Karl Marx certainly is one of the most influential political theorists of all times. Yet this is already subject to debate, for is Marx really a political theorist? Is he not, first and foremost, an economist, a philosopher—or a revolutionary? Thus, we find very different ideas how to interpret Marx’ texts lurking behind these questions. In our seminar, we will focus on Marx’ political thought—which of course can neither be simply separated from his economic theory nor from his philosophical foundations. At the same time, the seminar is intended as an introduction to Marx. Hence we will read texts from all periods of his work, from On the Jewish Question (1843) and his Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts (1844) to the first volume of Capital (1867). Precisely because Marx writing is as brilliant as it is difficult, his texts must be interpreted. Hence we will also look at how his texts have been read – for only the debate how to interpret Marx accounts for his actually in the 200th year after his birth.
Preparatory Reading
Hobsbawm, Eric J. (2012 [2011]): Wie man die Welt verändert. Über Marx und den Marxismus. Übersetzt von Andreas Wirthensohn und Thomas Atzert. München: Hanser.
Jaeggi, Rahel und Daniel Loick (Hrsg.) (2013): Nach Marx. Philosophie, Kritik, Praxis. Berlin: Suhrkamp.
Marx, Karl (1961 [1859]): Zur Kritik der Politischen Ökonomie. MEW, Band 13. Berlin: Dietz.
Sieferle, Rolf Peter (2011 [2007]): Karl Marx zur Einführung. 2. Aufl. Hamburg: Junius.