MACMILLAN Hegel, Marx, and the Necessity and Freedom Dialectic: Marxist-Humanism and Critical Theory in the United States (Political Philosophy and Public Purpose)

This book provides close readings of primary texts to analyze the linkage between G.W.F. Hegel’s philosophy and Karl Marx’s critical social theory of necessity and freedom. This is important for three reasons: first, to understand the significance of the changing relationships of work, society, and critical social theory in the origins of Hegelian-Marxism in the US, as documented in the recently published correspondence between the Marxist-Humanist theoretician Raya Dunayevskaya and the critical theorist Herbert Marcuse; second, to identify the intersections of the Critical Theorists Jurgen Habermas’ and Marcuse’s influential reinterpretations of Marx’s “value theory” of economy and society that enables navigation of the changing relationships of the social and economic spheres in the last century, as developed in Marx’s Grundrisse; and, thirdly, to assess the potential of Moishe Postone’s renewal of Marx’s value theory, largely conceived by the notion of a necessity and freedom dialectic intrinsic to capitalism.  Review “The book takes a promising standpoint, novel enough, to be read thoroughly by all people interested in familiarizing themselves with such an important theme. Formally, the book is very well laid out.” (Kaveh Boveiri, Marx and Philosophy, marxandphilosophy.org.uk, April 13, 2021) Review “Russell Rockwell's book is a rigorous and pathbreaking examination of Hegel and Marx's philosophies of necessity and freedom as interpreted by the Critical Theory tradition. It offers the most thorough analysis to date of the unjustly neglected Marcuse-Dunayevskaya correspondence, and builds on this foundation to offer insightful appraisals of Marcuse, Habermas, and Moishe Postone's theories of value, labor, automation, and the human in late capitalism. Essential reading for anyone interested in the critique of Marx and Hegel in Frankfurt School Critical Theory.” (Nick Nesbitt, Professor, Comparative Literature, Princeton University, USA)“Rockwell’s ambitious study will remain essential reading for anyone concerned with the fundamental question of necessity and freedom, and for those generally interested in Marx’s critical social theory, Hegelian dialectics, Critical Theory and Marxist-Humanism.” (Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer, Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia) From the Back Cover This book provides close readings of primary texts to analyze the linkage between G.W.F. Hegel’s philosophy and Karl Marx’s critical social theory of necessity and freedom. This is important for three reasons: first, to understand the significance of the changing relationships of work, society, and critical social theory in the origins of Hegelian-Marxism in the US, as documented in the recently published correspondence between the Marxist-Humanist theoretician Raya Dunayevskaya and the critical theorist Herbert Marcuse; second, to identify the intersections of the Critical Theorists Jurgen Habermas’ and Marcuse’s influential reinterpretations of Marx’s “value theory” of economy and society that enables navigation of the changing relationships of the social and economic spheres in the last century, as developed in Marx’s Grundrisse; and, thirdly, to assess the potential of Moishe Postone’s renewal of Marx’s value theory, largely conceived by the notion of a necessity and freedom dialectic intrinsic to capitalism. About the Author Russell Rockwell has taught Sociology at Fordham University, US, and St. John’s University, US, and has published journal articles on Critical Theory and Marxist Humanism. He is also co-editor (with Kevin B. Anderson) of The Dunayevskaya-Marcuse-Fromm Correspondence, 1954-1978: Dialogues on Hegel, Marx, and Critical Theory (2012).