I never received formal education in the subject and I want to learn about it so that I may have a better understanding of the philosophy of our political tradition. I'd appreciate any suggestions on materials to get an introduction to the topic.

  • Red_Sunshine_Over_Florida [he/him]
    ·
    2 months ago

    I guess I want to get to Marx and the anarchists by understanding the history before them, what people's arguments were, and the context for why people asked certain questions and gave the answers they gave.

    Also I think it is useful to get a general understanding of even people we disagree strongly with, so it would be important to look into that too.

    • Cowbee [he/him, they/them]
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      2 months ago

      In that case, I would still read Politzer, as he brilliantly lays it out for the average student, as he was a Professor at a French Worker University. It goes over the entire history of how Marxist philosophy came to be. However, I would follow it up with Socialism: Utopian and Scientific by Engels, who goes over the history of Utopian Socialism and how Socialism came to be Scientific.

      For Anarchists, I hear The Conquest of Bread by Kropotkin and Anarchism and Other Essays by Goldman are good. I however have not read them myself.

      What general Theory have you read so far?

      • roux [he/him, they/them]
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        2 months ago

        I'd toss Bukanin on the list for Anarchist theory too. I got a few of his and the ones that you mentioned lined up as soon as I get off my absurdism kick.