Why Read Marx Today?

In recent years we could be forgiven for assuming that Marx has nothing left to say to us. Marxist regimes have failed miserably, and with them, it seemed, all reason to take Marx seriously. The fall of the Berlin Wall had enormous symbolic resonance: it was taken to be the fall of Marx as well as of Marxist politics and economics. This book argues that we can detach Marx the critic of current society from Marx the prophet of future society, and that he remains the most impressive critic we have of liberal, capitalist, bourgeois society. It also shows that the value of the 'great thinkers' does not depend on their views being true, but on other features such as their originality, insight, and systematic vision. On this account too Marx still richly deserves to be read.

Table of Contents:
Contents Introduction Marx's Life and Works The Plan of this Book 1: Early Writings Introduction Religion The Philosophy of Historical Materialism Labour and Alienation Money and Credit Liberalism Emancipation 2: Class, History, and Capital Class History The Economics of Capitalism The Transition to Communism The Nature of Communism 3: Assessment Introduction Early Writings Theory of History Economics Communism Human Nature Conclusion Guide to References and Further Reading

About the Author :
Jonathan Wolff is Professor of Philosophy at University College London. His books include the successful Introduction to Political Philosophy, OUP.

Review :
`All too often, Karl Marx has been regarded as a demon or a deity - or a busted flush. This fresh, provocative, and hugely enjoyable book explains why, for all his shortcomings, his critique of modern society remains forcefully relevant even in the twenty-first century. ' Francis Wheen, author of Karl Marx `an engaging read ' Economist `This is an important and timely book, that deserves to be widely read, not just by philosophers, economists and political theorists, but by journalists, politicians, and anyone who wants to understand the world we live in today. The scholarship on which the book is based is impeccable, yet the presentation is accessible and engaging throughout. Wolff is clear and candid about where Marx was wrong, and direct and persuasive about where he was right and still important today. This may be the most important book on Marx in the last two decades, one that will mark a turning point in the public and intellectual reception of Marx's philosophy.' Brian Leiter, University of Texas at Austin `In splendidly lucid prose, Jonathan Wolff explores the continuing appeal of Marx today. Deftly sifting the living from the dead in Marx's thought, Wolff shows how his criticisms of capitalism and liberalism have lost none of their urgency, even if his communist solutions prove unconvincing.' Professor Richard Bellamy, University of Reading