Poverty of TheoryThis classic collection of essays by E.P. Thompson, one of England’s most renowned socialist voices, remains a staple text in the history of Marxist theory. The bulk of the book is dedicated to Thompson’s famous polemic against Louis Althusser and what he considers the reductionism and authoritarianism of Althusserian structuralism. In lively and erudite prose, Thompson argues for a self-critical and unapologetically humanist Marxist tradition. Also included are three essays of considerable importance to the development of the New Left. |
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abstract Althusser Althusser’s Althusserian analogy analysis Anderson appear argue argument bourgeois bourgeoisie British Capital capitalist class struggle common Communist complex concept conflict context contradiction critical critique culture defined determined dialectic dialogue discipline discourse economic empirical empiricism Engels English epistemological essay evidence existence experience fact forms historians historical knowledge historical materialism historical process historicism ideology institutions intellectual interrogation kind labour Left Review Leszek Kolakowski man’s Marx Marx’s Marxist historiography Marxist tradition means metaphor mode of production moral movement Nairn Natopolitan nature never notion object offer one’s particular Party philosophical Political Economy possible potentia problem procedures proletariat proposed propositions question rational Raymond Williams reason relations relations of production revolution revolutionary rigorous self sense social consciousness socialist humanism society Soviet Stalinism Stalinist structure superstructure suppose teleology theoretical practice theory thought true values valuesystem vocabulary whole workingclass