Dialectic: the pulse of freedom

441 Pages·2008·4.273 MB·English

by  Bhaskar, Roy

Dialectic
‘Bhaskar goes back to the beginning of the Western philosophical quest and
offers a brilliant refashioning of the dialectic. Because his ‘dialectical critical
realism’ is systematic, ontologically sustained and self-consciously ethical
and political, he is able to give stunning readings of key chapters in the
history of philosophy. This is a unique book full of gems.’—Peter Manicas
‘In this stunning book, Roy Bhaskar develops his own programme of critical
realism into a radically new and original theory of dialectics and a critique of
previous theories from the ancient Greeks to twentieth century neo-Marxism.
The result is comparable in its scope and ambition to Sartre’s critique of
dialectical reasoning. It is hard to think of any other contemporary
philosopher with the powers to bring this off.’—William Outhwaite
‘I deeply admire its vast range, rigour and originality…a massively
important work.’—Terry Eagleton
Dialectic: The Pulse of Freedom is now widely regarded as a classic of
contemporary philosophy. This book, first published in 1993, sets itself three
main aims: the development of a general theory of dialectic, of which
Hegelian dialectic can be seen to be a special case; the dialectical enrichment
and deepening of critical realism, viz. into the system of dialectical critical
realism; and the outline of the elements of a totalizing critique of Western
philosophy.
Included in Dialectic for the first time is an introduction by founding
editor of the Journal of Critical Realism, Mervyn Hartwig. This expert
description of the significance of Bhaskar’s work adds another dimension to
a book already impressive in scope and detail.
Roy Bhaskar is the originator of the philosophy of critical realism and the
author of many acclaimed and influential works, including A Realist Theory
of Science, The Possibility of Naturalism, Scientific Realism and Human
Emancipation, Philosophy and the Idea of Freedom, Plato Etc., Reflections
on Meta-Reality and From Science to Emancipation. He was the founding
chair of the Centre for Critical Realism and is currently a World Scholar at
the University of London Institute of Education.
Mervyn Hartwig is founding editor of the Journal of Critical Realism and
editor of A Dictionary of Critical Realism.
Classical Texts in Critical Realism
Dialectic: The Pulse of Freedom
Roy Bhaskar

A Realist Theory of Science
Roy Bhaskar
Forthcoming:
Plato Etc
Roy Bhaskar
Reclaiming Reality
Roy Bhaskar
Scientific Realism and Human Emancipation
Roy Bhaskar
Dialectic
The Pulse of Freedom

Roy Bhaskar
First published 2008 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2008.
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© 2008 Roy Bhaskar
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN10: 0-415-45491-3 (pbk)
ISBN10: 0-203-09074-8 (ebk)
ISBN13: 978-0-415-45491-9 (pbk)
ISBN13: 978-0-203-09074-9 (ebk)
ISBN 0-203-89263-1 Master e-book ISBN
FOR SHEILA

Contents

Introduction by Mervyn Hartwig xiii
Preface xxxiii
Abbreviations xxxv

1 Introduction: Critical Realism, Hegelian Dialectic and the 1
Problems of Philosophy—Preliminary Considerations
§ 1 Objectives of the Book 1
§ 2 ‘Dialectic’: An Initial Orientation 3
§ 3 Negation 4
§ 4 Four Degrees of Critical Realism 7
§ 5 Prima Facie Objections to Critical Realism 13
§ 6 On the Sources and General Character of the Hegelian 14

Dialectic
§ 7 On the Immanent Critique and Limitations of the 21

Hegelian Dialectic
§ 8 The Fine Structure of Hegelian Dialectic 26
§ 9 Epistemological Dialectic and the Problems of 30

Philosophy
2 Dialectic: The Logic of Absence—Arguments, Themes, 35

Perspectives, Configurations
§ 1 Absence 35
§ 2 Emergence 45
CONTENTS
§ 3 Contradiction I: Hegel and Marx 52
§ 4 Contradiction II: Misunderstandings 66
§ 5 On the Materialist Diffraction of Dialectic 79
§ 6 Dialectical Arguments and the Unholy Trinity 95
§ 7 Dialectical Motifs: Tina Formations, Mediation, 104

Concrete Universality, etc.

§ 8 On the Generalized Theory of the Dialectical Remark, 124
the Failure of Detachment and the Presence of the
Past
§ 9 Dialectical Critical Naturalism 142
§ 10 Towards a Real Definition of Dialectic 162
3 Dialectical Critical Realism and the Dialectic of Freedom 191
§ 1 Ontology 191
§ 2 The Dialectic of Truth 200
§ 3 On the Emergence and Derivability of Dialecticized 209

Transcendental Realism
§ 4 1M Realism: Non-Identity 216
§ 5 2E Realism: Negativity 222
§ 6 Space, Time and Tense 234
§ 7 Social Science, Explanatory Critique, Emancipatory 240

Axiology
§ 8 3L Realism: Totality 252
§ 9 4D Realism: Agency 257
§ 10 The Dialectic of Desire to Freedom 260
§ 11 Dialectical Critical Realism and the Dialectics of 279
Critical Realism
CONTENTS
4 Metacritical Dialectics: Irrealism and Its Consequences 287
§ 1 Irrealism 287
§ 2 The Problems of Philosophy and Their Resolution 293
§ 3 Contradictions of the Critical Philosophy 300
§ 4 Dilemmas of the Beautiful Soul and the Unhappy 304

Consciousness
§ 5 Master and Slave: From Dialectics of Reconciliation 307

to Dialectics of Liberation
§ 6 The Metacritique of the Hegelian Dialectic 313
§ 7 Marxian Dialectic I: The Rational Kernel in the 320

Mystical Shell
§ 8 Marxian Dialectic II: The Mystical Shell in the 324

Rational Kernel
§ 9 Metacritical Dialectics: Philosophical Ideologies— 329

Their Sublation and Explanation
§ 10 The Consequences of Irrealism 339
§ 11 Diffracted and Retotalized Dialectics 345
§ 12 Dialectic as the Pulse of Freedom 352

Notes 360
Glossary 368
Name Index 384
Subject Index 386