A rich and accessible introduction to Marx’s fundamental concepts from a key intellectual—now updated
Written by one of political theory’s leading thinkers, The Philosophy of Marx examines all the key areas of Marx’s writings in their wider historical and theoretical context—including the concepts of class struggle, ideology, humanism, progress, determinism, commodity fetishism, and the state. Etienne Balibar opens a gateway into the thought of one of history’s great minds.
In this updated edition to this now classic work, Balibar has added a substantial introduction and new material. Complete with key “information boxes” for the student to make the most challenging areas of theory easy to understand, this remains the best available introduction to the most important thinker of the past 200 years.
“A very intelligent and creative work—succinct and informative; it explores the ways in which Marxism as such challenges traditional philosophy (and the problems the latter possesses for it). It should certainly have a privileged place on the shelf of contemporary studies of Marx.” —Fredric Jameson
“A trenchant and exciting analysis of the philosophy of Marx. It is intelligent and original, and makes us understand the ways in which reading Marx lucidly can be very useful to us today. No dogma here and no banalities. A refreshing book.” —Immanuel Wallerstein
“This short book manages to be both a unexcelled introduction to Marx and, for those familiar with the texts, a sophisticated and suggestive commentary.” —Benjamin Kunkel
Étienne Balibar is the most celebrated student of Louis Althusser. A leading exponent of French radical philosophy, Balibar is the author of Spinoza and Politics and co-author of Race, Nation and Class and Reading Capital.
A rich and accessible introduction to Marx’s fundamental concepts from a key intellectual—now updated
Written by one of political theory’s leading thinkers, The Philosophy of Marx examines all the key areas of Marx’s writings in their wider historical and theoretical context—including the concepts of class struggle, ideology, humanism, progress, determinism, commodity fetishism, and the state. Etienne Balibar opens a gateway into the thought of one of history’s great minds.
In this updated edition to this now classic work, Balibar has added a substantial introduction and new material. Complete with key “information boxes” for the student to make the most challenging areas of theory easy to understand, this remains the best available introduction to the most important thinker of the past 200 years.
Praise
“A very intelligent and creative work—succinct and informative; it explores the ways in which Marxism as such challenges traditional philosophy (and the problems the latter possesses for it). It should certainly have a privileged place on the shelf of contemporary studies of Marx.” —Fredric Jameson
“A trenchant and exciting analysis of the philosophy of Marx. It is intelligent and original, and makes us understand the ways in which reading Marx lucidly can be very useful to us today. No dogma here and no banalities. A refreshing book.” —Immanuel Wallerstein
“This short book manages to be both a unexcelled introduction to Marx and, for those familiar with the texts, a sophisticated and suggestive commentary.” —Benjamin Kunkel
Author
Étienne Balibar is the most celebrated student of Louis Althusser. A leading exponent of French radical philosophy, Balibar is the author of Spinoza and Politics and co-author of Race, Nation and Class and Reading Capital.
