Allman On The Interpretation Of The Marxist Method

This dissertation mainly deals with Ollman's interpretation of Marx's method.As a Marxist of Contemporary America, Ollman's theoretical contributions lie in his interpretation of Marx's method, while this interpretation is mainly reflected in his latest work Dance of the Dialectic:Steps in Marx's Method (hereinafter called Dance of the Dialectic).Just as the author said, although most of its readers give a high appraisal to this book, they still did not focus on its character/logic/influences systematically.We usually regard Ollman's Dance of the Dialectic as a book on epistemology and methodology. This argument can be found understandable in his Alienation:Marx's Conception of Man in Capitalist Society(1971)and Dialectical Investigations(1993). However, we cannot focus only on its epistemological and methodological contributions to the research on Marxist Dialectics of the new century; instead, this book touches the ontological basis of Marx's method in many aspects. As a result, it's necessary to reinterpretate Ollman's Dance of the Dialectic for us to grasp his main ideas on Marx's method.It's also workable to give a special study on Ollman's Dance of the Dialectic.As the main leading authority on Marxist Dialectics in the United States, Ollman systematically summarizes his dialectical thought in this book. From the perspective of theoretical theme, this book mainly deals with Marx's discovery of dialectics and its application, together with its status and functions in the theory of Marxism. Besides, Ollman also analyses how Marx study the law of social movement through dialectics.As to Ollman, the main implications of Dance of the Dialectic lie in its special emphasis on the two key aspects which have received little research attention, which are the philosophy of internal relations and the process of abstraction.Ollman's theoretical conclusions touch the ontological basis of Marx's method deeply and have a great impact on our understanding of this method.Ollman's interpretation of Marx's method is based on one question and two backgrounds.With respect to the question of whether Marxism is singular or plural, Ollman holds the idea that the only subject matter of Marx is the internal relations between capitalism and communism, and it's important to make use of Marx's method to grasp the subject. From the perspective of theoretical backgrounds, most of the debates on Marxism involve the differences on Marx's method, while it's also necessary to pay attention to Marx's method and explain it for us to understand contemporary capitalism correctly and grasp the socialism and communism positively. Ollman's interpretation of Marx's method has its contents and paths. First, Ollman holds that the subject matter of Marx's method is social relations, and regards the reality constituted by the social relations as the object and aim of Marx's method.As a result, Ollman establishes the ontological perspective of Marx's method. Second, Ollman considers that the philosophy of internal relations and the process of abstraction are the two key elements for us to grasp Marx's method, among which the philosophy of internal relations is the ontological basis of Marx's method, while we may master the concrete functions of Marx's method through the process of abstraction.Third, Ollman holds that it is just because of our giving little attention to the philosophy of internal relations and the process of abstraction that we are involved in various debates on Marxism.As a result, the question of whether Marxism is singular of plural has its essential importance.Ollman's interpretation of Marx's method does not work behind closed doors; instead, he takes an active part in discussions and disputes with contemporary scholars. Ollman holds that the value of Marxism for Political Science lies mainly in the implications of Marx's method, and then we should make use of this method in the study of political science.Otherwise, Ollman discusses and even argues with the main representatives of two popular schools of Marx's method to demonstrate the necessity and feasibility of reinterpretating this method.According to the author, Ollman's interpretation of Marx's method in Dance of the Dialectic provides us with a new example to restudy Marx's method. As the book is important, we may get a new chance and pathway to study the character, logic of this book and its influences through our research on Ollman's interpretation of Marx's method from the ontological perspective.In the end, Ollman's interpretation of Marx's method has its theoretical and practical implications.In the theoretical aspects, this interpretation grasps the theme of reality, while in the practical ones;it pushes forward the transformation of contemporary capitalism and the constructions of socialism of Chinese characteristics.