The contemporary significance of Marx, Hegel and Freud for a sociological theory of the subject

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dc.contributor.authorShand, Andrewen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-15T18:21:36Z
dc.date.available2024-08-15T18:21:36Z
dc.date.copyright1982en_US
dc.date.issued1982
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Sociologyen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en
dc.description.abstractMarxist social theory is concerned with the dialectic between the transformation of consciousness and the revolutionary transformation of society. Consequently, a material and objective analysis of society is not sufficient; as a philosophy of praxis, Marxism also requires a theory of subjectivity. In the first chapter, the problem of subjectivity is dealt with in relation to major themes in Marx's writings. It is argued that Marx's conception of science is far too restrictive from the point of view of subjectivity, and that his commitment to materialism is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of Hegel. The second chapter considers Hegel's contribution to an understanding of subjectivity. Despite the many problems that are associated with Hegel's thought, it is argued that The Phenomenology of Spirit contains the outlines of a dialectical theory of subjectivity. Particular emphasis is given to Hegel's analysis of language and his theory of desire, two areas in which his understanding of subjectivity surpasses that of Marx. In the third chapter, it is argued that psychoanalysis is capable of providing Marxism with a theory of subjectivity, but only if Freud's doctrine is reformulated in terms of the Hegelian theory of desire. This has been attempted by Jacques Lacan, whose re-reading of Freud is considered in some detail. Finally it is concluded that Lacan's interpretation of Freud lays the basis for the eventual reconciliation of Marxism and psychoanalysis.
dc.format.extent126 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/19642
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleThe contemporary significance of Marx, Hegel and Freud for a sociological theory of the subjecten_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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