>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 12/14/00 06:23AM >>>
>
>CB: Here's a point on which you might get some attention at the Sierra Club
>as to the significance of materialism. We materialists don't agree with you
>that we are anthropocentric, in any pejorative sense. We think we are
>correct and you are wrong on this issue
>
Yes, that is probably the central issue that brought me into the "fray", so
to speak, when I first began posting here. I think that we won't settle it
until after the crash; but I think we should attempt to resolve our
differences, if we can.
(((((((((
CB: Mark's recent post really gets into this very well
((((((((
>
>CB: Once again, here is a point at which materialism, historical
>materialism ,impinges. Actually, in this case, we agree with you. Our
>perspective on capitalism is based on a theory , historical materialism,
>which understands it in relation to the whole history of humanity, 52, 000
>years, or even earlier. We also give special attention to the rise of class
>exploitative society.
Well, I've actually not encountered any serious discussions by Marx or
commentators on him that give much weight to the issue that far back,
((((((((((
CB: Check out Engels _The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State_ . Of
course, they didn't have the 52,000 years figure. I added some more recent info. There
is Eleanor Leacock, a modern anthropologist , who wrote the intro to Engels book in an
International publishers edition to update it with 20th Century anthro. The
acknowledgement of the long history ( but with only 19th Century data) is implicit in
Marx and Engels approach. Marx wrote some notebooks on precapitalist formations .
(((((((((
(despite Julien trying more than once to explain Marx's use of "primitive
people" to me.) but I am VERY interested in learning what Marx says about
the beginnings of society in terms of this issue. If you get a chance, send
me citations off-list, please. If indeed our collective understandings of
it are in agreement, it would go far to resolving differences between us.
((((((((((
CB: Yes, gotta go now. You can get about all of this at the following website:
Marxism Page
http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/marx.html
>
>Common ground
>
Thanks, Charles.
Cheerio , Tom
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