20 4:20 -2.0: PROOF 21-DEC ICIBERLIN PROOFS: Please do not circulate without permission of the author IMAGE ACEHOLDER SCE ce ean Sr get Sade te Clon gy in terSatin tao pe pesto 8504 FRIEDER OTTO WOLF ® Materialism Against Materialism ‘Taking up Marx's Break with Reductionism Puedes Otte Wolf “Materialism Against Materialism: Taking up Mans Break with Redctonirm, im Mteriliom and Policy ‘by Bernardo Bianchi, Emule Filen Donato Marion Miguel, and ype Yuva, Caltaral Ingury, 20 (Berlin: ICI Berlin Pres, 2021), [pp huip//doorg/10.37080/e-20_15> © by the author(s) Escept for images or otherwise noted his publication is eensed ner a Creative Commons Artibstion ShareAlike 4.0 Inter ional Liceee sastaacrs This text proposes to overcome the widespread etor of ‘Eemising Mare’ etique ofalmsteriainm beforhia bing edac> ‘ont and therefore philosophically and sclemtically unaceptable Instead i atempts to create » non reductionist undestanding and pctice of materials in philosophy — expecially by tefesing to key Contibutons by Althusser and Bhastar snd by crtiising theater Inst ilsion’ ofthe early Marx — theceby articulating another key tlement ofthe nite Markie defended by the author ssrWoRDs Finite Marxism; Ate Port modernism Maltipe Domina lon; Speelfety of Liberation Struggles020 4:20 PROOF 21-DEC- Materialism Against Materialism Taking up Marx's Break with Reductionism PRIEDER OTTO WOLF INTRODUCTION ‘Thereisa problemin the air. On the one hand, ater many post modern criticisms, nobody (or very few people) want to rehabilitate traditional modern materialism in the vein of La Mettrie oF Georgi Plekhanov, to provide justtwo examples. Its strong tendencies towards simplification and reductionism seem to forbid any further engagement with the the- ory.! On the other hand, the post-modern variant of pluralism seems to have stifled the will to explore, know, or explain what is really going ‘on, in contrast to mere ‘outward appearances; as a necessary starting point fora perspective of active political intervention. In particular, any political practice committed to at least creating possibilities of liber ating initiatives, which will be or will become capable of overcoming the very material structures of domination in place, will have to lift the veil of superficial ‘illusion: The perspective of ‘finite Marxism, as 1 Maurice Godelier has clasialy summarized che undying etiam of Yale mater: alist his debate with Lucien Stv, See Maorice Godelier, ‘Dialectical Logic and the Analysis of Structures: A Reply to Lucien Sev International Journal ef Seily, 22-3 (1972), pp. 241-80 (p.283)020 4:20 PROOF 21-DEC- * MATERIALISM AGAINST MATERIALISM, 1 defend it,? opens the way to simultaneously address the plurality of the structures of domination in place while also maintaining the need to analyse their underlying structural dynamics, particularly including an analysis of the domination of modern bourgeois societies by the capitalist mode of productior In my opinion, the structures of domination in place today have been (more or less) adequately described by the ‘triple oppression’ activists ofthe 1990s. However, I would argue for replacing the triplet of Class, Sex, and Race’ with the somewhat more refined and extended quadruplet of structural forms of domination — class, gender, (es- pecially international) dependency, and ‘ecological overexploitation’ —;* and not leaving out the elementary ideological dimensions of, for ‘example, racism, antisemitism, homophobia, and comparable forms of discrimination.’ And yet I propose to accept the broader underlying claim of aiming at and hitting something real, namely a level of his- torical reality as it has been (and still is) defended by the respective historical social and political movements. By so doing, I would claim that it is both possible and feasible to overcome the traditional no- tions of an essentialist and reductionist materialism. This reductionist approach to reality — which does not accept the complex reality of the given and considers the most immediate realities to be mere ap- pearances (at the very least) — tends to be incapable of providing a realistic orientation for political practice, which has to deal with given socio-historical realities as they effectively present themselves. 2 See my atemp in ‘Die unabeclietbare Aufpube dee endichen Mars: Eine rater verankecte Arbeit des Bopsif obne Estetialsmus oder Redubtioniemr, (Con Testor Kantano:internatisal urna of Piorophy, 20185 (2018), pp 200-17. 3 My thinking in his eespect has certally ben induenced in smportant ways by Flix CGuatats work snce the 1970, with whom have had ocasion to discus problems ofecosocalint strategy bulding. A central oe has cetinly been played by bis ey in Thre Beales (London: Afblone, 2000) — but lam unable to reconstruct how it basimpacted my own contributions to sce-ocali rates. 4 Because they have been relatively focused upon by Maza, feminist, ecologic, and Aependency theries. Ido not se any possiblity ofitegating these dapat theoret into one overarching theory, as some exponents ofthese theories have alterapted By concentrating explicitly on thi ideslogial dimension of intertectonality, Karin ‘Stigner makesitelient hater mart ale ring os the parality ofthe strotares of ‘omination overdetermining this ideological dimeasion See her article ‘ntersetion: atten Ldotogien— Antisemitism, Sexsmus und das Veraltnls von Gesellchat lund Natur, Pacha & Geechee, 41.162 (2017), pp. 25-48,020 4:20 PROOF 21-DEC- FRIEDER OTTO WOLF * Instead, I want to propose a ‘materialism of materialities’® — ‘which would include a ‘materialism of emergence as has been pro- grammatically formulated by Roy Bhaskar and Mario Bunge.? In this chapter, I shall try to argue that re-reading Karl Marx may help us to overcome and change the traditional fixation of left-wing debates on the stil-pervasive idea of a need for a materialist reductionism.® ‘This begins with Mars’ own breaking away from traditional ‘materialism, ‘which he found so decisively wanting that some have misinterpreted his rejection of ‘all hitherto existing materialism’ as a farewell to ‘ma- terialism’ as such, MATERIALISM OF MATERIALIT MATERIALISM ‘6, ORA NON-REDUCTIONIST ‘One of the points Marx forcefully made in his private notes ‘1) ad Feuerbach® concemed taking his distance from this ‘hitherto exist- ing materialism (the one of Ludwig Feuerbach ineluded):!° 1 want to argue for a re-reading of Marx which sees him (accompanied by Friedrich Engels) philosophically on the way towards a new, non- reductionist kind of materialism, ic. a ‘materialism of materialities:"" Such a ‘materialism of materialities’ should be understood as fully ex- See my Bin Matevialismus fr das 21, Jashundert bx Ket nd Material: fw ‘Auf der Assciation fir Krsche Gusllichafferschung, ed. by Alex Denivovic (inser: Westaizches Danpfboot, 2008), pp. 41-58. 7 See Roy Bhathar's A Reali Theory fSeince (London: Verso, 2007), at well ashi The Possibly of Naturals (London: Routledge, 1979), and Masio Bunge's Emergence sand Convergence: Quaitative Novelty andthe Unity of Knowledge (Toronto: University ‘of Toronto Pres, 2002). Se also Tuuhka Kaidevjs, Bhaskar and Bunge on Social Emergence; Journal forthe Theory ef Seta Behaviour, 39-3 (2008), pp. 300-22. Which hartakens nee (nd regrettable) frm inthe more orlesapeniy wali turn taken by many defenders of new materilems: See the eigue formulated by Pash Reet, 'A Cite of New Matera: Ethics and Ontology; Subject, 93 (2018), pp.225-4s. 9 The obvious question of what may have been in ie mind a 2)' seems t remain 10 Kar Mar, "These ber Feuerbach in MEW [Mars-Bogel Werk, see abbreviations] su (1958), pp. 5-7 (pS; tration). 11 Astouie Althusrr hs formalated it fflenced by Sigmsns Pres dcavery of the terete unconscious in modeen subjectivity in pale with Marx's cacovery of cass stuggl asthe mates proces undedying the reproduction ofmodern sce See especially Althusser, On Marx and Feu tans. by Warren Montag, Rethinking ‘Mors, 4 (1992), pp 17-30.020 4:20 PROOF 21-DEC- * MATERIALISM AGAINST MATERIALISM, tending to the worlds of feelings, practices, organizations, institutions, and even ideas. ‘This new materialist perspective of Marx was explicitly articulated (and partially worked out) by Louis Althusser in his struggle to over- come the historical crisis of Marxism as it had been constituted by Engels in its ‘classical form. I think itis time, after a long traversée du désert (crossing the desert), to reopen the question of Marxism, ie. of conscious development of Mars theoretical critiques, ? as well as the question regarding the corresponding, but clearly distinet, practical perspective of radical Marxist politics, as well as the articulation of both of these problematics in a philosophical materialism of mater ialities which can situate finite Marxism. According to this analysis, finite Marxism combines a specific scientific analysis and reconstruc- tion of the domination of the capitalist mode of production over modern bourgeois societies, and of the ways in which modern states reproduce capitalist class domination, with the openness to learning, from the theoretical breakthroughs arising from the other struggles of liberation which necessarily arise in modern bourgeois societies. Using this foundation, finite Marxism is aware of its own specificity, as. limitation — and it rejects any temptations to ‘overarch’ or ‘hege- monize' feminist theories, de-colonialism, or ecological critical theory. Instead, it recognizes and learns from the ways in which these theories understand specific structures and the internal ‘contradictions’ that are constitutive for these structures of domination in the historical reality, ‘of modern societies. On the other hand, finite Marxism also strives to deserve an equal treatment from these ‘other sides’ While it is true that Marx left his theoretical work to us as an ‘un- finished project’ (Ratil Rojas),!® he also opened up a field of real and effective scientific research which has found important continuation in the work of Marxists since the 1890s. This scientific work has been con- tinued with considerable success — in spite of the relative blockade of the philosophical and politica reflection of ts presuppositions and 12 In rder to ony this lara I shall elaborate onthe distinction between hs eitique of plitcleconamy and hi erique of polis (ct below next paragraph). 13 See his ploneering study of Marc: Rasl Roja, Dat unvollendate Projet, Zur Enistehungsgeehche Yon Mare’ Kapital Berlin Argument, 1989), which as nota the seception sail deserves020 4:20 PROOF 21-DEC- FRIEDER OTTO WOLF * implications which seems to have started with Engel's redaction of the notes ‘1) ad Feuerbach, where he eliminated some reflexive turns as being ‘too difficult, and then has been finalized by Plcklsanov’sattempt toreinsert Marxism into the tradition of modern ‘materialism: Indeed, this historical blocking, very probably, has been the unavoidable side effect of academic exclusion of Marxist theory building and histori empirical analysis, while, in the political sphere, Stalinism distorted the forms of Marxism within institutionalized science regarding ‘real socialism’ The historical development of the political practices which have effectively emerged in Marxist politics have been decisively blun- ted and perverted by reformist or Stalinist practices. Accordingly, the second breakthrough realized by the late Marx has had a still more complicated fate, His radical and innovative ‘critique of politics’ has remained in the draft stages of his own analytical sketches, and has been generally misread as a mere application of the insights of the critique of political economy.!$ Therefore, Marx's original critique of politics has found litte direct continuation — although its problems have unavoidably imposed themselves upon Marxist political leaders from Karl Kautsky and Eduard Bernstein, via Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Rosa Luxemburg, to José Carlos Maridtegui, Antonio Gramsci, and Mao Zedong. In this regard, one of the decisive blocks which have remained dominant in mainstream Marxism has been due to a notion of mater- ialism that has ignored the insights of Marx on the need to overcome the reductionism characteristic of the radical French enlightenment. Engels did not follow Marx on this issue," as he repeatedly flirted with the French materialist tradition. Meanwhile, Plekhanovlater con- ceived of Marxism as essentially building upon that French tradition, "As ceconsructed in Btcnne Baliba, Cesare Luporin, and Andeé Tose, Mare esa ‘rigue dela poltique (Pare Maspéco 1979), whichis stln ned ofa proper sequel tad require only some revision in view ofthe aceasbity of farther watings of Mart the tothe progress ofthe MEGA. 41S Which hasbeen doubly leading asitseamst imply the very tea of economies snd dls reductonie, 16 Although Engels first followed Marsin his he then contibutedte obscuring sheave ‘of Marrs new materalim in he redaction of the ist puliation of Mars notet"1) ‘ud Feverbucias"Theses on Feuerbach or by is masking of the decisive breaks which ‘eparated thei manuscript forthe German deley fron thee eter publication of {he Holy Family020 4:20 PROOF 21-DEC- * MATERIALISM AGAINST MATERIALISM, thereby obscuring Morx’s explicit distance ftom what he called the ‘old materialism. Mars, instead, took up a non-reductionist perspective oon the materiality of history, as it had been sketched out by Mont- esquieu!? and elaborated by Adam Ferguson.! In order to make it possible to overcome this blockade upon scientific analysis and philosophical reflection, as well as political de- liberation, we need to understand the decisive difference between the traditional, reductionist materialism of emerging bourgeois pro gressivism!® (which had the historical function of getting rid of pre- modem political and religious ideas) and the non-reductionist mater- ialism of materialities Ma followed in his research practices (as well as in his organized political work). In this way, we should overcome and account for the ‘real illusions’ of modern bourgeois practice. ‘THE ‘MATERIALIST ILLUSION’ OF THE EARLY MARK Even in his last-minute contributions to the Holy Family Marx still, imagined a continuity between his own position and French mate alism as it had been continued and radicalized by Jeremy Bentham? ‘Therefore, Marx still participated in the exercise of a reductionist materialism which, notably, provided the foundations for modern utilitarianism." This simplifying and strongly reductionist current of radical thought corresponded to the perspective of the radically indi 17 _Andredisoveredby Aithusterin his Monteguiu La Potigu et hitoine Paces PUR, 1939) 18. See the analytes presente by Dangs Vili inher ‘Der unbekannte Beitrag Adam Ferpusons num Geichichtverstindnis von Karl Marx) in Quelle und Kapital Interpretation, Manifest Rezepton,Erinnerungen (Mars EngeeJarbuch, Neve Folge 2009), ed. by Car Erich Voigt, Richard Sper, and Ref Hecker (Hamburg Arg: rent, 2010), pp. 7-60 19 Of which Ls Metire presented an advanced frm. See the still lati reading by Friedrich Albert Langs, in the chapter on La Metin his History of Matera and (Critics oft PreentImportonce| 1865, 3 vos (Boston: Houphton&eOrgood, 1877 81) 12 (1880), pp. 9-91. 20 The new tun taken by Mary in these tents has been convinlapy analysed in Danga Viens, ‘Mara fee, utlteistache Aulssing des Kommunioms i Mare, Engels und ulopiche Secialsten (Mare Engel Javbuck. Neve Felge 2016/17), ed. by Cs "rich Vliet, Richard Sper and Relfecker (Hamburg: Agument, 2010), pp.9-3 21 In spite of bis ealer sympathy towards Bentham, Marx later attacked hin as the philosopher giving vice othe ‘appearing surface’ of modern bourgeois societies, and {hereby blocking ecient inquly. ‘Te isthe exchvve rel of Preedom, Equality,020 4:20 PROOF 21-DEC- 0 FRIEDER OTTO WOLF * vidualized private subjectivity of the owner of commodities." Due to having to consider his or her own labour power as a commodity to offer on the market, the perspective of the private individual reduced everything to its market price. This, evidently, implied an attitude and a practice of more or less violently ‘abstracting’ from all specific ‘use values, while in actual practice referring exclusively to the aequisition of exchange value and the embodiment of the same in the form of money. Later on, in the German Ideology manuscripts, Mrx explicitly ar- ticulated his break from this kind of ‘old’ materialist reductionism, ‘which is evident in the original version of ‘1) ad Feuerbach’? As becomes clear in the manuscripts produced for a projected journal under the title of “German Ideology’, Marx was quite firm — espe- cially in his critique of Stiener — that his project was not to anchor modern society in a reductionist view of ‘human nature’ In this eri tique, Marx later followed by Engels, began to address the underlying, logic of domination of the capitalist mode of production in modern bourgeois societies. He still had a long way to go in articulating this critique asa scientificalternative to Heze!'sphilosophical reproduction of the structures of domination in place in modern bourgeois societ- ies. Initially, Marx formed his critique on the basis of an alternative enerbachian philosophy that attempted to replace Hegel's central cat- egory of ‘spirit’ with I'eucebach’s idea of the ‘human’ (Mensch). Propesty and Bethan’ (Kael Marx, Capt, 3 vols (London: Penguin, 1976) teas bby Ben Fowhe, p 280), 22 Fora critique, see my RadialePilsophie Auftdrung und Refreang in der neuen Zeit (Minster: Weataecher Dampbost, 2002), 17. 28 Much less son the Theses on Feuerbach afer Engels editorial revamp, ste George Labica, Karl Mars Let hie ur Feuerbach (Pasi: PUB, 19¥7) 24 Marzhas fallen into other kinds of reductionism in his manoscript forthe so-called "Feverbach-chaptr in the German deslogy manuscripts, a¢ Dang Vili and mysel ‘will show in out forthcoming book Deconstrctng Historical Materialism. To dae Tangles seatch with it advances and setbacks ia main ark of contemporary Marx research which eal goes beyond mete phislegy.