Analyzing Marx: Morality, Power and History

334 Pages·1984·26.401 MB·English

by  Richard W. Miller

ANALYZING MARX

Analyzing Marx
Morality, Power and History
RICHARD W. MILLER
Princeton University Press
Copyright © 1984 by Princeton University Press
Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton,
New Jersey 08540
In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, Guildford, Surrey
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data will be found on the
last printed page of this book
ISBN 0-691-06613-2 (cloth) 0-691-01413-2 (pbk)
This book has been composed in Linotron Janson
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To Peggy

Contents
Note on References and Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 3
Uses for Marx, Uses for Philosophy 3
Two Versions of Marx 8
MORALITY
Chapter One: Against Morality 15
The Distinctness of Morality 16
Equality 19
Equal Distribution 20
Equal Rights 22
A Mistake about Marx and Rights 27
Equal Concern 30
Utilitarianism 31
A Utilitarian Marx 35
Generality 41
Universal Rationality 43
Ideology 45
Chapter Two: Replacing Morality 51
General Goods and Societal Goals 53
The Process of Change 60
A Model of Character 63
The Structure of a Non-morality 76
Allen Wood's Alternative 78
A Tempting Conclusion 96
POWER
Chapter Three: The Concept of a Ruling Class 101
Introduction 101
A Charge of Neglect 104
vii
CONTENTS
What Is a Ruling Class? 105
The State and Revolution 114
Testability 126
Structuralism and Instrumentalism 129
A Good Question 136
Chapter Four: Questions of Power in Political Theory 142
Pluralism and Its Discontents 142
The Fate of Pluralism 152
Ruling Classes and Power Elites 157
Functionalism and Social Interests 160
The Chains of Methodology 161
Better Theories of Power 165
HISTORY
Chapter Five: Productive Forces and the Forces of
Change 171
Introduction 171
Marx as Technological Determinist 174
The Stakes Are High 181
Marx Was Not a Technological Determinist 188
A New Glossary 195
The Mode of Production Interpretation 205
A Broader View 213
Marx's Models and Marx's Context 217
Chapter Six: The Mode of Production and History 221
Some Objections 221
Holism 221
Materialism 226
Theories Worthy of the Name 2 31
Falsification 236
Internal/External 241
Is History like That? 253
The External, Again 268
Chapter Seven: Replacing Positivism 271
The Obstacle of Positivism 271
Vlll
CONTENTS
An Alternative to Positivism: Explanation 283
Causes 284
Adequate Description 287
Causal Depth 289
An Alternative to Positivism: Confirmation 292
Positivism and Politics 304
Index 315
IX