Humanism and Terror: The Communist ProblemRaymond Aron called Merleau-Ponty "the most influential French philosopher of his generation." First published in France in 1947, Humanism and Terror was in part a response to Arthur Koestler's Darkness at Noon, and in a larger sense a contribution to the political and moral debates of a postwar world suddenly divided into two ideological armed camps. For Merleau-Ponty, the central question was: could Communism transcend its violence and intentions? The value of a society is the value it places upon man's relation to man, Merleau-Ponty examines not only the Moscow trials of the late thirties but also Koestler's re-creation of them. He argues that violence in general in the Communist world can be understood only in the context of revolutionary activism. He demonstrates that it is pointless to ask whether Communism respects the rules of liberal society; it is evident that Communism does not. In post-Communist Europe, when many are addressing similar questions throughout the world, Merleau-Ponty's discourse is of prime importance; it stands as a major and provocative contribution to limits on the use of violence. The argument is placed in its current context in a brilliant new introduction by John O'Neill. His remarks extend the line of argument originally developed by the great French political philosopher. This is a major contribution to political theory and philosophy. Maurice Merleau-Ponty, until his death in 1961, held the Chair of Philosophy at the Collge de France. He was recognized as both an authentic and profoundly original disciple of Husserlian phenomenology, and a major figure in the development of existential thought. John O'Neill, who has prepared this accurate and well-written translation, is professor of sociology at York University, Ontario, Canada. Educated at the London School of Economics, Notre Dame, and Stanford, he is translator of Jean Hyppolite's Studies on Marx and Hegel and author of Perception, Expression and History. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
| vii | |
From the Proletarian to the Commissar | 101 |
The Yogi and the Proletarian | 149 |
CONCLUSION | 178 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
able according action already appears become believe Bukharin capitalism communism Communist consciousness consequences contingency course criticism death decision defense dialectic dictatorship difference discussion economic established ethics existence experience fact finally force freedom French future given human Ibid idea individual internal involves judge Koestler least Lenin less liberal liberty live logic longer Marx Marxist masses matter means moral Moscow nature necessary never objective once opposition Party Perhaps philosophy political position possible practice present principle problem proletariat question reality reason recognized refuses relations remain rest revolution revolutionary risk role Rubashov rule Russian sense shows side simply situation social socialist society Soviet speak struggle subjective Terror things thought tion Trials Trotsky true truth turn understand universal values violence whole
References to this book
Perversion and the Social Relation: Sic IV Molly Anne Rothenberg,Dennis A. Foster,Slavoj Zizek Limited preview - 2003 |
Bibliographic information
| Title | Humanism and Terror: The Communist Problem |
| Author | Maurice Merleau-Ponty |
| Translated by | John O'Neill |
| Publisher | Transaction Publishers |
| ISBN | 1412825725, 9781412825726 |
| Length | 189 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Military / World War II Political Science / History & Theory Political Science / Political Ideologies / Communism, Post-Communism & Socialism |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |