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A review by caris96
On Karl Marx by Ernst Bloch
4.0
“The revolution does not have to realize ideals but to free existing tendencies” ~ Karl Marx (Quoted pp. 151).
This is a great read, although a bit dense at times. Bloch writes very abstractly and I don’t think it’s really ever necessary. I’m also not usually one to nit-pick titles; however, this one is rather misleading. Rather than a study on Marx himself, this book can more accurately be described as an overview of the historical development and evolution of Marxist thought. The final aphoristic essay – my personal favourite – is the only section that really addresses the trajectory of Marxism after Marx’s death, so most of the work relates to its theoretical development during Marx’s life (hence, perhaps, the title).
I enjoyed Bloch’s analysis of the problems with certain applications of Marxism, specifically that of the USSR. He doesn’t beat around the bush or make sweeping generalizations, but draws attention to particular historical details that should be considered in order to improve Marxist strategy and practice. For example:
“Eventually, the complete lack of interest [in Marxism] so strongly desired by the ruling class was effected by Stalinism. Indeed, this lack of appeal was increased by an emotional antagonism—still prevalent in regard to its original stimulus. Of course, all those in the West who permitted and still condone the existence of slums, who willingly served the master race and the bestiality of Hitlerism, and even the erstwhile judges of Nuremberg who brought about the hell of Vietnam have no right in this regard to criticize Stalinism, or at least Stalin as a bloody tyrant” (pp. 161).
Bloch is ultimately pragmatic. In fact, he discusses the particular American pragmatism of William James, emphasizing the epistemic value in usefulness. But where James argued that something is true because it is useful, Bloch argues, from Marx and Lenin, that something is useful because it is true—enter Marxism. What I gather from this is an insight into the valid obstacles of implementing a Marxist socialist project, while avoiding the trap that the capitalist West engages in; namely, accusing Marxism of utopianism all the while discarding it for anything short of utopian achievements.
This is a great read, although a bit dense at times. Bloch writes very abstractly and I don’t think it’s really ever necessary. I’m also not usually one to nit-pick titles; however, this one is rather misleading. Rather than a study on Marx himself, this book can more accurately be described as an overview of the historical development and evolution of Marxist thought. The final aphoristic essay – my personal favourite – is the only section that really addresses the trajectory of Marxism after Marx’s death, so most of the work relates to its theoretical development during Marx’s life (hence, perhaps, the title).
I enjoyed Bloch’s analysis of the problems with certain applications of Marxism, specifically that of the USSR. He doesn’t beat around the bush or make sweeping generalizations, but draws attention to particular historical details that should be considered in order to improve Marxist strategy and practice. For example:
“Eventually, the complete lack of interest [in Marxism] so strongly desired by the ruling class was effected by Stalinism. Indeed, this lack of appeal was increased by an emotional antagonism—still prevalent in regard to its original stimulus. Of course, all those in the West who permitted and still condone the existence of slums, who willingly served the master race and the bestiality of Hitlerism, and even the erstwhile judges of Nuremberg who brought about the hell of Vietnam have no right in this regard to criticize Stalinism, or at least Stalin as a bloody tyrant” (pp. 161).
Bloch is ultimately pragmatic. In fact, he discusses the particular American pragmatism of William James, emphasizing the epistemic value in usefulness. But where James argued that something is true because it is useful, Bloch argues, from Marx and Lenin, that something is useful because it is true—enter Marxism. What I gather from this is an insight into the valid obstacles of implementing a Marxist socialist project, while avoiding the trap that the capitalist West engages in; namely, accusing Marxism of utopianism all the while discarding it for anything short of utopian achievements.