Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
"[I]t is certainly an extremely useful book that should become a standard book for students and anybody interested in understanding Marx. Other books purport to do that, but not usually with this level of communicative skill. It's written by philosophers who can write and who are thinking critically about what they are writing about. It's not an inert summary, but something that brings Marxist ideas alive, and shows their strengths and limitations." - Nigel Warburton, Five Books, Best Philosophy Books of 2024
"Karl Marx is simultaneously one of the most important and most mischaracterized philosophers of the last 200 years. And yet there has been no clear, transparent introduction to the life and works of Marx, until now. Students and newcomers to Marx's writings will find in this text an approachable but rigorous introduction to his central ideas in philosophy, politics, and economics. ... [T]his is also a work of scholarship in which Edwards and Leiter develop and defend a plausible reading of the historical materialism theory, showing both how it represents the correct movement away from Hegel's dialectical idealism and again demonstrating the practical importance of the theory, including how the failure of the Bolsheviks to embrace it ultimately led to problems for the Russian Revolution. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers." - CHOICE
"A tour de force. Not only the best available introduction to Marx’s thought and to post-Marx Marxist theories, but also of interest to specialists. The organization is excellent, and the writing is always clear and jargon-free. It covers all the main topics that a book on Marx should address. It is remarkably fair and balanced, sympathetic to Marx’s ideas, but also appropriately critical of them." - Allen Buchanan, Duke University, USA
"A philosophical introduction to Marx which manages to be genuinely accessible without avoiding controversy or consigning its subject to history. Edwards and Leiter bring Marx into a productive conversation with current work in the social sciences in order to develop and defend distinctive accounts of his views on history, ideology, and capitalism. A very welcome addition to the literature." - David Leopold, University of Oxford, UK
About the Author
Jaime Edwards is Assistant Profesor of Philosophy at Oberlin College, USA.
Brian Leiter is the Karl N. Llewellyn Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the Center for Law, Philosophy, and Human Values at the University of Chicago, USA, where he teaches and writes about moral, political, and legal philosophy in both the Anglophone and Continental European traditions.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best comprehensive introduction to Marx's thought available
To date, Edwards and Leiter have written the most transparent introduction to Marx's thought and offer the most plausible reading of Marx's Historical Materialism.Curiously, around the release of this book, defenders of Rawls have launched into critiques of Marx, claiming, "We're all Rawlsians now." Edwards and Leiter provide decisive evidence against Rawls' prescriptive ideal that society should be characterized by "social cooperation among equals for mutual advantage" (Rawls 2009: 14), arguing against Rawls' normative vision, contradicted by the realities of conflict between economic groups, for example, in Marx's Europe: "those who own the factories, those who own vast tracts of land, those who own small farms, and those who do the actual work in the factories or on the land." This reality holds today as it did in Marx's time.The authors observe that many contemporary scholars have shifted from defending government autonomy from elite influence to supporting a theory of elite domination akin to Marx's. They critique the pluralist view that the state operates autonomously from capitalist elites, arguing that while the state may sometimes act against capitalist interests (e.g., through taxation or labor laws), it primarily serves elite interests due to its dependence on capitalist financing and economic stability. Scholars like Winters, Piketty, and Gilens argue that the U.S. is an oligarchy dominated by wealthy elites, against pluralist or majoritarian theories of democracy."Marx" by Edwards and Leiter is a model of analytic philosophy (as are Prof Leiter's books on Nietzsche, for that matter). "Marx" is also an introduction to philosophical methods, specifically methodological naturalism, to which Marx was an early contributor.
5.0 out of 5 stars good account of Marx
clear and well written
4.0 out of 5 stars Wow, terrific, if that works for you, that's great
This book has two components, both of them interesting. First, it is a systematic overview of Marx's core theses, as clear as any I have read. Second, it is a presentation of the arguments that supposedly support those theses. And not just a clinical presentation, but a sincere, personally committed one, illustrating very effectively how 'truthy' some people find the theses and arguments together.It is, however, almost comically un-self-aware: imagine a pair of intense, intellectually self-confident, graduate students. They dedicate, for instance, a whole chapter to 'ideology' and even - other people's - motivated reasoning, during which I kept hoping for a Mitchell and Webb moment, where one of them would turn to the other and go 'Brian, I've been thinking, are _we_ the sociological idealists?', though, really, it was obviously never going to happen. But there is never even a sandboxed version of that sort of thing - it never occurs to them (as a pair of philosophers) to raise a question like that, even to dismiss it (actually, this is not quite true: you do get the distinct impression that they know that that question is lurking in the back, but that they have decided not to go there). And they never let myriad inconvenient economic facts get in the way. Rather, it's clear that if you were to point out these facts they would either dispute that they are 'facts' or deny that they are in the way.Anyway, snark aside, I really did learn from this, and I enjoyed engaging with it.
A useful overview of Marx's main ideas
The world is beset by a "polycrisis" - global warming / wealth inequality / wars / rise of the Far Right - much of which has its roots in the dominant global economic system; capitalism. An understanding of Marx's analysis and critique of the economic system is arguably more important than ever if we are to save the planet from the ravages of war or destruction of the environment.Edwards and Leiter offer an in-depth introduction to Marx and Engles - and to the Marxist legacy, comprising Lenin, Lukacs, Gramsci, the Frankfurt School - and many others. Topics covered include Historical Materialism, class conflict, Marxist economics [somewhat controversially they reject his Labour Theory of Value], ideology and, as stated, the Marxist intellectual legacy up to the present [though with surprisingly little on Environmental Marxism].There is a useful glossary and an extensive bibliography. Complete newcomers to Marxism might choose either "Introducing Marx" [Rius] or "Marx's Capital Illustrated" [Smith] to read alongside Edwards and Leiter.
Good but flawed.
It must be granted that this book is clear and well written.But as a defense of Marx, it leaves much to be desired, in that it scarcely bothers with critique from outside leftist quarters. To that extent, it is way too unilateral.It also fails to note how much of the horrors of communism are a predictable consequence of much of what Marx wrote. Marx is far from blameless.What moral licenses will a revolutionary elite allow itself if it is imbued with the conviction that it may lead to an earthly paradise and that anyone who does not agree is in the grips of false consciousness?The answer is very simple. They will do what the communists did.In fact, this is pretty obvious. Or at any rate it should be obvious.
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Visit the Routledge Store
Marx (The Routledge Philosophers)
AED18420
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
"[I]t is certainly an extremely useful book that should become a standard book for students and anybody interested in understanding Marx. Other books purport to do that, but not usually with this level of communicative skill. It's written by philosophers who can write and who are thinking critically about what they are writing about. It's not an inert summary, but something that brings Marxist ideas alive, and shows their strengths and limitations." - Nigel Warburton, Five Books, Best Philosophy Books of 2024
"Karl Marx is simultaneously one of the most important and most mischaracterized philosophers of the last 200 years. And yet there has been no clear, transparent introduction to the life and works of Marx, until now. Students and newcomers to Marx's writings will find in this text an approachable but rigorous introduction to his central ideas in philosophy, politics, and economics. ... [T]his is also a work of scholarship in which Edwards and Leiter develop and defend a plausible reading of the historical materialism theory, showing both how it represents the correct movement away from Hegel's dialectical idealism and again demonstrating the practical importance of the theory, including how the failure of the Bolsheviks to embrace it ultimately led to problems for the Russian Revolution. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers." - CHOICE
"A tour de force. Not only the best available introduction to Marx’s thought and to post-Marx Marxist theories, but also of interest to specialists. The organization is excellent, and the writing is always clear and jargon-free. It covers all the main topics that a book on Marx should address. It is remarkably fair and balanced, sympathetic to Marx’s ideas, but also appropriately critical of them." - Allen Buchanan, Duke University, USA
"A philosophical introduction to Marx which manages to be genuinely accessible without avoiding controversy or consigning its subject to history. Edwards and Leiter bring Marx into a productive conversation with current work in the social sciences in order to develop and defend distinctive accounts of his views on history, ideology, and capitalism. A very welcome addition to the literature." - David Leopold, University of Oxford, UK
About the Author
Jaime Edwards is Assistant Profesor of Philosophy at Oberlin College, USA.
Brian Leiter is the Karl N. Llewellyn Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the Center for Law, Philosophy, and Human Values at the University of Chicago, USA, where he teaches and writes about moral, political, and legal philosophy in both the Anglophone and Continental European traditions.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best comprehensive introduction to Marx's thought available
To date, Edwards and Leiter have written the most transparent introduction to Marx's thought and offer the most plausible reading of Marx's Historical Materialism.Curiously, around the release of this book, defenders of Rawls have launched into critiques of Marx, claiming, "We're all Rawlsians now." Edwards and Leiter provide decisive evidence against Rawls' prescriptive ideal that society should be characterized by "social cooperation among equals for mutual advantage" (Rawls 2009: 14), arguing against Rawls' normative vision, contradicted by the realities of conflict between economic groups, for example, in Marx's Europe: "those who own the factories, those who own vast tracts of land, those who own small farms, and those who do the actual work in the factories or on the land." This reality holds today as it did in Marx's time.The authors observe that many contemporary scholars have shifted from defending government autonomy from elite influence to supporting a theory of elite domination akin to Marx's. They critique the pluralist view that the state operates autonomously from capitalist elites, arguing that while the state may sometimes act against capitalist interests (e.g., through taxation or labor laws), it primarily serves elite interests due to its dependence on capitalist financing and economic stability. Scholars like Winters, Piketty, and Gilens argue that the U.S. is an oligarchy dominated by wealthy elites, against pluralist or majoritarian theories of democracy."Marx" by Edwards and Leiter is a model of analytic philosophy (as are Prof Leiter's books on Nietzsche, for that matter). "Marx" is also an introduction to philosophical methods, specifically methodological naturalism, to which Marx was an early contributor.
5.0 out of 5 stars good account of Marx
clear and well written
4.0 out of 5 stars Wow, terrific, if that works for you, that's great
This book has two components, both of them interesting. First, it is a systematic overview of Marx's core theses, as clear as any I have read. Second, it is a presentation of the arguments that supposedly support those theses. And not just a clinical presentation, but a sincere, personally committed one, illustrating very effectively how 'truthy' some people find the theses and arguments together.It is, however, almost comically un-self-aware: imagine a pair of intense, intellectually self-confident, graduate students. They dedicate, for instance, a whole chapter to 'ideology' and even - other people's - motivated reasoning, during which I kept hoping for a Mitchell and Webb moment, where one of them would turn to the other and go 'Brian, I've been thinking, are _we_ the sociological idealists?', though, really, it was obviously never going to happen. But there is never even a sandboxed version of that sort of thing - it never occurs to them (as a pair of philosophers) to raise a question like that, even to dismiss it (actually, this is not quite true: you do get the distinct impression that they know that that question is lurking in the back, but that they have decided not to go there). And they never let myriad inconvenient economic facts get in the way. Rather, it's clear that if you were to point out these facts they would either dispute that they are 'facts' or deny that they are in the way.Anyway, snark aside, I really did learn from this, and I enjoyed engaging with it.
A useful overview of Marx's main ideas
The world is beset by a "polycrisis" - global warming / wealth inequality / wars / rise of the Far Right - much of which has its roots in the dominant global economic system; capitalism. An understanding of Marx's analysis and critique of the economic system is arguably more important than ever if we are to save the planet from the ravages of war or destruction of the environment.Edwards and Leiter offer an in-depth introduction to Marx and Engles - and to the Marxist legacy, comprising Lenin, Lukacs, Gramsci, the Frankfurt School - and many others. Topics covered include Historical Materialism, class conflict, Marxist economics [somewhat controversially they reject his Labour Theory of Value], ideology and, as stated, the Marxist intellectual legacy up to the present [though with surprisingly little on Environmental Marxism].There is a useful glossary and an extensive bibliography. Complete newcomers to Marxism might choose either "Introducing Marx" [Rius] or "Marx's Capital Illustrated" [Smith] to read alongside Edwards and Leiter.
Good but flawed.
It must be granted that this book is clear and well written.But as a defense of Marx, it leaves much to be desired, in that it scarcely bothers with critique from outside leftist quarters. To that extent, it is way too unilateral.It also fails to note how much of the horrors of communism are a predictable consequence of much of what Marx wrote. Marx is far from blameless.What moral licenses will a revolutionary elite allow itself if it is imbued with the conviction that it may lead to an earthly paradise and that anyone who does not agree is in the grips of false consciousness?The answer is very simple. They will do what the communists did.In fact, this is pretty obvious. Or at any rate it should be obvious.
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Similar items from “Communism & Socialism”
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