| This dissertation identifies the foundations of the marxist discourse by researching Marx's texts and literature emerging from them. This comprehensive exposition of the four essential topics of the marxist debate--alienation, historical materialism, ideology, revolution--analyzes the continuous investigation among marxists on man and history. The conclusion states my stand in relation to Marxism in the present time. The postscript is a response to the 1989-90 events in Eastern Europe. I included two appendices: a translation, from Spanish, of Althusser's 'Theoretical Practice and Ideological Struggle'; and an interview with Gajo Petrovic.; Summary of chapters. Alienation. Marx arrived at his concept of alienation departing from Hegel and Feuerbach. Capitalism, based on surplus-value extorsion, fosters egoism and exploitation, leading to the alienation of man. Through praxis man reproduces his essence laboring as a free-creative being. The overthrow of capitalism, by abolishing private property, is necessary for alienation's eradication.; Dialectical Materialism. From Hegel and Feuerbach Marx developed a methodology for studying history. Lenin's epistemology, with an Heideggerian bent, can become proof of objective existence and primacy of base over superstructure. Historical Materialism holds that the forces of production condition history.; Ideology. Marx left foundations on 'ideological discourse'. Ideology is false consciousness as obliteration of concrete contradictions. The hiding of these is fostered by the ruling class. By researching Freud, Levi-Strauss and Lacan, I unfold Althusser's structural Marxism in which the ideologized subject is created by a historical discourse larger than itself. The solution to ideological indoctrination is through science. Gramsci opposed the positivist science-ideology dichotomy favoring an organic solution through 'hegemony'. Although science holds a privileged epistemological status within ideology, the criterion for political legitimization must be through democratic communication expressing plurality of ideas.; Revolution. Revolution is the proletariat's attempt to seize the modes of production, eradicate capitalism, and take charge of man's history. Revolutionary attempts failed in Germany and France. Russia's conditions led to a modified version of Marx's ideal of communism. Lenin brought about Russia's revolution establishing the first 'marxist' nation. Was it truly marxist? My conclusion takes up this question in light of recent events. |
