History and Event From Marxism to Contemporary French Theory

by Coombs, Nathan

• ISBN13: 9780748698998
• ISBN10: 074869899X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2015-11-01
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Summary

Explores the politics of modern and contemporary historical sciences, from Marxism to contemporary French theory

Are sciences of history relics of an abandoned modernism? Nathan Coombs demonstrates that the Marxist science of history has been reimagined by a strand of contemporary French theory after Louis Althusser. Taking a comparative approach, Coombs explores the technical details of both traditions' historical sciences. He argues that their articulations of history and event affect how we approach political transformation and view the role of theoreticians in political practice.

History and Event sits at a productive juncture of critical theory, continental thought and social scientific philosophy. It is a vital resource for researchers who wish to sharpen their critical insight into Marxist philosophy and contemporary French theory.

Author Biography

Nathan Coombs is Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of Edinburgh.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part I: History and Event in Marxist Dialectics
1. Hegel's Leaps and the Historicist Theory of Knowledge
2. Marx's Idea of Communist Transformation
3. Lenin's Philosophy: A New Dialectics of Revolution?

Part II: Events and Historical Judgement after Althusser
4. Althusser's Science: Naming the Epistemological Break
5. Badiou's Decision: To Give Up Leadership, Somewhat
6. Meillassoux's Politics: Speculative Justice

Part III: Suggestions about Where this Road Might Take us
7. Afterword: Towards a Complex Science of History

Notes
Bibliography
Index