Critical Realism and Marxism Cita eats gainng grou nthe social scleoe aad hunaitis, and «etal cealitoveiated sctlas are tbe fund in economic, gender studies, geography, binory, ln, orgaisaton and maragemet sue, sociology, ssi theory and plilosophy. Maram not oy refuses 1a go aay it emain one ofthe key intelectual pespcives ~ pint conceded even by many of is opponent, Moreover, many of bose caught in the recent upsurge of ‘anticapitalis sentimmat are discovering the valuable lessons avaiable fom a bedy of thought tha hasbeen stauncly ‘ac capil fr 150 yeas Cilcl Ram aud Mari is the Es book to adres the controversial debates between cal realism and Maraism, and i does so fom a vide range of dies The aos argue hat whilst one back caret answer all the questions about the tdatoniip between critical eels and Maca, this box dots provide some sgicant arses. [aso dog, Cra eninmand Mavsoarevealsapctenaly vitlreationship, deepens cour unéersandlg of the secial work and thereby makes 2 conti- bution towards elimina the barbacin that accompanies comtenpoary cgi, Andrew Brown is ecure in economics tthe University of Leeds, Kis ihe coauthor of The En: Exon ud Roc. Steve Fleetwood isa Jester in employmen ules t Lancaster Univer, He is ie author a? ayes Pitel Boney: Te Scone Ord, eco Ctel Rin in Eimms: Deepen on Deda, and co-ditoe of Relist Porpeins oF (O;gi sation aed Monegan. John Michael Roberts iscurtently a research assorat in the Department ofSoolgy at he Univerity of ManchestCritical realism: interventions Béited by Margaret Areher, Roy Bhaskar, Andres Collier, Tony Lawson and Aln Norte Critical realism is one of the mest influential new developments in sophy ofcence apd inthe social cece, providing a powetul aleroaive to potvinm and post medercm. This eres will explore the erica relia Doon philoopy and aeros the socal scenes Critical Realism Essential readings Elly Marga Are, oy Bey, Aden Cal, Tp Lamon ad lor Nai The Possibility of Naturalism Sd ein A philosophical crtoue ol he crtemporary human scenes Ry Barter Being & Worth Aric Coir (Quantum Theory and the Flight from Realism Philosophical responses to quantum mechaies Chil Noi From East to West Odysey of asol oy Blaster Realism and Racism (Concept ofracein sociological research BobCarr Rational Choice Theery Resting colecisation Eetdby Margera Ain nd Joethn Tier Enplaining Society Gata elon in the socialsciences Bed Deer, Mt lai, Jn Ch Berle Livin aden Critical Realism and Marxism died by Ande Brown, Su Fete and Joke Mic Rees Critical Realism in Economics Ealicdly Sta Rtod Realist Perspectives on Management and Organisations Eid y Son ct nd Sie Raton Al ubitiedy Ratedge Routledge studies in critical realism. ‘diced by Margaret Archer, Roy Bhaskar, Andrew Colle, Tony Lawson and Alan Norrie : | Marxism and Realism Acaterialstic application of realist inthe socal rience Sear Craven 2 Beyond Relativism Rayon Boudn, cogitiveratonalty acca realism Gili LinsenlinCritical Realism and Marxism Edited by Andrew Brown, Steve Fleetwood and John Michael Roberts London and New YorkFi utd 202 by Roeye Nev Fer Lane London ECAPAEE Sion publ nhe USA cod Cand by Rouledge 29 Wes Sa Set Me Yk NY fa teva Tal Pry ‘202m nd edi mater, Andee Bey, Se Fetond aloha Mita Reborn clipe, deennz, Alig ere Noga sbonh mayb pido epee ‘vr in any nay nee, eter ‘tea eon oer iver ingrgphoionpig 2a oui eit eylnbrnatcn sage rei pea vet etnies avrg fom eplade, rd Lh Cg ain Dats ‘Atlgeercrd seks ould eB Lienty aby nna Cag in De (Cia reas ard Maisie Aniew Bows, Sve Tea, tw Nihal Raber Thatta eens a ink, |. Conmrisy usec. 2. eal rain. Psp, Maret U Boat, Ande 1 Bessnd Stee, 15 IT Roe, Mae 57h~ ExMIsc:am set Nonsita 4 tk 1k Isa 0-45-28 avon Contents Lief Nata mconibans Prac AMavosedemes 1 The marriage of critical realism and Marzism: happy, unhappy or on the rocks? SNDREWEEOWa, STEVE FLEETWOOD XD JOHN MICHSEL ROBERTS 2 Five ways in which critical realism can help Marxism. JOWTitAH Josees 3 Critical relist arguments in Marx's Capital TANS, EHRDAR 4 What kindof theory Mary’ labour theory of value? A critical realist inquiry STU FLAETWO0n 5 Capitalism, the regulation approach, and eritieal realism son essor 6 Critical realism: beyond the Marsism/post-Marxism divide nsiucuey 7 Materialism, realism and dialectics SEAR CREA VEN vii xy 3B 8 ff 6 1vii Cosins 8 Dialectic in Marxism and critical realism ANDREW COLLIER § Developing realistic philosophy: from critical realism to materialist dialectics ANDREW sows From spaces of antagonism to spaces af engagement Nout castats 11 Thespectral ontology of value cunstorieg | se71Ux 12 Abstrseting emancipation: two dialectics on the trail cf freedom JOHK MICHAML ROBERTS Index Ww 25 234 8 Illustrations Figure 441. Version othe LTV and coespondig modes cf theoriatin Tables 421 Enpisial eal ora ontology 4.2 A uruccured ontclogy 43 Macv’sscated{andfetihine)seioecononiccetlogy U1 The specttal ontology of value - 58 6 i % myContributors Christopher J Arthurs fore etre in philosophy a the Univeiy of Susex. Fe isthe autor ef Dios of Zabur, He eed Mace and Engels The Geran leon, Man's Cail: A Sidon Edn; Fritch Engle A Corny lori, and with G. Rest Th Calon of Capit Andrew Brow i lecturer in ecramies a he Universi of Less, His research interes ied economic methodology, value theary andthe cecnnons of he Eure. Hecate ectr of iil Mawr ad coauthor {vith il Arestsand Malena Sayer cf Th uv: Evin and Pragets, Noel Castree isa seader in human geography at Manchester Univesity Cover (vith Bruce Braun) o Rnaking Ruy (Rouledge} and Sot aire (Bachwel), he hes published entnsvely en Marsian politcal economy. Hi current research focaes on gennrics and inelecta propery sighs in ng onganions Andrew Collie is Professor of Philesopy 21 Southampton Univesity aut atruscer fhe Cent ar Cral Realism, Histeeksiashde Saito alin ed Sin Thug (Harvese, 198), Sli ania, 1990), Cr Rei (Vero, 1994) and Bang and Wark (Routed, 1999, Sean Greaves teacesscilogy at Leeds Metopltan University. Hedthe autharof Massimon Resi anal opplictinf dom ini cial sniewes (Routledge, 2000). His current cesearch interests include social theory, historic] silogy ad straixtion Neil Curry is cacenly completing his PAD. at Usiveriy Oalege Chichester or Mara, Post Marvin and the Discourse of Posoder sity: with pei reference ote wark of Roy Bhaskar, Frese Jameson at Bess Lac Corintns xi Hans G.Ehrbarisa Geean-botn Mars teaching economiesand rane metres atthe University of Ui Salt Lake ity. He regulaly aches ‘oss aout Mans Cylon the incre and i wing a detailed ‘omentary to Cop! which an be oamloaded from bis web page Steve Fletwood sa lesen employment studs in Lancacer Univer sty, Hes author of Hee’ Plea Eomny: Te Si Bone of Orde {Rowedge, (995, edo o Cra Realism i Ee: Deneopma ond Dit Rote, 198), an coor (vith Stephen coop) of eat aspen on Ogos ond Mocegne(Rovledige 2000), His caret reearh focuses on the sociology of wrk, IRM, employment elatioes and the economicsafthe hbouc marke. Bb Jessep is Pesos of Socilgy a Lancaster Unive, He's best now far his work on state theory, the politcal eccromy of pose-var Than, adcal pita economy andthe regulon aponch (epecily Ferdi and post Ford), and she resrvcturing of welfare reimes His bck Te Fine fh Cota Sat ill he paid by Poy Pres in ame Sonathan Josep teaches social iene a the Open Univenity aud Golde smiths Cllge, Universi efLondon, He es wren number oils ntti realivn, Marisa, becemony ard decorstruction Joba Michael Roberts is curently research associate the Department of Soilogy a ihe Univesity of Manchester working on a projet that cxlets new forts of demecracy and participation nthe UK, Hes c= editor (ith Nick Cres) of ft Haran: New Bras te ali SplerBackwell fortheaning) aed iscurer dy wring» boo, Reinking 1h Pac Spore: Te Aethtr of Fre je Liverpoo University Pres)Preface ‘Thisclletion saredfeas a prcet io cole, into ae volume papers tha ‘were already in print ckewhere, However, as we (Andrew Brovtn, Steve Fleetwood and Joho Roberts] began to dics this projet, between ou selves and with colleagues, i eam apparent tat many people were ken to mabe new consibutins exlrig the posite elaoa between cal sealsn and Marian Hence Ciel Remon Movsine was bom. ‘This brings un oan important question: istherareaionbetveen tia) cea ark Manis, and iso, wha che nature ofthis relton? As we explored ts potatil eaeshp thre boa viewpoints began tn crystal le rsa cain can add to Marsan witht taking anything away; Maram sin 10 eed of the series of criteal reli and Marxism ae critical realism have something to gain fom one another Whit theresa elec any bese the fist and hid of these viewpis, even those we fel eal realism hs lle to ofer Mara ace net tty dismiv ‘Ther (understandable worry that eal els might ead Marxism cx (another fruits jou, is tempeed by two factors Firs, they ecognie that xa elit crentated Mares ae prepa w engage in che kids of debates, and on the kinds of topics that, at the very least, entourage Manis to shnpen thir on cagorts and, thelr, help in clariring Manas, Second thy reali that many rita realissaresrius Mars an therelere, havea dese 1 develp Marssa ‘Whilst oue coletion cannot possibly compete the tak af exploring the relation between critical realise and Marxism it can, at least, make a start, Ue isthe hope of the cites that Cri Reon am Marcon wll encourage others to eagage in this projet and that dialogue wil cevelp, there, deepening our undesanding of thesocial and natural wold tts, we think, worth adding that ll ears have conducied then selves oot ely with schelahip, but abo wih oli and ama All conto have accepted that tose with hem they dsagce, often fundamentally are not to be dsmisieddogmatcay, but are tobe ieated ax serous schlarscommiced tothe akeffrtherng ox knowledge, More- over, the very existence of such scholarly debate isa fair indication that Pict si bot criesl eden and Marxism arin a god tae of nell heath This bodes wel or we nies o ought tat, ste, se thi leas anaking asmall contribution towards clioinating the barbarism thataccom- genisconternpocary capitalsAcknowledgements ‘The editors and piisher wish to thank te illowing jamnl for their permision ou copyright material and e eprint arises: Capital & Class fur Steve Fleetwod ‘Wha kind f trys Maras our shay of value? A critical realist inquiry’, Capitel @ Class 73 (2001): 41-77; and Radical Philsopy or Christopher Arthur, ‘Te spectral oncology of value’, Reic Phibols Noy 200 Special thanks goto Anne Feetnod or ber pate work incllecting che diggarate eomributios, geting thera all ito house sl, and cules hunting ox gremlins wherever they appeared, 1 The marriage of critical realism and Marxism Happy, unhappy or on the rocks? Andrew Brown, Steve Fleeteood and Joho Michael Roberts Introduction Gitial reali is sealy gining ground in the socialsciences and umastes, Cet reltoretated shoars ae tobe found in many arex sack as sxilogy and social henry, organition and management studies, feninis, geography, lw and economice. arm, despite having been unfashionable fr several decades, fies to go avay and rensisone ofthe hey itelleiual pespeives ~ a print reeganed by maay of is eppovecs, Moreover, many of tho eauch inthe recent upsurge of 'anti- capitalist? setimect ace dcovering the valuable sons available from a becy afhought tats been tach ‘an capital ora cemury anda Jall The purpose of this cllecton, then, i 10 explore the eatin ‘between critical realism and Marxism. Broaly spain here appa o betes oc ently aly exc Sve} vewpins one stage ofthis: etal als can ad to Marien without areina good sated ne Critical realiam: augmenting Marxism (Steve Fleetwood] Fifore wing a pole tlatonhip between vo ett, aba fr com aries must be exalted otherwise the earch may end up inadvertently trying co seek a cations hetacen chalk and cheese ~ with conceptual2 A. Brno, 8, Pltuond ad JM, Roberts confsion following almost inevitably. fn its confusion we might condude either that 2 telatimsip exits where acealy there is none, o¢ that m0 «eatontip exis where actully thet is one. The sume gos for seeing a posible relationship beeen Marxism and ral ai, Let w consider Marion and crcl realism in turn to ee if we can exalt a bass far conpatien Com porng lke with lke Macxisn i a body of thought which, at asi the Bands of its keene scholars, bas always sought co content span three level philosophical, theoretical and practical, Dial nasal hs generally een under stood aa philosophy that grounds cheortial pronounces suck asthe recesiy of te value er, andthe enancipcry role ofthe working cls Intra, hs theatticelpronsancementshavebeen wed olor poll practice. What hardly exer teogused however, thata range falta yractces are cersitent with a range ofrecer! pronouncements, and a range of theoretical prencunceren are consent with Galea mater- als. One nigh, or example, sutscribe dialectical naverialan and tether ta (the working cass has been defeated, o (the otking class alive and well. Clay a range of polit! practices wl lo fom the thencialpnsion adopted, They {a} kas pobtical support for things Uke maw social movements whereas they (Bj leads to poll supp for things Hecke vanguard party. Theres theear,son-o-ne pig btuerea puto (Marg) pul patio, apolar (Mavs) ivory aed a partcalr (adil atria pest, The uch ofthis propos Siton lies inthe probably uncontroversial) fat tha there ace several compeing Maris theories about vations phenomena) and several Marist pola! programas, all perl camps wth caectical materiale plsophy, Ctl esis locate atthe evel of posohy an, ule Marxism, ito oct tospantareeleves, Pressly because ition o paca pola progarume and patclar theory, cca eli fier coms it fo rim rom Marans on the groan that is thecétially an pit «aly stile, or worse, tha it gnaonsani-Marss theares. TE, however, there is no one-to-one mapping between a particular (Marx poltcal practice, partial (Nari) theory and a pacer dnectcal aeri- alist) philiophy, then cricians based upor cra reli’ alleged sterility apply to any philosophy, including one belonging to Marsisc, It, heel, exons to ek «aol eationshp between etal realism and Marais heyor Marist ial ret, but ot between cecal ain and Marssn ath ere of pial, That to say ia elaonsip exis between critical realism and Marisa, it is located at the philosophical level, Lets, there ppreah philosophy witha ite moze precision Thenaniagofeiialraimend Massa 3 Gritcal realism fall Slwn philosophy of science ‘Whi ctl elim has many tings to teach un about philoxoph (and sanyo those tings are labored inthe chapters of his calle) i is, nary lily of eae Moenves crcl realism focase nites on ‘ore, or & small number, of topics inthe philosophy of scence, bat is wide ranging, coving ois uch a-cuology, estenclog, wees ofineeace, ratareofcausaliy, naar oflansferdencies elec atsxcctin, siction between esence and appeacanc, criterion or ary evaluation, andso on Fer brevity, Ife ‘ouch an allencompassng pilcsophy fence ail Ahan, And coil ream isa fil oe pilsophy ofcience Now, wht ‘Mare pilophy i not short of papers and ooks deat w vais ‘ptinthe philosophy of sence, thre have bon relatively ew attempt alabrate flan piosophy of iene competible with Marxism cr, a {will eer cit, a Marais phils of science Lote tea with cation hee, am not clang there has been wo work ‘various ffs in Manxst philosophy of science: Jam caning that there tas been very litle work that attempts o combine thee various tops to elaborate a filbibwa Marvin philosophy of scence, Whi the Hes of Rover (1979), Mareay (988), Sayer (1988) and Zeeny (1980) spring to ind ever here there seas to be more of an ernpass on. repeating ad re-nterpreting ome cf Manx’s own scattered ideas chan on elaborating a _ful-Renen Marxist philosophy of science, Moreover, there have been very ‘ew aerpsto elaborates Marsis phloropey fsclece bat an aeuralse aztacks fom carrent philosophies of scene, eerily eect vtsons of post and, more resenly,pstmodernst and pssrucearalist ysions Ais oinwishtorake three chins Only ajil-Nawn Maras philosophy of science can be used to place Maras chores and politcal practices on a secur foting This nt, of cour, to chim any oneto-ove mapping betwen cs realm, theory and practice. Icis nerdy to recognise thas a fl baen Marit piliophy ofeceace an asi in Formulating he Kids of theories dened appropriate by Mares Onl a l-eun Maras philosophy scence can suecesslyneaualie stacks lice current iosopies cfscience, becuse many of he ater are {l-blowa am-Maniat) philsopies of since. Maras way not Ike io ‘hin that postiviam is a full-blown phlorophy of science bue, like 4 ot ‘ao, postivam oes have an ielusive positon an pis sacha ontology, epistemology, cavalry, lav, mde of inference, and bas cite for theory valuation. he fc that i may hav an inappropriate postion on al these topes besde the pont her. ‘Te ability so sucasllynewcliseatatks from current philosophies scence isuoc merely a mater of ely ane) or academe interes. The absence ofa full-on ilosophy of scence has allowed vacuum to develop nthe Marxist cane which is4 A Brows, S. Phatuond ond 7 M. Robes often led by Marit borrowing topics from aoa-Manvistpilosophis of seizce with damaging comequene for Maris Cita realism can suply the fl-an philosophy of science lacking in Mariam, Tis dows not imply ecal realism is replacing dialectic materials, iis simply doing something ese, it iadding toi? ‘hese claims could be etablibed in vacces ways, For example, [could demanstate how postive bas exoarged debates on he swale ‘ans foumation poblen’s the (nsjue of racnal oie models he (nis)use of econometris to et hypotheies such athe fling rate of pot. Akerna- tively, Load demonstrate how postmodern ad pestrutualsm have encouraged the, arguably, ant-Macsit pespective veered to as post Marcion, { will, however, ty to esas thee claims va one exemple, rarity the notion enemy. Lawsor tendencies Ibis el known that Nar conve flaws in tems of tendencies, In cessing the tendency for profit rates to equal, fr example, he suggests that tis equalisation be viewed: as 2 teeny fe alter aca Ean! {1904 175, emphasis add), Morever, the conception of awa endezey Jas permeated mech asx econcmies ever since, Te problem, however, ssthatthe esac meng ofthe em enency' within she Maras cazonis atiguois. Marinelli ew cosa, wiser day Marts ave tiscused tendencies most cicasions have taken the form of often ot n-lurinacing) aides to olber issues Ax MacBrice putt ‘Theselans ic endencie] are, presmnadly, nothing bt acurate igh> level generalizations concering a wie range of phenomena although tw be candi, the file to say very much about tbe meaning ofthe term ay’ ashe aes its one ofthe mos gaping lacunae in Mars’ ll twobsie dcusienscfrethodclgy (197758, ee ao 12-5) ‘Whitt wil Becmeclearbelow thas itismineding tn eferto tendencesas gh evel geerlision, MacBride’s iin! is esenialy comrec: there tasbeena ailretodevelopasystenati, expiitand unambigueuscrncep- tion of tendeny in Marion. Raber ser no future in the ext realist, autempl ic dsetagle don erency, being seruloly worried tha he tedeny v.empiical regulary debate, if pushed bard enough, might wel collapeintolitemore than aquitble aboutthewe ofthe teem la, (1979: 207) Themariayofot ein col Marion 4 Farfictaa mere ‘quibble’ the terdetcyv, empirical aw debate isintructive in luminatng jst how rite! els can place the notion of ender on arporeecurefoning than snow, and deere, demnnsate hos critical sealism can add to Marxist theory without taking anything avay, To do ih tae ke eiowing ses as rex ‘Critical realists reject {a} event regularities, and hence (Humean) Laws sed ar henever event x then even: y, at most uly fetus of sca ceaty and (b} the Hamean} notion of canal as event regula ‘The crt reais, theo, et} ek the cause oan eventinsometing oiber than the event with hick i: i allegely} conjoined, and i to employ a noon of causation as poner offre, Attention ths ts avay from the fox of perceive and actual eves wards the maki, sri sats, pes drains dat cawsally govern these evens Thus is che ontology refered toast: underlying the domain of the empirical are the datos of the actual and he ep’ Because of che opennes of socne economic aytems result, cctsequnces, or outcomes com be sucessfully predicted but the mechanisms, socal structures, powers and relations thac causally govern the axof event ca however, be uncovere! and explana Explanation vars prediction the goal of scene, Explanatory content provi oreion for evalaating shecres One can now enestard my seasnforcllng he method ‘caus explanatory’ To lia phenomeron isto give an aout ofits cna history (of, Lipton 198: 33),Siufcaly, hs account isnot couched in ters ofthe events) dat jus: happens n preted the phenomencn tobe explained, out interns ofthe undying, mcdarins, vocal drut, pesos and relations thac causally govern the phenomenon, ‘The fllwing seton pus these erica reals categories to work toelaborate sophisticated ation tendency. Structures, powers, mechanisms, relations and tendencies A complex entity passes a intisc sma (or combination of struc tures which makes it the hind cf hing it sand ot another ting, ‘The ‘traclure ao endons the ea with dspstion, capitis, petal, ails actin certain ways, lsh, he stactareendowstke aly with ‘ses to do certain things but not others. And powers may de see, wdintoratiaied. a Apower sfoueelbyan enn vite oftsintinsesteutue, and power enducs whether or ati is exrced or actuated, The power acts tramctualy, 4A power exci! sa power Ua kas been gered, andi generating aneflectin an open ystem. Da tointefeene fom the ees of eher exercised powers hovever, onc azverbnowafri wate onto af any parcala power wl be, Theexeicied paver acts transac6 A. Brou,§ Peetu Moles A power edeca san exer power generating is fc in an open system, The power is, however, nat defect or counteracted hy the efletsofother exercised powers. The actaled power doesnatact tam factaly but facually i the sense that he power generates its eect constantly, [Let us conser thee citnctions ina de mace depth via the simple exampleota bieyde, 8. Oncesirvctures such as wheels fame, saddle and handlebars ae com bined ofoem a bicycle, hen fer the pewter i ate trans pation This power endures even the biyce semains locked in a gardenshet 4A person may existe per by bringing the cyl out of the she ane mounting it~ a person riggers the power. However, de (ay ‘0 acesivealobo consunpsin, sce. brad wings or steep gradient, the effect may not be the transportation of eylst rom Ato Bn this siuaon, the bic’ cenersed powers ing deleted or couneracied by interleence fom other eerie powers. © Aerio mayeceelisthe exerci power and acces cyl rom A to B. Thebicyle’s poser ism beng counetacted by any ober pone suchas aleool strong head windsor seep grads With ti understanding of tructures and powers, kt us move on to the rated ise of mechs. Acnting toLawson(1997:21) A muhanionsbascalytheway acting or working ofastructured thing « Meck then ext as th caval powers of things Siroctared things... pone caus powers which, when triggered or released, act. as generative mechanism to deteemine the actual phetomena ofthe woul Thee co understaning the crtal relist conception ofa mechanisa {and evertally tendency is not with the ans ofa power pes oe sauce, bat withthe notonofa power xin. A posse powers {tela- tively) uninteresting because it generates no effects,’ Am arualinad power is {slaivly uaieetng because it onyx pei icamtanes that an exerced power isnt interred with, A poner exert, however, is one chat has been triggered, is generating elects, is acting transfacually and, as willbecome clear ina more is involved in generating tendencies Being tvigeze i, pica, a complex proces requiing that che enty enters ao a web of telains wth ober relevant ets, A biyee relations to 2 shed wall, a rond, sky, gras, wind, hills gravity, cyclists {drunken and sober) and so on, Jf she bieyleentess into appropiate Themarag foal reaonané Mason? relations (6 i a sober ey) fs power is gare and become an axenic power, . [appears ha th tem mechani’ ia label we apy ote enc stucte, powers and relations, One a spect of nin strut contin to form a entity with a power, an is ety enters eo appro priate elation: with otker eas, the power is tigger and becomes aa ened ponec, whereupon atendeaoy is gneated, When ve vite chat omiheim bas a weeny to x, this sty speaking, inaccurate its the erm that bas @tendeney tox, and we sould write thet the nanblef rucures, powers and ces bis tendeney 1x Reserlng Reatea’ (1987; 157) teminology wernght say tha the eadeny “belongs or attached tothe ememble~ not merely tothe mechaisn oto the pone. ‘Now, towritethat an ensemble bas a tendency tox, does not mean thatit wit [aan opens, esenbl dao, eypealy, et nich fom one ote, ater heteaea rapt feasembles ech with he oa teens and thre endendes converge in sme spacetime ocation. The acta cute of ths conc of tees is imps opie pi. The tendency for bicycles to faite transport, for example, ‘kepnds pon the excerce or absence in he sre spaceaine eeaton of atkr tendencies such athe tendency for aloobl inthe beeen to causeizines he tendency free apes or tong heed winds to reduce farsa monet and soon. Tiss why a eee y actaully ‘Ateneney ther, metaphorzlly speaking fakin toa force, When we think of fre we thnk of terms lie eve, propel, pas, thes, pres and oor. The term tendency tats nt to any reds, eset, a coe sme acting foc, such a regularity opti in he rekng fv vets Tht frente ov, 1 Gequetly encoaner Marts who opine tht the too operate vith teenies and rat avs moreover, they do 0 without any help rom ciel ealisn, When he conversation gets deeper, however, itscen beces lear that heya operating wih a notion of tendency along te ls of some kid flor operating (Hanean) la, From the excl reals penpective, the interpretation of tendency a ome Kad of ey operating (Humean) law arguably, mistaken, Exphining the ciin of thsmiakes made easerby conterngseveralcommrly edn inter Pretationsothe tem ecdeney’* «+ Aterdetcy can beinterpee asa stil ent soc a pros endo fll over ime, One might tye this as Whenever event xf, sage of ti then event. 4 Aterdency canbe interpreted asa igh redaivetreuency ofa gvensuh- set of aces of posible events suchas if organic composition aap ta increases there some probability that he rate of profit wil deine,8 A. Brown, ated nd 3M. Robes We might syle hs as:‘whenever event then event yar sme wl aed probability coun 4A tendency can be interprets asa countefcuat cain about what would come about under cea toate cortinssuchas ithe angie compotion of capital increas, the rate of peo wil celine cts par. Ne nigh syle has whenever even x, the eventy ude fiz. 4A tendency canbe interpreted a constant conjunction of events that folds with some unpcifed regan « kid of loosely operating Humear lav. MaeBride above refers to tendencies as high evel gene: alta’ (197: 59), We niht sth as whenever eee x chen ma of the tw event y + A tendency can be inerpeeted as an expresion,cutrome or result of some phenomenon such as ‘the cpiait mde of production (CP inbeenly produes an incesing sil productivity of abour | ped) and is gets exprese in @ tenet fall i the rte of profit (Reten [67 160), We mighe style sas whenever events x, {CMB ac (pode chen event y (asa syed far interpretations are mistaken because they share a possibly inadver- ‘ent lapse into an emp ce move accurately, empirical realist moe of thinking * ‘These interpretations treat a tendency’ as a rol, coaragunwe, or sate. The ver “endercy’ fs ccneived of as some kindof epic idertiable, and sytemat, pattern inthe fof evens, The pater might be one of pafet regularity, imprtect regulaiy seta cegoariy or ‘syd eguariy’. The important point toncte bres that, conta oxi cal eam, noe ofthese interpretations tei a tendeccy with the fer isd. Theres, however, no longer a easnor Marys operate with one foot tied to empiial eaten. Adopting critical realism as a pllorphy of science compatible with Marsan ha allowed us io pace the notion of tn- dency ona mare secure footing. Thisis av example cf ow erica realm based to Marssm without cabin anything away Marxism does not require the services of critical realism (Joba Michael Roherts) Stere Fletnece (SF) present a highly sophiticatd defence forth eof cetcal realism in Gevdoping «Maris scintf heony (abo hs chapter 4 his volume), Tn this ceply T wact to question one fis observe tins conoerirg the incorporation ocala within Mais chor. 1 do sist by making some comments on the argument presened above and thea, secon, by biel cutining some ofthe undeying eierences beeweea Marx and eval realism as I see tern. This wil enable me to sugges that amore stable way fa Matas theory o proved is to develop categories in ne wit the ondamentsftistoral materials ‘Thenariag forte elisond Masia 9 Griticad realism: augmenting Marxism? SP stars by gute igh observing that there are a number of Marxism, specifica, Be dvides Marais nto pttcal practi, theory and piso- ply. Rightly Mesaget ha hers no one-one elainbip between all thes, Cal rain thus presen us with a mel set of sear! tools wth bic oa in formulating te dn of theres ered appropriate ait ius of ‘dept, cau’ “pati Ter. tin oT alo agree at aleve ofeotingency ets tea ‘Marois pial practice, theory and phiotopy, Thus Marxism det need amoverathing guiding har to cone these varies fio, However, the important question here i whetbe rita realien can give Maris hit suing han, To begits my pact of the cicussion 1 vould lke fist to ais some caution boat howe we go about analysing the eve of omingency berween Marxist gelcal practice, theory and philosophy, For iti stil the cave thatthe rst be a nl 1 diagreeent amongst Marist abou: thee thee factors Crberwise any debate wich exses could esl pas beyon Marna into aandpoin thats derided nan Marais. The argument aboct the inca poration of oer methcdoogica, thecal and phlesophical aprcaces into Mario wold theceloreseem rest wpe he exten to whi ach an incepocation alters whsamially dhe fundamentals upon wich Mackin ves, I come back momentarily to what these fundamentals might be, SF chim that Marxism rqaires a “ul-lown Marxist plilosphy of vcene, This knportan for bin Because (i) Ure hasbeen le woek within Marxism to develo a flown pilsophy of icin ai} uch _plilespy coud be we place Marxist heoris and politcal practice on a sect fotng, Apart from the curios fat tat he fais meron age’ acter to aoviesuch a philcsophy tink SFinicatesa tee! of urgency about the ned for such a philosophy within Marxien wbich isscene- ‘haz overstated, Whiscitisindeed true hat Marss philbsopy of cence could ait Maras cheony and practice, it shuld aso be remerbered that Mari Have ben involved in debates over a civers ange of practical ioues witht ever sexing Che reed co preface sch debates by evelping 2 ‘al-bowa plop of sence, [nded, we could rake thi point father The quantitative ecampler when cre celism could be of some asisance ro Marien, nanely che rarsoacio problem, the (nisiae of rational choice modes and the (miu of econometis ots partolar Iypodbeses, have aleady been heavily discussed, debates and ertcised by Marts vithoat rsa to eral ration, Thi fet alone surely begs the {esto of why we red crcl ras oproideaeriqueofcuanciaive approaches i thas already been achieved by ‘qulitive’ versio of Marism10 A.Braun, 8 letncdand 5M Rohe But tink chereisa more fundamental weakness atthe ear of SFsengue sven in tat i et on eoatraictny Sourdations, Op che one hand he cls that afer philsopiyofscence ees o be eseblshed. On the ther band he cain chat erica eels can etalk a Marxist lilly of ms, The ft cleim sagen that a Marsa ilesophy af scence shoal bedevelopedwitkin he eno ara, The secu chimsygges thar a Maras philosophy of sieoce sould be developed tide of the renit cf Marxisn, Obviouly Margi sto expand is horizons chen isis Jepiate 10 se the ideas of oir theories and pilsopies, However, theresa rail ference betwee ncaporating thes iden within Marn- ion, but changing tes Form and coment in ie with Maran fa Ars plilosophy of stiece, and developing aful-Hown theoretical paradign angen asesdagtheecencovhich Marssmis compatible wth cha parae ign (a Mare ply f ia) ‘Yor SF aserts that he is merely ‘ding to’ Maris. But this ie of defences nconsisten with is attempt ase quantiative seca hares gens the qualitative paradigm of ria eas, This is because tere is 4 tension between his assertion chat he wishes to develop Marxism and his coatinal omens implicit) fallback upon etal realm rather dan Marxian to lutte his ugunens. In bs chap, for example, SF fist sets ot critical alt arguments and fis Marcin those arguments To fag vp one istration, in SPs chapter, he presents an arguuet for te sranfimational model of scl action (TMSA} (he cecal eli argue sven conceraig suture and agency), and then hows how Nam's ideas ft withthe TMSA. Bante ere that he des uot bein by Git explring the fundamentals of Marx itll. This welt mean tat he dos not consider theexient to which Narss own inghs are defective. Nor does be consider, Gs he event to hich Mara’ categres may be extended andceveloped oak acount oft sori forms oe beyond here ‘econo’ wit the veed ora flLElown ea vals pilaophy of scene, Yet some ofthe most fitful developments of Marxism have aucenpted this The work fae Mai Tngus, VN, Volotinoy, is one anable example, asthe work f the Marist eal eri, EV, Pash kas In both cases Manns dscusion of hisoical matali and his tiquofcopaist social elacons are taken asthe stactng point for dev the socal farm flanguae and law respectively Ta the cisions aT have aleady hinted at what Teeside tobe the fundamentals of Marvin, butit would he vel ati stag if spel oat these fundamentals in litle more detail. I would seem tose that any development of Marais theory would ned toe compatible with atleast, twofudamentals of Marsst tery i historical materials (i the apoli- cation of bisorzal materialism othe critique of pital eeaany as out Une by Marx in ta three vores Cait wil relly say a fe word alt bath Themariag feted iedimond Mexin tnterica materials premise, a cesimpest level, upon thei that socets progres tough éisinctve modes of production. A mode cf pro ciation characterise by the unity of frees of production (hes nvr nents throagh which concrete, everyday Iman labour produces ws products) with the rlatons of production (ibe fom which Ibour takes fr it engender surplus extraction within historical periods), When das socctite ae the object of analytical attention then the relationship between foe ad relations of protic assumes acai uniy because his relationship is defined primarily tough opposing clas forces that encap- sulate 2 fnm of patton (ee my chapter 12 for a fuller explanation) Methodogially peaking, Manx suggestsin the Grane that de rlation- ship between frees and relation of production i a use sartngpoine with which to undestand the systematic and contradictory camections witin te concrete totality of mode of production, Marx extends these theretizal and metkedoogicl insghs int his cekque of capitalism by locating the contradictory uy ofthe fre and «elias of production within simple capita production, Here Marx dis covets contraction as that obtaining between seve of coramodies tad the exchange value of commodities, Simply sate, Mane withe to unierstand how diferent commodities come tobe exchanged, Maresaggets that exchenge tapes in simple capitalist prdurtion through the cote dictoryrelaioship between: concrete Ladoar and abeactInbour, Mars’ point bee is that the seca fain of Taour under capitalism f ot merely "edly productive activity ~‘conrete labour ~ but isla orm of abject fed social seu ~ ‘abstract labour’, Unde capitation labour not oly produces scial prodets in which socal boa fel bjt abou: alko produces cbjectve social relations heels The comme, repre ses conzete and aba: abou th eal ad ence tee scl relations by acting a a social mediation in its om right, These abstract socal relations are alienating because they invoke & social compulsion, « compalion whee iéecogcal fora Max term: ‘coamecityfeihism’, hich isa the same tne impersonal, objective are watered. Postone (995), Tisocial farm sspecitc only fr capitalism, Lis aoa sci oem ‘which ran besjtematicallyunblded into the contraicoy toy cape ‘ali social relations. expe this point in more dezilin the nextsettion Although thes findamettals ae nacexhausine they dopreten witha Compacative base fom whic tases the incoeporation of etal eatin within Mendsm, They abo suggest that we ned to revie SPs iii for the incofporation of other theoretical aneworks within Matis Ratber than ack after the defciencits of ferent forms cf Marsims and iter proved to const an alerative pradign wil which to remy thes fence, it would be more productive to start with these funda snentals atid then develop ther ina manner that doesnot violently absteact from ther bas: Obviosly sac 1 recrentatin in perspective dss wt12 A, Brot, S let ee J. Roots impy tha philosophy is uo Tonge segue to guide ws ia ondetsanding ‘he eld, Indeed, Tage wih excl realist that philceopy sa ruil facor in clr exiting and new canceps and categories. To show this, and tocatnd the rita observation: of rita cali made sofa, I ten to the respective philosophical legacies of critical recliam and Marxism Following this dscusion I return briefly co some of SF's arguments abot the inoneporation cf ritical realism to Marae can be sald critical reals is strongly in ged Dea Bantiamlegacy, ant believed that easonet the crucial instrument chrough which we gained knowledge about the world, This seemingly simple aad common sense idea in fact challenged many of he prevailing philosophical ideas ofthe day. Before Kant outlined his gens, empiricist philosophies had been widely accepted as presenting a correct standpoint about how we gain knowledge, Erapiricists such at Hume and Locke had atgurd that we only ever gain knowledge of how the world dicectly appears to us. Such appearances generate ideas about the wworid through our experince of chem, On this understanding the mind simply registers experience and pasivelyrecordsimagesof the world through the senses. Kant disputed this ratker static picture of our mind, [ahs essay, What Enlightenment? (794/481), Kan ere the pit that ato is a necevsary prerequisite for ‘man’s emergence from his seliimposed ianmararity’ (Kant 1784199: 54), Acoording to Kant, the development of reason pulled indivichals out ofa quayarice of dogra and set ther on the coyal road to tansceddental tical judgement Aca minimum, therefore, Rant argued that reason i an active and creative capacity of human beings. Asa result Kant alo insite, contra empiricist, that reason imposes order and unity upon the diverse and random features of the world. Even at an intuitive level we know that we cally make connections between discrete pherorsena ard impose necessary and universal laws upor tke world Tkus for Kan reasaa mast have an orga- rising capacity whick gces beyond mere experience. These afro faculties were necestary features of the mind (see also Sayers (1985) who provides a superbly clear discussion of Kant). From these facuk:es Kant construcied a philosophicalsjstera chat demonstrated how we could critically comprehend the world. For example, Kant {1983} developed his transcendental position to ague forthe univers propecs of ie and open dsc. These properties es pon three mais he ability to thin or yourself the ability to think fom che standpoint of everyone else; and the ability to think cove sistently, Kant therefore developed transcendental moral Laws from his ‘construction ofthe «pit fucukes of human understanding. ‘There area number ofreasons why critical realisrncan be situated withina, Kantian legacy. [0 the first instance, critical realism is 2 trencend tel social Thenariagfeical aim ad Mason 18 cheory. AU¥issipest transcendental eas ain toideni the uadeying ‘cqusa poker of objets Thisis achieved chrough a method of btacton cermed ‘telco. Ths ype of absracion i primarily concer te ia the necessary andinteaal properties ofan objec, namely ‘cal pve’ Once dete vere but coningety combined detemina sional thee properticscan be examined atamoreconrete level Thsmove is particularly importa because only then wll we be abe ride he cate ofthe transactualy acing causal methanism, An exanple might by the ternal cations between landlord and tenant, a reltoship be asus any guises in differen conents, In this way a reise defi mola ebjtcan be anne chat hen aves nade bak te concrete ne can ain a more scurateanetcaning of the objet inter: acon wi «diverse range of elements, The finshed product isthe move ment concrete -> abstract, abstract ~» concrete (see Sayer 1994; 87), Cc reals lim tha abstacion ean be carted ot ky balding a ince ofthe generative mechani ate aeady existing schol cogatve resources that we have about che phenomenon, Information is collected about te georaivemerhansm which iit were tox, wold account or the pheaomeron in question (Bhaskar 1980: 19-20). A three phase chee emerges sconce idewtins a phenomenon (ea range of phenovena), construc explactions or an empsially tess its explanations, lag tothe identiicaton fhe generativemectanim ator, which then becomes {he phenomenon o eexplained, and soon, (Bhaskar 99:2) Correspondingly the west eal (the real entities and strutares of the aturl word can only be explore threugh thes realr modes and concepts cf the ratural werk) (Bhaskar L9H: 2-4). However, in ‘woemal condita closed experimental systems do at ext, Indeed the scial ences, whose object of investigation reves around unpredictable Juan behaviour, do at have the lunury of experimental dosed stems, Mechasisns and cal pers canna: survive in a vacuum but ty within pense tical seis theteby break fom previo Kansia teases the Piosopby of science by showing that unde some conctions models about the orld can exglove2 deeper ape aly (Archer eval 1938 x, Yet iis alo the cas het ental reals tl retains resides of four of Kareianiom, This can bese in the chosen use ofthe retcducive method fdbezaction, Rezoduction cll sess the nee of thought odie cove underlying reales. In particule ic wishes to go beyond bow the world appears because such appearances tend to cceceal and to dint reality. Ina raanner reniiscen of Ken, i's believed that only thought at some stance om the ditoriag infuene of appearanoes ean exploreUY A Brin, S, Bend and 9 Reber reality. Io chis way 2 ype of dunlion is theretiallyreimyosed whereby reality taken to be hidden behind appearances Thought can grsp the nature of this reality, but it can only do so through tke rational subject, ‘Those causal powersevetaallyretraduced donot therloresbarean ternal relationship to the real worl through either appearances or experience Sayers 1985:2931 ‘The problems here fr crtal realism can be apptecited in greater depth if wernomentarily use toconsde the main philsophical legacy oF Marxism, Heve the lating thinker ofcourse, Heed. In The See of Lop, Hegel sagzzt that the esece ofan object must weet appear to cnscouess As Hegel says when desribng an bject'I1 isthe manifeing ofits esenot sucha manner that this sence comis simply and soll in bring that which mani tel” (Hee! 1812-181 5j1969: £28), But even though esenve teva itself though appearance, appearance i not exaty the ame as esence, This implies tat even he sions we may hold abot anchjetatestill aspects of an esence.Essece pers, so that itis nw eat iltsory heng, since the moments of ilusry being have Existence’ (Hegel 1312-1816/195% 49-500), Correspondingly our subjsive experience of _anljeél is based upatcagoesary connection with the chen in question. ‘There can be no absolute separitios ofthe objective wold and ur subjective experiences of i, even i thse subjective experiences oly revel patil aspects of he world. Ou experience ofan object and the categories We develop to explain the objet ae formed by the vealityof the ject one ‘ay or anatr:Kaowledge fla the objetivo various geese slsommy chapter 12, . ‘This ivan impée‘ant point io theeatent that itsugess itn how we, opi fk abt the wold secs orice wii th determining into the vrld.Bven, gaining sch Knowledge is an evolving process wbecin our inital methodological starting point is inreaingly complesied as new oonledgeis gained, When we therefore retua to nor starting pont it too tas become complesed as we now understand mor thercughly some of ‘he interconnecting relationships hound up wit ou initial starting pont ‘sthinthe same determining nits An example of Hegel sinking heres provided by Mare. [a the Ged Marx (185/973) suggests that the concept ‘population’ presupposes am understanding ofthe determinative seca elationhips bound up within the concepts wage abou, ‘ait, ete, These determinative social elations themselves prespoose ‘kinner abtration’, Once we hove worked ox vray back to the most abstcact and simple determinations {she thinnest absracions, if you like) of a specifi set of socal relations we can then comprehen how thse oa selations are reflected and etacted within the concept population. Orly ce the concept ‘populatio! can be understood asiahering within a pec determining totality, Ths the concep ‘popula tines no the being the analysis it esl Thais tsa, the diverse ceterminaton|s erable within the concept ‘population’ can only be Flemamiageof otal ali end Marvin 15 {uly detived afr as been plaed within the more determinate concepts comprising a systtiatctoaty. Thus abracion moves forwar’, as progresonpopultion’ i pled within a systematic ced toa, ad “pga a5 etrgression (population is compe and coneeied aa memento social om, of te dives forms ofthat otaliy). What ve coc, tere, isa crear movement in metho (Artur 1908. We can now se why thecal realist nthe! of retrodcton is icon ati with the Hegean-Manvst methodol postin, ‘Thi can be sem me cerl through the maer in which the relationship of Simple and‘comple is understood, For example cial eis ini that we rt inl thesinple and aba sruciure a causal ower and then ake the analysis dn Turter evel of abtaction ia cer to explore its nce com plex and conrete manifsations, Method is charactered by a move in ttoaghinfa srplemderoamarecomgles model. Thelerenronecting thismovementis though’ the ost ean, This movement, however, conats‘thinkng wih realy’ fort shelved hating shou single aspect the word acta refs simple reales wis complex cones reflect comple reais In aditn, it sbleved that comple is nked in some way or another to the contingert, open al indeterminate rel lspci rele co thought. Thought ony becomes complex vhen ites co apprehend th orplexstructring of eality, Dut as Shama (198142) notes, ths movement... the form n which the ivedoppeston berween simple and complex is reproduced rather than solve” hiss he cave then critical els teintate a iar tower of imple to complex corresponding to + moveeen om abstract to concrete ny other word eto moves ara, but des ot eae the accompanying cular rove of going backwards fe aso Roberts 200), SP himself provides us with an example oilustrae the problem hece, In tis chapter ke unintentionally preserts liner aocoant ofthe undelying stele, oechanism, relations and powers that are oecesary ‘oss syste whereby the elation between peeps producing uns appear in the fir of relaon between things {comin He wishes to explain thixhenomenon through ke we of coatasive explanation Lill ask: why does boating activity under capitals conton appear the valu fam? Rather will ask why does abou activity under capa conditions appear inthe vale form whe footing activity under on capitalist conditions doesnot rere histor? a) SF sjstcaton the use of ecnrative explanation to pingoit at is esenial to caitalisn’, But this seers a strange methodological coute fora Marsa ro take, Fo it surely the cae that Mar aes the oppose sethodolgial route In ozder o understand ie speci of capitan16 4.Broun S, lve nd 5. M. Roberts Mare gin i aval with capitals, ene is ease fer starting with Simple capitals production via the commodity From vbat we now baow of Mary's deb to Hegel this stould not surprise us, Mare was interested in compreberding the dynaics ofthe ytematc tality of apialin, And when exploing tis cosy i rade perfect ene co star an ali eat sedi that otliy SPs debt to teal reais, however, prompts ban star at a much highesranshisoricallevelofakracion,namelyattbeleelofthematerie sis of human fe and then work pogresvey dow level of abstraction ul ial each capital, Such a route invites logical reading of human progtss whereby succes model of human éeelop- iment are seen to natually evolve fom one to another ef, Arthur 198), Inet the absence ofthe agar ‘ontadiin’enomcages this interce- ‘ation o$Psanalys beautiful ote why one mode production will necessarily be ansformetiato anther nce of procuction, sca we avea linea progresion rom on mode fo another, ‘This linear presentation and its coresponding complet isshadowedby theinceasngcompleny ol houghtcostucing succeive complex modes, Hence the move from the mode of non-aptalis societies tothe mael of capi seciey wbich SF makes in bis chapter. Bu: his ype of metel- tiling also nourshesa non bistcicel arly ofthe worn worespet Fist he gee sell relations of aon-capitali vite as Sans aud feudal are cllagedinto on noel, ‘highly abstract sled uo copicalit sem’, Yet there is a world of deere hecween Stalinist ad fehl societies, Sezond, che exploration of modes instead of tems alo encourage anon Hisorical anit itrnal relia aseiated with 2 specie node of producon, Bar ental, SP sugges ha capialismcan be dainedas'aystem whereby the relcioasbetveea people (as podusing nis) appeac in the frm of a rlations between hings (commodities) tp. 82), However, hr absacion appears to interpret Man's absra vonef the i fomoofcapialian, As Tkave already sugested above, com. andy prodaction ander capitalism is cefned trough the dominate of strat labour over concrete prods. This isan abueation produc! everyday by labour itself SF's absteactan, by contrast, draws attention to tke dominane of concetecommoeirs over individual. Bu thisva domi nance which has beer prenlent in many con-apitalsscees. Phas we bave sl ac ye to dsr the soo frm of ecnmodtypeodeton under capialism through thisabscacton Ase cl ofthis underying theoretical derence,it mus. be doubced wbesher critical ream can act as 2 phloopical undeaboarer for Maiyim, A more suitable position to take would ke one hac sought to develop the theoretical categories of hisoral material themselves tater niacozporateconcepts ad categories incompatible with is nates, Thenarrageo tia ralisnond Merson 7 ‘What contemporary Marxism can learn from critical realism (Andrew Brown) articulate below 2 view which edopss some of the esentive arguments made by SF and JR, whit disagreeing with ones, SFs case fora ful blow philosophy of science wil be endorsed and angled. Hed SPs Syppoaen been an'open Maier ack at Gun (1989) thea the very eel ke Marxist pisophy woald have beea put into question. In his coment, it wil be argued, against JR, thatthe tas of apical such a sHilsopy is inded as urgent, fr contemporary Mario, a S ruggess Furbermore, the success of eritcl tas across abroad range of adi socal dviplnay els sugges that contemporary Marxism as auch to lear rom critical tals, not only as vegarcs the dagying of the need fr plilesopy, but ei a regards the content of ay such pibiopy. There are sinply too many genuine Marist adherens to, ce sympathies with, crt els fee the exieme ejecsions of erical reals recomended by some ofits cetractors tobe wholy aczpied,Strtarl causality, the sndon of tendencics, the key disincon betwen thought and object, the notin of emergence, ete. ms, a erica cea: Maris argue, be upheld together inv miled Manss philosophy, But these eco donot ex Lvsilargue, othe ned for contemporary Mackin o embrace he fal coda ce dialectal citi cel) ticulton of stazural es aly, emergence, and soon. My chaper 9 argues that E. V,Lyechov's ‘Marat pidsophy provides, preserves and transcend the eral rit reais concep, Hee | bify note the bvvical nd theoretic coment that informed lenkoy philosophy. Critical realism andthe need for Marsst philosophy ‘The conten: of rel realism and the dveredxsplnay backgrounds of cic cealist sympchises, provide a sale lesson i Marns, Cita realm bas attracted fllowes froma very bcd range of dpe inthe seca sciences, humanities and beyood. One exlaatin fr this broad appeal muse ie in a general disatisiction with the cepesvetradvonl nates aught in pilose of ence and methology cores ined at secil seats, and at ker practioner Ie is sll in nde to camp end critica sues dvinguish wobread ypescf sch courses Fisthere are courszin the pilosaphy ofcence. Secon there are dive ‘netbocogy’ comes where specie mekeds prevalent in a particular discipline are aught Take, Gest, the ‘philosophy of diverse developmen within the phitsophy of sence dsiplne ise remains the case thatthe aares of Poppe, Kut, Lakatos and Fyeraband arelely tobe dhe ist kat sci scents wil imcke a exerpliffing the ‘pilsophy of science’. The debe amongst these philosophers regarding1B A Brow 8 Roateondand 7. ME Rots teh hecortet description and erect prescription ar scenic prow ges isby no meas relevant to scl aeseacbers, The debate estes the researcher to isurs surrounding ‘fabsifizbility’ and to the social context: of science, However, the elevance might well e desried as limite, Gril reali coecty stress that the debate dows aoc conta mach explicit erence to the rau ofthe mineindepeent el word, even though some such worl isa presapeston of the debate. Ii in ether words, 2 largely epiemelogea]debare, leaving she researcher without purchase onthe mindindependent word thats the objet of esearch, Th inpreson that can be ets that any ehstraet’ drove est inherenty Jac sch el worl! content and bene be inert lacking practice salience ‘Turing tothe methodalgy’ccurse hee two broad and an use again rather sweeping be picked out, On the one ha there: are ‘quantitative’ ccurses concentrating, fr example, onthe tkeory and pratce af sativa ineence. On che ther hae ee are yale! courses conierng, fr example, he theory an practice of questionaire dig, Boh quamaiv and qualitative courses and me‘ods ex, fused wel, every well of course But they ae dif to use in practice ie. in the context of eal word obj. And, by their very nature, such cours nas fous onthe mand rater than onthe ot The ipresion, once again is ft that a high level generality necessarily implies abstraction fom explc consideration of mindindependent realy (ie, a aeglect of cently) ‘The itil reasargament demons tat philosaphy in general, and cutology in particular, ped not he a mere ee ise, of ite practical relevance Gia! reatm articulates what practitioners often akeady fe} ‘ply tobe ease Therearemany siatemertsatthe velo generality ofpilosophy that refer to he rel, mind independent world, Throogh such refzeos hee concepts are pasicallyinptat, Fi teres he base fae ofsciene tel Through the hardjetil efr fence, knowledge af ‘he mindindepenen: cea wrk is btaved, Asonihngly, sft oot amade clic inthe debate between Popper, Kuhnand Lakatos Icmay be implicilyreeogied, bar the failure co make ic exp leads to an un warranted divorce of philosophy fom cel. For example he concept of ‘paradign’ or is Lakatan coumerpar, ‘scentife research program’ refs tothe real of knowledge rather than othe objecof dc knoedg the real woud: to opistemclogy rather than ontology. Crieal realism dernsvaes thu the Kubia|Lalatesin perspective mus havea real world analogue in ga ereagene!. The ecgntin that clit is layered in scesive emergent stata isin tunable t explain the develop- sens of eu parecgas’ ted by Xubn and Lakaes. The developrent of 4 new paradigm may Smply correspond to the uncovering of a hitherto ankoown srarum, More gceraly the nation of emergence ted tothe crtial rast aos of structures, mecharves, readers and, forthe The marmagofetcleaivaané Manson 18 socal eal, thereon soil sevcure ad of the emergence ofa and tence of human agency. All these notions efertng to the real word, ae racially useful and are heated at the level of generality of phibsphy They are eniwine!pilsopical concep artivalated by cra els, yet absent rom the philcphy and methodology cha is most fair to gracitioners and tans inthe huvan [2nd indeed aural sciences The intuitive appeal ofthe ritcalrealitontloy, congld withthe abveroe cf nological considerations fom the philosophy and methodology sractonally encuntred by social sient prcitiones, goss sone way tovards explaining the breadth ofthe appeal of eal realism, Creal realism thematies salen and general eatars chat practitioners actully ennounter in researc, selintfeacores ofthe real world, Thereby ential seals demonstaes that coneets ac sac a high lvl of generality ihe vraisteical evel) need not be litle, sterile or without practical impor. Armed withthe critical realist ontology is posible to eitque toth ihe tadtiora philosophy of iene andthe varied quantiave and pultative ‘methodologies, encountered by reseacckers. rial realism feeqrounds themed to adape te research metheelogy to the objec and aot vee vers, Quettarve and qualitative metods of statsialinfereece can beasesed i ter their aplicailyto the chet. The objets can be grasped aa natural cr seca structure with attendant mechani, Asa res the mos: prevalent fara within dipins can be interrogated ‘nr metiodolgial grounds, For example, many theories ensting ender the talc of possractualion, povtmaderssm and seal cesta saad revealed as onesided: such theories renga the conceptual pect bu aot the objective apect fence The converse rend tar greater and grezer mathematical sophistication within economics cx lkevie be recognised a onesded, Hee the problem arises fom recognition of the quantitative bat rot the erucal qualitative characteris ofthe economy and human agency, “The leson Marian can learn fom cial ream, the, is ke need co articulate Marxist and hence realworl coneps at the eel of generaiy cf philosophy, ic. a che teanchistorcal level. Morevet, Marsan can seongie within he ctl eli cones, a glimpse of jus: what Marxist plilsophy shold, and I would argu, Marv and Eng’ philosophy dos inact, embrace the concepts ofsructurel causality, the distinction beeen thoug and mindndependent obj, the not of end, aconepton social setae and agency, te notion of emergence the praia ie cf neg, and soon Toilatratethepcint itsisltcomidertmowelstnown ‘alternatives to cea realism, bch explicty Mars philophits. Fit there the case of Alhuserinisca. The inl promise and subsequent: dene of Alehuseian Mario fsered attacks onthe very notion of Mais piso pyle. EP. Thompson, Open Marssn| Uhimacly lchustian Marxism filed to uphokl succesful a imt-ndeperdet teal, lib knonaleA, Brouy, 8, Fated andj. Robots byhamanagens endowed wih ee wll, Crt eal atiemps to uphold that promise, and thsi argued by sme proponents [Cole 188} fill «bespeccaly pine! cp fy the demise o Akuseranisn, Second, theres he asco the many al vated sianof Hegelian infu ence Marais, afr example, represented by JR's eonriouton to this book The recent revival sack sands has prope the coiring of new phrase, sew dialect’ (Arthur 198), Ne alesis, in als vaity, does ‘tots thestrident fshioa of critical reais, aset of philosophical con= cepts expliidy and clearly efereing toa mindnependent cal, Asa ough approximating itis posible to characters the varied rand of aw dialects as united by rejecon of Maras cu pilsopicel renal 10 the ell tht Hegelian east. This contrasts haply wit the sident cvcal eas fad ileal ec veais) equ of eye. Tobe sure its posible bat ihe pibsophial content ofsme stand cre dias is very cls to that ofcitcal realm dst the outward ferences of empbas Thus Aku’ chaper inthis boo caus upon dialcicaleical seas, Bu forthe majo ofaewcalectician, the cer cifeentoutward emphasis does suggest signfcart philosophical differences with crt reali, Cerily, ii rita reall, al ot new dialects, thal arcu ete xpi the key notion ef structural cavity, Why Marxism should not be‘exgmented? by critica reetism ‘Why, given dees tha cae lear rites, sould Mare ion not embrace eical realism with open armu? There ae two ceated aspects to my answet, Fy, aud as JR bs pied out, ics important to recognise that theremay be more than one pilwophy that stress mind- independent realy, emegence, buon ageay and pratce and s0 on Thatisto say, P's case fra ful-Mows!pilsophy of sient, containing key rea reli notions, 2 cae chat I have wed co amply and exend abe, doe not establish the eed fer these ial alter to suai soch a phiksopy, even where key concept such. as strstr causility are endo. Seo, theese akernative Marais piksophical petons, able co embraze and tanxerd crite seals, Of couse, ano defend thisater clave, al he reader sleet chapter Indow but it may be usu nna brie the historcl en theoretical location of my pcefered philosophy, cz, ‘materialist dialectics’. Bakhurst (1331 kas demonstrate in del hat ke history of Ruan hilorphy in the tertet centary doesnot dislay the sterility that many inthe West, Jad asuned, given the Stain regia, Rate, 2 vibrant pilosphical tradition exised in defence of the autotest was this context that EV, ljenkor (1917) gained prominence through tis artculaon of a nner dialectic, crawing upon Mars and Ege, and upon te tick ‘einof piksopical debate within Rusia. [nthiswayit ua be argued that, ose Thenaniogafitidalisnend Morn 2L Tear was ble 0 develope ul-bewa! Marx piloopy fom wie the Mac trate inthe way at JR escrsesabove, Notes | opt cleaves cus ofp praie ut chap paty forte, tu als esas, a acted ov, here so cnec-e mapping blue pr tial picl pesca particular theory anda potclarpibcphy anya 12 Clery te debate beet cial veal and Macs coven more tha pi cucpy sine, a many oft conbuion tis cleti show = especialy ‘hose contiutoas ro: Breve, Celie, Crenen, Ebay and Robes {Ade vires tendenis re 1 be found eg. nine and Kans 1979, ‘MacBride (177 Mele (965), lian (993); Reaten and Win (289) Ruben (198 Sarr (1883); Wien 81) ant ley (80), Che the mere Akad dicusirs of endencitss Cuter al (177; pat, especial chaplec 6) sigh even hee ones twang mere duno. Certain be places tre ne would expet tn fd at east ‘aside’ we finda mention atl ans astendeces~ eg. Faoran Bel 933) ad Muay (188 4 Ths might not beset accurate besa, stay with the example, even the aetated power Ca Sige ke ina garden sed igh fst the one’ decion about seg he caro eave o work Examples ie tee are highly con tex dependent and rust etree 5A miosann, typical, compres of a set of substations and sid. adbmechaiins wd 9 on A ieee ia mecha, but it cies of ub reckarisms such a whee, which emeles comprise of vbub- neces -suat soles andiv on See Jesopsztion eftendeneis as being out eden fn inhi ele This sation deans heavy on Laven (997, Housman (186, ston 8.1} aio provides el dcusionef tender 5 My nec tre core bere do no do justice to the sophia of Reten's work He ell swareof he notion of endeney wed by cial abst hich heels tas a ‘power avon of tendency’ 199: 157), sem that, dtp considers ambiguity even Mar’ work, Marp-ably esol oper. ate wi endenoy a owes, bu with endeaey ara, IPReuten is ere, Macc does operae wit tendesry a esl, ten. om hub pion) Mrs nie 8 Thssa ypc examplecthnw thevacusm created bythe bse of fawn Mans pis ofc afin ile by Mars barawig pis re Margst pipes c€sceace~ wi damaging crseuenes fr Maram. 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(1977 Dit Lg Ess mis Tey nt ity, alae by HL Campbell Creighton, Mescow: Pages, ‘nt 784291 ‘An Ansr tothe Question: Whats the El hea ent? in H. Reis ed Kas a! Wri, Cac vide: Cambridge Unie Mes — (198) Cite of Pore Rene, trained by N, KenpSmith, Lede Maca Lanson,T. (997, Gans dey London: Route, Lipton, ® 193) hjoeustthe Bs Bglactia, Londan Routed, Matis, W197) The Philp Mr, Lend Hutch Mary K, (358/975) Gris, London: Pekan — (196 Capi vo HD, Landon: avsence & Wiha, Nil 1985) Esai Ting of Mor, Glouceser:Duckverb Murray, (L982) Ma's They of Soeifc Rend, Ahatic Highnds Humathiss Acdece, (OimanB (198) Dilton Londo: Ree Poses, M. (193) Ting, Labor nd Sci Denietie & Remeron of Mere’ Crit Sil Thom, Cambridge: Corbridge arty Pres Reutet, (1987} “The Neti of Tendency in Man's 1894 Law of Poi ia F Masyae M, Carmbellds) Nasletpatinse Mae's Mt, New Jersey HunaitsPies Recte, 6 snd Willams M, 190) Ye Pom one Sits Te Tinto Aca {ein adhe Deri cv ey iCal Sey, Landon: Rode Robers J. (2001 bcoming) Reali Spat Absracion’ aris Oba tia of Chim widkin Crd Realin Gecgaphy’. Pgs in Hone Gop ute, D-H 198) Mason ae Maer: A Spi Mart Thar of Bede, Sosex Hart: ictal Sujet, A (IH) Medd Sil ewe A Ris App, 2ad eon, London: Routt. Sayer, D (1903) Mec’ tks dey, Sinead iti in ‘Cais, London Nosrillan Says, 1985) Rey nd aso, Once: Bil Back Stans, A. 121) Dit et oe T Tea Cait, Devos Melia Bons aH. (199 Mar’ Cita Diet! Prt LerdoreRoedg (1980 The aga Mrs Ono: Ks Bsckel land Capin 2 Five ways in which critical realism can help Marxism! Jonathon Joseph Introduction ‘The claim hat Marxism isin something of cris has hen fashionable fo many years, Hever, beyond questions of theoretical constency, we are coationted with the real probes of Marisn's place in che world. Perry Anderson famous inked the development of Western Man ~ and is tar aay fom poles and das stragl, is empha on philosophy ad caltue and is pesinistic oudoo - to te real wed riunpi ffs, Salnsm and later the eects of post-war capitals scity (Andean 1979), Since then the Mais ela see further devine, The clase of Communi? bas had a bad ec, further dsetiting Marxian in th oso he working as and giving enened impetus ote ecg offensive the ling cas Mars theory, meanwhile, undergesa Tether proces of mutation as fv mos dogmorc and intrarszent aspects are wed «os proces of rethinking, Jang to an aray of ‘new seal” and ‘pet Marvisalternatives, Jn this cone, eta elim can provide some fresh hope for those who wish ean te ence of Mari while remaining rita of sme Manvst approaches, Bbw ve sill outine the cal cel approath alongside an exploration ofthe wealnes of Marxist theory The ay how et, sna toeplace Mans bey but to caret Creal eal piso piycan ip us engage in a proces of -chinkng Mara withoat haying ‘orechinkitina pose Mandst a. The benef of ria realism a oppoed ‘o mae overly Marxist pitsphiesistha \ Ceiicatcealisescomesto Marino oursie’in theses atitis aot intrinsically Marsis, but approaches Marxism in a scientific way. By dis ‘ang ivel ftom Marxism by presenting conceptual analy cttcalralisn is bate paced to providea geuingcritcal appraisal, 2. Tei on a degree of precson and sigour missing ven much ofthe peudotheorising of*Matast philosophy’ [provides anew farnework fo the conoepuaition of scat elaton.A Fouche Jor 3 Agnist the donian: trend of inter sbjctiv, pras-riented piles phising, eral rate advocates an onlogial approach that moves beyond question of aovicdge and action to ask what th: world itl? mustbelikefrthesetobethecase, However, itis mecesay to begin by stating afiatos and attachments A commitment» Manssnistaken.as giver, chequestonis whether eral realism car help Marxism in any way. 1a answering this postive, the ace draw almost nclosively on thecal works ofits, This is no fo say that Dishic and other more recent works have nothing to oer Mars, But they ae regarded an the beginning of n diferent kind of approach, ammuch more anos projec which moves away rom the idea that tiaras can wockalongse Marais, Thins not the pace ogo into ailscalecrtque of (ranscedencal iletial ral zalism, but iti ezesary to tae tha thi atc i informed by the belie that the systemic pilomphsing of Roy Braskr’s test work is icompatibe with al undermines & Maric say of soit, Bask Marsst conneps like clas, medeo production and stracual determination ae pushed aside by Baska’ icucous master-slave rations, kis oonspectic dae of fre, te trascendeatal ston ofthis and the primacy geo aon tring over being. If what olows ser like a restatement of des, tis tease ches ol dees are the best ideas. gant the ambitious cars of Basar Mark I, no to mention he riacamated Bhaskar of Fron Eat Wat iv necesry to restake our ground. By esblsting this ground, an alteratve project othe curent onzcan be develope. his ao yee to sound the charge cf the eft rasa, bar tistime at kat to prepa ox baie tett Gritical realistunderlabouring Peapshefirstard nes imporiant questions wha is Maras phitsophy? Itisthe very ical ofthisquesion tht makes pibsophy aecesary, In contrast o eter acters a soca theory, Maran mins that it alone can provide an adequate degree of sienifity, and that other theories ~ like casa! economics, encima soilogy or bebaviouist gsychncgy~aeindequat, partial isleaing ler insone otber vay ‘declogcl’, But how do we measure Maxis against semething that i tet sly Seni ~ namely philsophy? Andi plilesopy i dsinet fom science can there bea Mars’ philomphy’ either ay somethie distin cuithable from Masi: sciene or aa crtel pat ot? Our contention here vl be that philnoby inde din fiom scene ar hath s+ tinction mest be man‘ained ifve wat toprserve the posit oaeical aypraival cf tence However, this very dsintion also means that heres 10 "Maris? pilosophy a oc, for Marxism wil be defined asa thery thar suis ssi and develops asec only, wile pilrophy, it wort lice bal Marine %5 is nanan’, sno stadyofsoiey in thi dret seme, butis study of sence and other cognitive practices, ncading thers of saciey (Mar. ign), Ofcourse science and Marvin are themselves social practices and in thisense philosophy des stay part ofsccety. But the wider clin boat the amur of cclty mast go through such social pace, they cance be ere diy, a Bhaskar’ view the syneategocematic ora itwere oly proxysefereal charac ofthe nevertheless ireduible scours of phosnphy-. as tobe contrasted ite rey referential crater ofc scien discourse (Bhaskar (90a: 50) ‘Ths Marxism and philosophy are dite nthe sense thatthe ae cone cere wit dferec ype of knowledge, While Marsisn produces fs cncerkrovledeof society, pilosophy is second-arderknoledge in ait iskrowelge ofthis kaonlge of society (jst as it may als eet on the lnowleige of natural since with ite becoming a ator! sience! ‘The fc that Marsa divert sti society while piosopy studs the study society (Marxism) means tha paophy cannot be Marssm even Afphilosophy oust operate dragh Mans, Burin cernnenting on Mars- ins ining, claims theres and mecods cial els does st itl op against other attempts at phicsphy, In this seme, cra realism sa camnperneno Marsisn but a iva o Marxist plow’. paricuay, ici mcesay to critique those attempts to end Manis an pileaphy tngether such a might e found in the ‘pri? Marin of Lac (197) Korsch (1970) Grams (197) and Sarre (1976). Although praxis Mane ium ees ise as vebeling aginst the mechanical viewpoint of orthodox Macvsn? more cen shan ati impose itso telogial schema were history becomes the process of confirmation of subjective knowledge o class comscistess Tn ter words, th pans Marsa cnfont objects tele logy wit their own obectivstceelogy wil eum otis isue ater’. ‘Whether Mant henry adopts the meckarial, pestis and dein evolution of orthodox dialectical material or whether we accept Kosch view thatthe ‘emergence of Mars them sin Hegeian-Marxis terms only the “ober side” cf the emergence ofthe real proletarian mve- tment (Rosch 190: 2) csees tha the common rors ting a phle sophia framework onto hiorical material thereby prejucing and undertiing an secu senifcivesgetion fal hic eatin WWeneedaoreburnblpicsopbial projet that seesits clas cating Maris ater thn orchestrating it, In his euly work Basar sets cut his conception erica el pilosopy as an wudelaboaer othe since, producing econ oer krowleige nd cating question ol mettoclogy {eg Bhaskar 199710, 198%; 8) Although this may sem modest tak it isone that crcl impo‘ ae potential yexplosve For while may2% Jtier rep be scene tha attempts to sow us how the word, pilwophy car belp clay the metho ofthis sic inorder ous a see rnc carl, Tn socal science hs ial she more importan: iver athe close ration: ship between sca theory and sciy they attempts co explain sciey vile abo beg the product oi), and he debates and eontisions wie exit ita oval sence and Mari ery, Tere ve if phicsophy des ao daz anlye sce, it cetanly analyses sia cet thenis ou the social wr, To simpli, we mig say tac) the pias of social science analyses the practice of cial scence whe) cil sence itl anesthe oil orl, Pilsopy's lation to the social wel (as objet of analy as an incre cr eon ner critqu ‘The impoctance of eikcal realism andi supionty over the vious autemptsat ‘Marit phsophy’ esi theft that ics neces ‘ouside’ Manssm, His true that the nature ofthe soil and its concep agp meee that etal reali and soil analysis do ge entwined, However, cx elsm cones pilesopiy ina more general ese 2 relied a range of sciences, Ti is important beemse when we do start to sort, chrough the conicons within Maris theory, we teed a tol tac sii crate conaeried, but not redurble, co the scent prac itl If we abnadon te citincton between Macxisn and philosophy, ther weabardon any hnpe aaa sera nel Critial als, coneeved of as philosophy, there plays tis unde: aouing le, Andif Marsan & conezhed of asthe main meno social science, tenin tii tcl eam’ tas sto act asan uodeeabourer te Manson, ommenting on is method, practice ad claims Ar Andrew Coles pins cus, althnighicdoes nt yell new knowsg.pibsophy isa cage peactive, Toe knoolege it draws upon comes from the siences incuding Mari social science Oe 1988: 120 Aconeing tour theory, tieeore, Marisa should besten a ascetic aunlysif ciety, Bat inode to allthis oleit ares todraw en an exp city erical ris phlosopy capable of sustaining an ontological account of the wold and maining cael satiny of the sientibe mecbod euployed. fw conceive of enical reali as an uadelaborer then wesee it working aloaside Marsiom. This relationship rust be ept in cael balance, Prilwophy should ac intrade on Marxism and impose ts own schema on our urdertancig ofthe word, Only Marssniselfcan provide the ata of de specif atures of he soca wr for his the task of science ther than plilesophy, Howeve,phtsopby can aes the nature ofthese clans and inst on seine fame ati consisen witha crite relist ontolgy, "Thi then she vay in whic cal reatim cankelp Marxism, Thisisalo te most general way whic critical ceaim telyy Maras since the rdevabourng tl is embodied inthe for other waysthat flow Hox ite vasncashiy Merson 27 Ontological primacy and the intransitive dimension ‘The ci errs cf but sides ofthe objenive-nbjeive debate ae the impeston ofa pilesopical schema on reality and the ooafaton of put aledge of reality withthe real word il. Oh the side of objet snehtica materialism wefind writers ike Plekhanov wh days his pil sophia schema irom the evclutonay thee of Darwin, tora em hei spriic (natural) contest and ceappié to ike social domain in ac every nt way that fast do justice othe specie he socal x eel with its ova emergent avs proprtis and €ynamics Pleanov cbins ‘his with am objected veton othe phlneopie of Hegel ane Feuerbach raving heavily on the enpivial generalisation of Engel philosophical work ad the mostscematic and mechani interpretation of Man’ view cfhistorical developmen: ‘Thus, the properies of de geographical environment determine che developmen. ofthe pedctiv fore, whic in is turadeleruies the devdlopment ef te eronomic fre, and treo al other soci, relacons (Plethanoy 1920-49) Isis sures hat mos of the mechan termini ofthe Seeord Ineraioral become renegades vio abandoned revlutionxy practice The development of the proclactve forces became the new historical Get chat would eraurea soca futur, allowing the Second Ineratonl ‘o gon wih he day-to-day buses of eformiam, As Kauthy argued: ‘Our ta eo in organise the revelator, hut ongniveoselvesjr the revo Luin it i not to mae the revolution, bu tke alee of” (que in Salvador 1940: 21) Ii understandable why, in opposing te polis of ibese figures, and in opposition to vulgar Stalin, theorists ke Lukicy Gramsci, Korsch and Saree should emphasise the concept of praxis. But ile Nori for example is comet oink enim tothe development of reformist trade unions and paltial parties, and while he is ccarect to suggest tat the abstract nature of ‘vulgar Mars refers the need io separate it rom acial ug, by claiming tha tbe Marit semis he theretialexprson of the revoluionary movement cf he praca’ ors 1970: 42, e img Nasi che philosophical viewpoint or ‘orkuticokata bj the che ero hse Following Bhaskar, e cr say tha bese tenes embrace hiss shares Maran tk heceica expen af the working dss, that rubies other forma of knowledge (neluding, often antral scence} as Doargeidecogy and thar ses Macc asset, comprehensive and ttasing standpoint (Boaska 191: 72), Tiss pect expesed in Liki’ view hat 'eIPhrowedge cade with knowledge of tue whole so hae proesriat sac one and the sare time the subject and objet ois8 Jnden roph nonledge(Lakics 197: 20), Instead bring ascene, Mariam becornes apecpetvg, or world-view, Thi immediately poses he danger flavin 2 Mais i ao longer dened in relation to knowledge ef the el world. inorder to avoid the condasen that thee sno objective rth and that cue up's view ofthe wot is as good as ante’, the pra plilopes| seek to givecrtain groups a prominent historic lace and purpene ard 0 they adop telecogy, This cures ona hey subject such asthe party or ke prkaciat whose viewpoint tobe confraed by hsery Ironically thn, itis philesophy tha mst tar to reteue Mario from philosophy fo, i its uadeabouting cacy, etal eli argues chat ne must nist onthe separateness ofthe werd andthe knowledge we have ofthe world, Just because the world reveled to us through knowledge and action, tis doesnot ewan thar thi al cher i to i. Cities takes an unashamedly bloga! sandpont that focuses onthe indepen. Aealy cxving reality that koouledge and ation try to comprehend or change, This independent existing eat is described by Bastar as an instream, Tetra withthe ani noe sates o compreheadcrexpainit. nde, thane eifacesthecthe fora trarstne realm of ovledge woulé be icomprekensile without an inéepenerty exiig elt to wich ices Therefore, te intransiveiaconiton forthe inligiby f the transi reality ra! exit independent of nr Kanosledge of it siete development and debate are co have any relevance The fact that cencelsan ocanied bumanpractic that takes place ina socal context and eles on preceiting, socially produced knowledge meas that pilophy has an important cle to play io examining is snes [tas try to rner epic bat is ale imply assumed uamstinded asthe pra thors eraphasie,takeaccountofthe particu lurclas standpoint of the agers involved, Buin taking an ontclogial stance it must ark what theory implies about the nature of the world itself. By sting on she separateness of tractive and inransve treet the tape that sews thought as aie rection of reality. The eparatenes of the two realms meas that ther i ao det “eorespondene’ beiween hough ands objec This receariy lads us 1 embrace some form of epistemic reatiien sshereby we tecagnie that thee no det carespodence bewern Acne adits abject, Thi doe aot mean that we ring ina judgmertal relacvom asthe post strurralins and pot-Mamis would wish cy thar swe recopis the neces social ctaracterofkaoweége While inting om the separate realms of transitive knowledge and intransitive object, ert cal reali does recgns the pei nature of soa scenes, i partials, thecelaticelaspest that soil vere ate part oftheir owe eld ofenuiy an that they area proc ofthe sume society tha hey sek to exlein ‘Agect the rtonlom of be Althuserian soo, it mst be tes ha social theory cannot stand abovesocity nz haughty scenic mane, is Hower! vais ce kp Mains 29 alely neces ‘Contained by soil, historia and itelogia denen: Nevertheless Macsis explanation should aim ac beng ‘einfl’ ju atenping (0 provide he best pos ble explanation ofthe way tha the it sn doing thst shold attempt to show that the cia weld is snore then fasta bundle of meaning, actions and undersadings bats dived sructres comprise’ ofa, int Structure, strata and social transformation Cialis agus that che neigh of knowledge oftcety presup- poses that society ixlf kas some kind ofstructure that i eelatively enduring ae tonient end whichis therelore open to investigation. It recognises tea thes word diflesfoethe nate world ina nanberofimportact yi particle that socal structures rebound up withthe eis of the agents that they govern and that, therefore, sccety has a conceptual axpect. But agains the praxis Marist an thos, ike Habermas, wo are infoenced by the hermeneutic tradition, erica realism mania that sovicty isnot exkastd by is conceptual or prais aspects and that we ‘tonl std objectives structs Bure Maras coton ef social stuctare as been given bad mame by ‘hemos mechanical interpretations of Mara’ work, nok byte wooden dialectal materials ofthe Secod [nteratocal but alo by those who sought to maintain ‘lascal Marxnn? ~ the Leniniss and Troy They have tended to ignore the more opiate socioeconomic analysis of Catalin vou the five pages of historical generalisation conteied in Mary's Preface to Contd te Cites Pail Eey whic ks the fanows basesupestruture metaor tothe bitrcl development of svt The tality of thee relations of predation constintes the exanomi, stuctre of socey, the real foundation, on which aise a legal and Poltca superstructure and to which crespord definite forms soci Ata corgi stage devdopment, the materal po- ductive forces of soc cone into conict with the existing eation af production. From te frm of development ofthe products faces these tations turn ito thet ters. Then begin an ea of sci revolution consiousness Marx 1975:425-) According tis viw the econmitrusre ofc besomes the prime chivng feof history. While hisisnotneesarly wrong, the mechanical and deterministic emphasis arises rom the fact tht the steric process redaced toa single mechani, Problems ark once we sat o examine the bald cans of this satement, What isthe eronomic stuctce of sce? Does ike production process cot contain a whele range of cal elationsBD oncthor Joe Like edveation training ac the falta canna be simply edaved to che economic} Can the economic bas be separated fiom ‘spestructural face tors? Legal relations, for example, would seem to be both superstractural and economic (property based, Can the produce farses oe separated ‘ior reations of prcction2Thisgie the als impresion hat the prodac- tiveoreeskavesomekindofautonomy outs thir soeal forms, And when choeste certain stage of Gevetopmen: osu? How doe deride when society aecomes a ‘eter’ on the suppesedly autonomous development of pro dacioe? Afr Troisky claimed that oe ecomamis prereie forthe proletarian revelation bas already in general achieved he highest pint of {huion that van be racked under capita’, is followers roceeéd to describe the phercmenal growth of the postwar period bp mears cf “Troy's claim that “Marbin'sprodctve ors stagnate’ (Trotsky 17 11D, Above all, chey ignored. the impocantinduence of ‘onscterma? factors uc asia intervention and regulation, tke development ofa cone sumer rcey, welfare and elution reforms corporat and the inte- grated cleo social democracy ard the trade unions a a re system of vwerld relations based onthe doinason of the United Stes Athuser attenpied to cvecome the problem of eoonmie eductioain by stressing that ose is made up of a numberof diferent stractres or layers each enosng reve autonomy, althongh they are determined by the ecomony “nthe las instance (Altbuser 1973: 112-13}, However, the problem remains, wben does the lst esonce rive? Without the last invance, there is «danger hat each layer of thecal ormation remain autonomous a poston hat conic wth Althusers anton ofoverdterai- raion ~or te interactions, convaditons and uneven development ofthe social whole, Thisate anton ister with crcl reals’ s emphasis on a said and overlapping socal tuality where te cfererlayersiceract, and codetermine ech other. In this ers the avin of determination in te at insane” hou berejzed in Evoar of he view that “cenoni’ termination aks pac in eu intanee But aginst economic redaction- Jnmit sould bestese that hs determination has warying eyres of ino cove and that many other pawl generative mecha exit alongside econoni cms, Alhaser i sight to tect sedutianist adel of sue deternication This exits ony inthe form ofthe mectancal interpretations of Macx’s bse-upersiructae metaphor but also inthe bomanist and praxis Marxist alleratves wich maintain the Hegelian notion of mmnoroear ceusaliy although this imei s hase on the historical enicnation ofa subject, rather chan the mechanical dvelopneet of an object. While the algar Marxist’ model reduces the social whol: to the question of the exsaomic aceard the stage of evelopment ofthe prodcive res, the Lakaesan or Sartican alterantve is haed on the idea of an ‘expres toa’, where cach memeat contin che whole andthe whole method can be weaved Hower resin dlp Meraion 9) rm very snl aspect (Lukes 1971: reo link beweensuriaoe and cor: the sue relator among tte eco- tic ages are the fs pferon of che princi which gover seca production in the core af he economy, Jn Hegel’ ayte, there is 2 dove Bak beeween coment an form On the question oe relation between conten and or, Mary cok ke standpinc c Hegel and noc of Kant. Kant eated formas something external in relation to the content, and as something which ads itself 10 che conentfom de ose Fon the candpoin of Hees philosophy, the omen its, though is evelopment, generates tat ora which Cited eat gos in Mere’ Capical 47 was already atenly contained in the content. Porm necessary grows from the conentitsef, (Rubin 1972517) ‘The foma-conent paradigm is therefore in many respets appropiate for the siaton a: hand Itconnotes tha he market afters production nan indet manner. tls connotes tat dhe principe co-ordinating produc tiowin a comenedity soviet are not grat by the market. Although they sas ibemselves in aud ae dite hough the make, hey invsly alrady exit in the production proces iself and can be dined without reference the mathe Deverell otusethes Hegelian tecmsin my summary of Mars’ argument, but look atthe links between core and surface explicitly. The coce-sufacedsincton cr be lated in he inteetion of ric realism ana hsorical materialism, A critcal rast anos that ssi staid haar speaks othe ‘hats becveen the level of rial struc andthe level ofthe individu: nether lee is redcil to the ober, Historical soaerialien explores the inner structure ad historia] development of he everybody, but ms: abaus can be performed by rat srobers ose and thi shat mates, Usually, de workers eed aie ing befor they ca perform spec abou process, bat if one prsrates thetaining cine over the abou tine performed, oneeads up wth quanta tive, rot qualitative diferenescf attract labour One ole bears the argument hat abssact hunan labours ike producto capitalism, Le, that there is no abstract labour outside capitalism, This is rc ry eading of Mar, Every labour proces isthe expenditure of man Trai, nscl, seo gan et. Ln other word, abscract human labour is an aupect of very labour proces, The fet tha the same word about is used fo many dierent activites sows that his abstracticn an be mace ‘Whats seria about copii that thi aspect ofthe labour proce is the criterin by which soc productions dete, The core only ses the atstac: about ie, only through aburatlabou i the labour proces socially connected. This sil role of abtrac abou leds to the lit cf the hbour proces into oo par eonerete abou creating ve values and abstract labour erating values.0 Haas, Bhdar From core to surface Stetin thee ofthe frst chape explains ln infrvation Grom he creo theeconany is arsed eke sua ie, hw he computer represens ‘ssi satecn be moti, Maxshow hataeady te sinpleceackange scan, for inance ‘2 yards flinen =I con’, contains expression of he ‘alu ofthe commodities ined the two puts agresng to such an exchange import information about the vale of his producs fcr the core into the suaace Look fr istace a he inn weaver. Sbe Knows how much labour and expense are contain in the 2 yard inen the ast peed Ske does sot have the seme information abot the eat, but ke knows thats po duce of labor, ie, that she kas o give up par cf her ovn abou wget and she knows the use vale ofthe coat, By agrsingtoexckange be ren ford coat she tls the marke that tober te coat sa wortlerewand for having prodaced he linen; ie, she expresses the value of her linen in the vse value ofthe oat, ‘Marx observ that here th lien i activeand the coat i pasive. The linen weaver bas spent labour producing the ines, labour whichis wasted if she cannot exchange the inn against something she neds She will ot es until she has made tis exchange, Thsexpresionofvaluisonly an individual ac although valueitelfisa social relation binding every soil prodacton proves together. [a the reoninger of section three, Mars explains hev this expresion develops through its oon inner dialectic mothe inttaticn of moc. ‘Thelinen weaver neesnocrly acca utrany oer hing. Theactiy of the linen creates, therfore, not ony one bat many expresions of the vale ofinen: besdesin cat, tis ako expresed inte, cole, wheat go sron,2t.Thisso-calle expanded form of values no longer purely individual beeches ut io society. The vey aia of the individual eyes sion has given ise toa soil ality fexpresions Hut these express de a yet induce a sree behaviour th can leave a tats ippact cn the cre, because the expressions ae not baogereus and spe enough What Marx calls ‘dlrs’ are those features of the expresins of value hic preven her from fanetocng as cons troagh wich ihe sue agentspasintracion down otk core. ‘Thereore,a second crasormaton becomes necessary, atl again tis ‘rasfrmationisalready implicitly given, Since linen expres i value in coat, te, coe, wheat, gold, ion, et, all thee eter cemmodites alo express thes vals in Linen Now a celterate soil act is neessary, pared the conserss tose! nen asides the commodity in which al oer ‘omnes express thei vale. This ads to he General frm of vel, the Gist form of value in which be expreson of value resonate wih ath ocker yield ascil consensus which ae hearin thecore Cit is argos Moe’ Capital $1 This sot yet the end eit, The Money form of vale ifs fom ke ever font of value in only one seringy innoraout deal now is owt «riot that gold is exeryshere and always che General equivalent Sioce here cau only be one General equivalent, tis is an obvious further sep bare mls that bi welding ogee ca soci farm fv wit cone particular us velue has far-ceaching implicnoas But beloe taking sup, Marcdivcusesadifenisue ‘The fetish-like character of commodities Section four of the fr chapter isnot part of our round trip, although channels 1 and play a eeinit cc Immediately alter the detailed analysis ofihecmeity, Manx surprise ceader with the asetcn thatthe com snot s"msteriouy By this he means that society in which individuals deal with each ether through comedies rot alow them to control shir own cil slatons, Marx ass two questions, whch crespord tthe ‘two channels: + Whereis the myscerouscharacte eth commodity locate, what ate ‘bemeshaniss through which sccl contol lo (Tis omeponds a chanel 2 fcrmsartes car «Whats the origin of this yseriws character, i, ice the sure ia teflon ofthe production procs (channel fom core co sure, ‘wha aspect afte procueton pote i responsible for hat ‘mysterious characeofthesarlaoe rations? Thearsverto the fs: qaston es inthe drepany berwemn choi aspes of the socal production process which ave regulated by th eure inter. aetons ofthe agents, andthe form in which thee interactions are exper cee bythe agens The epalty of al hurnaa labour i enfoced by the cactangcbilty ofl! commodities, and social labour tne i allecated and ancoued by the quanitaive-marketeatens beiween goods. Ix oer words, the cil eonnetions between the proce’ labours are ot pr ceive and ace pon by the provtaces as suc, but take te for of properties f things People try to cake advange of hee socal properties ther ings, but thy arc often frat in their effi, because the social properties cbangeia the exact moment when pepe reat tthe: ‘The megritudes of vale vary continually, ingepecdeny of he wi, dretansledge and acon ofthe exchanger. Ther osm social move- ment aslo them the fora ofa mverent of things things which, ar from being unde heir conr infact cathe (Marx 1976; 167-8){2 HewsG. Eebar Civica eal can clarify hisargument For this let us tasnto Bhaskar's primordial retraductive argument, which ines general propries ofthe ‘wr saction kamogenety, opatess, fram ce fat that scence is pole Ouz word might he uch tbat ences inpossible, bat in fect it is pose Jam abou the worl through science, and tise some thing abo the wld ‘Bhaskar registers the abstract posblty ofthe impossoiity of science, but oes wt give any examples of cea in which since is indeed impose Marx, ia de commetity fib section, gies such an example: te rmapket san area in which eae and rational anit not posible for te macke prtjpants. This why Mary cal tbe cardi ‘magia With respecte soil proper ofthe commits, ther imo separ tion berween the ans aed itvanive dimenoa, because thac wich he agents investigate and act uponis already the secret by-product of hr cova acy, Ti frame in which atonal and ingenuity does rotallow the ecanamic agents to inpse cr wil athe wold, but onthe contrary they become the avai bgger game which they donotcontr Marv ues the metaphor ofa phaeasmagor’ taslted a ana’ i Mare (1916: (58), an optical ison crated with the belp of a agi Jantrn, In move modean tems, the meret participants live in a vital realy, which ies them ae sin that he ae able actin their own interes but which channels them towards predetermined outcome. “The second quston allows ister aytbingin the production pro- «esl which paves the grou fr thislack of sil canto? Macx pois cut that alendy during production che produces conser aot only the natural properties of te bur proce, but they tke a peck the elaine social properties of their products aswell Unortanately Mars doesnocelaborateon the sigiiance of tis Tere- foce wily co supply my own explaation. To Mar, the relations inthe eduction proces prope, where humaa indvidval interac with nature, axe cent tothe fabric of the whole society, Ths is the point where mo ‘users ae allowed, where ations mus: bens rational, where mankind tasto best ave, Nature des nt yield to pou wishes ut eal tose siically guided purposeful activity. Now ifthe man-made market properties of goods are given crsideration in ths domi af dec: proluctio, th introduets irl precisely at tat oine where rations should most strongly be divested coward realty, The lack of cotolis te spread tis irealen The exchange process Inthe seco chapeer, Mar inveigates how the expresioa of value discussed in section three of the frst chapter serve the practical necds ofthe commit traders onthe sarc ofthe econcny. While sertion ve ofthe Chia ais ergs ie Ma’sCapital 53 finichapeer conned hat checoreis eal, the econ chapter consimsthat thesalactishrction ‘4 sinple commecyprodacer wo goes to market in onder to barter hit jroduets pusues two opeste goa in tke same tanaction. On the one Hand ie want get the use valu ths exchange hat best si see azvbon the other, be was o realise the val of iscommosity which hei ajvingin exchange. These wo oalaeso nach aces wich each oe, that Marx presents ther metaphorically asthe goals oft diferent agen ofthe comsreliy producer himself n the one band, and bis commodity on the tbe. The corznodityissinglesnined interest n eli seu, wl he crn nity producer isthe procrasinator restaning the commodity ntl ke ha found a wen chat suits him, The cmmadiy, which represen tke socal contest ia which the commodity producer stands, depicted 3s tig its ova wil, because che market lations betwen the commodities are beyond tecontul fd trades. Marr's melagborcl confi between che commodity and is owners an apt characetiation ofthe ogaing act, by which people chee individual goals and dees inc the ive but inescapablesrial eamewcrkin which he fd thease. Tae contradiction berween the two goals can beset as follows: as scons ‘hecommociy producer has secimind on aspect we value ili infftrng bis commodity only tothe producers of thistle, and therefore caunot get thesame br equivalent which e wuld heabletogetifheaffxed iscommodiiy fo everyone, {his contadton canbe sled by spliting the barter inte two rans actionsa sale which asthe purpae of ealng the value fk cranodiy, anda purchase whch asthe pupese of eleing the we value dese by the nvidual. For is, mone is oeesary, 8a Max emphasis tha hs iwoney des not ave to bene now as instrument to facta he cachange, since ic lead exis asthe mos appropriate cial expression of vale, Inotker words checrign oftmoney isin the cove, notthesurace This an inportan insight. Whether something is good rnaney ot not not decided by how well it facilitates the exchange, bus 5) bow well i induces theecrnomic ages ote their products as valu, Le, to epi thet labours and encoureges them one prot by production instead ofspee: lion In odays global enc, one does noc ned eo be commodity amy, bt these rier ara good money sll apply The curse of money ‘The second chapter shows therefore tat te expressions of value developed in section sex of thes: chapter are functional er the exckange proces, ‘hich in ten cocrdintesprocacion in such a way that abractabour is the main organising principle: The system is conten, chanel ad 2 ftSe Hew, Eivier coger. Bu the tir chaps hows that dhe Best expresion of value on the surfer alo generate face behaviours which ead messages downto ce core that go beyond the zedsaf soa preductin proces based onabract labour. This novelty appears aft inthe function ofmoneyasa hoard, Ale the scl fre of General eqivalet has once and fr al een ataced to a specicusevalue sy gold, aw behaviours arise No it becore practically desirable o accurate go to ld cco wealth ins abstract frm, The desirecoaccamulate money's futile because: arog ots concept, moneys the quintessence fal us vals but, sinceitis always only agiver amount ofmoney {here capital) its quan titative liitation stands in contradiction to ts quality, The onstant lvebeyonditsowninitatonis theo inberent in isnature (Marx 1979210 and Mare 198620), trasltion adjusted ‘This quoted rom Gunde, but its obvious that Marx was employing the sane argument in Cpe Letme sestate: Quatatiely, money gives acces to all use vals, ie, quality cisunivera, Tis qualitative univety come ito conic, sichlesquantitaeboundednes, since mere lyayscy ets asalinied| sum ofoney.Thsconficis it by everyone dealing with money, and an chvius reslusion so try 0 ge mone money. The deve for quancaive ‘expansion belongs therfore tothe raare of mony. I is what Leal the ‘eur ofmane. Now moneys a longer ervaat tucking. The teeny ofmoneytormtiplyitelistherefareasoldasmovey sell Tees not coe rom hua gree bu orth money for theres ne key which unlocks al crs, it sees very rational to ge hl ofthat key. No on the gredy capitals, but als che worker who willy agrees to overing, the corsuness wha purchase shiny toys so hat they do at have to fertile ithe modern version ofMar's ‘pent jetinsof te euse a mee. The carve of money bas its origin in ceulcon. Buti ids ts rational eral its althia, novi the withdrawal of mane fom cxalatin, but ia theprodation ofsurplus alr, which ncesaryencompasses oth produc tion and circulate, as Max hows dhe fifth chape; not the mer bur the capitals its vationa agen Capitan busines con ony bean esception along as the meckanins to tmuldply alu ave cia place inthe core of the eeoaomy, For og ime, capital essed thecle ely atthe periphery of economy, asrerchart capil or usiry capital siphoning supe value out of culation, Easy examples, mextioned by Marx inthe test chapter (Mare 1976: 345] stich the motive to make mere and mire mony vas diet i into pro