Yes, I read the letter. It was polite, but did not seem to be an intellectual engagement, like so many of his letters.
On Fri, Apr 14, 2006 at 07:54:49PM -0400, michael a. lebowitz wrote: > At 19:30 14/04/2006, michael p. wrote: > >Who was Meyer? I ask because Marx's description > >of his book sounds like it could be > >nothing more than a well researchered magazine > >article. Did he not respect Meyer or did he > >not have the time/energy for a deeper explanation? > > You'll have to consult with Karl directly on > this. It may have been a period of 'carbuncular > agony' (a phrase from Francis Wheen-- a > journalist who understands neither Marx's > economics nor politics). Another part of that > 1867 letter to Meyer (who was a German member of > the International organising in NYC): > > > >You must think very badly of me, and all the > >more so when I tell you that your letters did > >not merely give me great pleasure but were a > >real comfort to me since they reached me at a > >time of great affliction. The knowledge that a > >capable man, à la hauteur des principes, has > >been won for our party, is some compensation to > >me for the worst. Your letters were furthermore > >full of such warm friendship for me personally, > >and you will appreciate that I who am engaged in > >a most bitter struggle with the (official) world > >can least afford to underestimate such things. > > > >Why then did I not answer you? Because I was the > >whole time at deaths door. I thus had to make > >use of every moment when I was capable of work > >to complete my book [Capital] to which I have > >sacrificed my health, happiness, and family. I > >hope this explanation suffices. I laugh at the > >so-called practical men and their wisdom. If > >one wanted to be an ox, one could, of course, > >turn ones back on the sufferings of humanity > >and look after ones own hide. But I should > >really have thought myself unpractical if I had > >pegged out without finally completing my book, at least in manuscript. > > Michael A. Lebowitz > Professor Emeritus > Economics Department > Simon Fraser University > Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6 > > Currently based in Venezuela. Can be reached at > Residencias Anauco Suites > Departamento 601 > Parque Central, Zona Postal 1010, Oficina 1 > Caracas, Venezuela > (58-212) 573-4111 > fax: (58-212) 573-7724 -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
