1. Introduction to our critical Marxism - Ernesto Díaz

OBJECTIVES General objective: to introduce the keys and problems of the thought of Marx and our Marxism. Purpose of the various papers: 1st presentation. Explain the break with Hegelian philosophy; Explain the development of his conception of "praxis" or practice, synthesized in the "Theses".

2nd presentation. Explaining how criticism of religions and speculative, abstract thinking are Marx's precondition for all criticism; Explain the next step in denying religions: the critique of really existing social relations.

3º presentation. Explain in advance some specific elements of Marx's critique of the capitalist mode of production.

PRESENTATION AND READINGS

1 st presentation. Marx, his time and the break with the Left Hegelians.

1st part - Biographical notes of Marx.

Compulsory reading.

• Ernest Mandel, The Place of Marxism in History, "Appendices": "The Eight Main Periods of the “History” of Marx" and "A Few Events of Marx’s Time", IIRE, Amsterdam, 1983

Part 2-

• Marx, 1845; Theses On Feuerbach [1]

2nd Presentation. From the critique of religions to political economy

1st part-Marx, critic of religion.

Two basic readings.

• Marx, 1843, A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. Introduction [2]

2nd part-Developing a materialist conception of history. Basic reading * Marx, 1859, A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy [3]

3º Presentation. Criticism of political economy.

Only part- fundamental elements of political economy.

Basic Reading

• Ernest Mandel, 1967, An Introduction to Marxist Economic Theory [4]

Reading to expand:

• Ernest Mandel, 1990, Marx’s Labour Theory of Value [5]