Chitty, Andrew (2009) Species-being and capital. In: Chitty, Andrew and McIvor, Martin (eds.) Karl Marx and contemporary philosophy. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke. ISBN 9780230222373

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Abstract

This paper compares Marx's first conception of capital, in 1844, to his conception of the modern political state in 1843. It argues that in 1843 Marx conceives the modern democratic state as realising human 'species-being', that is, the universality and freedom inherent in human nature, but only in the form of 'abstract' universality and freedom, and therefore inadequately. In 1844 he conceives capital in the same way, as an abstract and therefore inadequate realisation of human species-being. Accordingly the transition from capital to communism consists essentially in transforming the abstract universality and freedom realised in capital into a 'concrete' universality and freedom. The paper concludes by commenting on the implications of this early philosophical conception of capital for Marx's later writings.

Item Type:	Book Section
Keywords:	Marx; philosophy; method; cosmopolitanism; liberalism; globalisation
Schools and Departments:	School of History, Art History and Philosophy > Philosophy
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Depositing User:	Andrew Chitty
Date Deposited:	01 Nov 2012 11:12
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2016 08:29
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/41774

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• Species-being and capital. (deposited 06 Feb 2012 19:50)
  • Species-being and capital. (deposited 01 Nov 2012 11:12) [Currently Displayed]

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