MacKenzie, Centre for Critical Thought, University of Kent
Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I: History and Event in Marxist Dialectics; 1. Hegel's Leaps and the Historicist Theory of Knowledge; 2. Marx's Idea of Communist Transformation; 3. Lenin's Philosophy: A New Dialectics of Revolution?; Part II: Events and Historical Judgement after Althusser; 4. Althusser's Science: Naming the Epistemological Break; 5. Badiou's Decision: To Give Up Leadership, Somewhat; 6. Meillassoux's Politics: Speculative Justice; Part III: Suggestions about Where this Road Might Take us; 7. Afterword: Towards a Complex Science of History; Notes; Bibliography; Index.
