Socialism as the Development of Liberalism

Marxist Analysis of Values

2022
Buch

Verfasst von: Satoshi Matsui
Buchreihe: Marx, Engels, and Marxisms
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"; Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Über dieses Buch

Dieses Buch befasst sich mit der Frage, was Sozialismus nach grundlegenden Werten und nicht nach Institutionen ist. Dieses Buch argumentiert, dass der marxistische Sozialismus nicht nur allmählicher, sondern auch radikaler ist, als er normalerweise verstanden wird, und zeigt, dass der Sozialismus den Liberalismus erweitert, indem er liberale Gerechtigkeit erbt und fördert, einschließlich grundlegender Menschenrechte. Gleichzeitig lehnt der Sozialismus den Liberalismus letztlich ab, weil er liberale Werte wie Freiheit und Gleichheit, die primären Prinzipien der Gesellschaft, nicht berücksichtigt. Satoshi Matsui bietet eine neue Theorie an: Entfremdung hat zwei Dimensionen. Marxisten sind bestrebt, eine Politik zu korrigieren, die in einer kapitalistischen Gesellschaft gegen die Gerechtigkeit verstößt, und die erste Dimension der Entfremdung ist die Ungerechtigkeit im Kapitalismus. Aus der Perspektive einer kommunistischen Gesellschaft jedoch ist Gerechtigkeit selbst eine entfremdete Idee und die zweite Dimension der Entfremdung. Marx "Entfremdungstheorie stellt die liberale Gerechtigkeitstheorie nicht in Abrede, sondern ist vielmehr ein universelles System, das sie umfasst. Durch die grundlegende Überprüfung des Marxismus bietet dieser Band eine grundlegende Richtschnur für die Überwindung der kapitalistischen Gesellschaft und den Aufbau einer kommunistischen Gesellschaft.

Mit KI übersetzt

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Socialism and Liberal Normative Theories

Abstract

This chapter examines the relation between socialism and liberal normative theories. First, I explain why reexamining socialism at the level of value, compared with liberalism, is crucial. In liberal normative theory, neoliberalism emerged from the crisis of welfare liberalism, and debates between egalitarian liberalism, libertarianism, and communitarianism became active. This situation demonstrates that liberalism is diversifying enough to lose its identity. The socialist normative theory has a close relation with each of the liberal normative theories. It remains unclear how socialism is related to liberal normative theories and whether the slogan of the French Revolution stands for liberal or socialist normative theory. Resolving these problems is the task of socialist normative theory.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 2. Socialism and Moral Philosophy

Abstract

This chapter investigates the relation between socialism and moral theory. First, I classify theories of moral philosophy. The normative theory is grouped into moral and nonmoral theories, and moral theory is composed of teleology and deontology. Teleology consists of consequentialism and essentialism, and deontology comprises pure and mixed deontology. Next, I inquire into the relation between liberal normative theory and moral philosophy. Welfare liberalism and neoliberalism employ consequentialism. Communitarianism is rooted in essentialism. Libertarianism and egalitarian liberalism are categorized into pure and mixed deontology, respectively. Then, I contemplate the relation between socialism and theories of moral philosophy by referring to R. G. Peffer’s work. Opinions on socialist normative theory extend to almost all theories of moral philosophy, including the affirmation and denial of normative or moral theories, utilitarianism, nonwelfarist consequentialism, essentialism, and mixed deontology. What moral theory the socialist normative theory relies on remains unsolved.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 3. Justice

Abstract

This chapter reviews the controversy on the position of justice in Marxism and proposes a new theory. After defining the concept of justice, I analyze the Tucker-Wood thesis, which comprises two theses, A and B. According to thesis A, Karl Marx condemns capitalism but not because he thinks it is unjust, and according to thesis B, Marx expects the concept of justice to lose priority in communism. Given the distinction between these two theses, I reexamine Norman Geras’s nine points and discover that neither the justice nor the non-justice interpretation corresponds to all nine points. Although the justice and non-justice interpretations are in opposition, they share a common feature: an assumption that the attitude toward theses A and B should be the same, that is, one should either accept or reject both. I argue that their presupposition has a problem, and that thesis A should be denied and thesis B approved. In conclusion, I propose a new interpretation that Marx condemns capitalism from the perspective of justice but does not expect that a communist society prioritizes the idea of justice.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 4. Liberty

Abstract

This chapter discusses Karl Marx’s theory of liberty and responds to its critiques. First, the fundamental value of liberalism is liberty since it pursues absolute liberty within negative liberty. Next, Marx’s concept of liberty can be analyzed into regulative liberty and personal liberty; the latter consists of developmental liberty and communal liberty. The subjects of regulative liberty and personal liberty are a group and an individual, respectively. Regulative liberty precedes personal liberty in time; however, in value, the latter precedes the former. Personal liberty is classified into developmental liberty and communal liberty. Personal liberty becomes sufficient only when developmental liberty is combined with the communal liberty possible in a communist society. Then, I probe the critiques of Marx’s theory of liberty. Friedrich Hayek, Robert Nozick, and Isaiah Berlin contend for priority of negative liberty over positive liberty from the theory of spontaneous order, the principle of self-ownership, and antitotalitarianism, respectively. Andrzej Walicki alleges that liberty was suppressed in existing socialist countries because in Marxism, the subject of liberty is a group. Charles Taylor highlights that Marx craves for absolute liberty. I respond to these critiques by employing Marx’s theory of liberty.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 5. Equality

Abstract

This chapter delineates the position of equality in Marxism by comparing Marxist concept of equality with that of egalitarian liberalism. First, in a socialist society, productive assets and means of consumption are not equally owned by individuals but are placed under social ownership. Second, communist society prioritizes equality of conditions over equality of opportunity. The reason for choosing equality of conditions is not rooted in egalitarianism but communism. Third, radical egalitarianism encourages individualism and does not solve the problem of alienation. Fourth, as individuals in a communist society find their highest self-realization in contributing to society even if their condition is lowered from the average, inequality of conditions might occur; however, correcting inequality is unnecessary. Thus, Marxism supports egalitarianism as far as it contributes to communism but prioritizes communism in situations where egalitarianism and communism conflict with each other. Marxism is nonegalitarian in this sense.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 6. Property

Abstract

This chapter ponders the position of property in Marxism concerning labor and the ownership of means of production. Two factors of production are labor and means of production. Accordingly, Karl Marx’s theory of property can be roughly split into two types. Type 1 is the theory of labor (TL), which claims that the title to own a product lies in labor. According to this theory, Marx’s criticism of capitalism and his vision of a postcapitalist society are grounded on labor. Type 2 is the theory of ownership of means of production (TOMP), according to which ownership of means of production entitles the holder to own the product. Marx adopts both TL and TOMP; thus, his attitude seems inconsistent. Therefore, I delve into his seemingly conflicting attitudes. Historical materialism can explain how the relation between TL and TOMP varies as the social system changes. Marx’s reliance on both TL and TOMP reflects the historical development of society, not a logical contradiction or rhetorical counterargument.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 7. Utility

Abstract

This chapter explores Karl Marx’s position on utilitarianism as a normative principle for assessing social systems. After surveying three interpretations concerning Marx’s stance on utilitarianism, I scrutinize how Marx evaluates the three elements of utilitarianism: consequentialism, welfarism, and sum-ranking. In a capitalist society, utilitarianism functions as a principle to promote the rapid development of productive forces; Marx admires such progressive aspects. In a socialist society, utilitarian values that prevail under a capitalist society still remain. Utilitarianism’s task is to increase social welfare, and Marx tolerates utilitarianism at this stage, as long as it serves this purpose. As the goal of constructing a communist society, which is the last stage, is achieved, utilitarianism loses its role. Then, Marx designs a communist society based on normative principles that differ from those of utilitarianism. Thus, Marx’s assessment of utilitarianism changes as the social system develops. Marxists attempt to end the role of utilitarianism by pursuing it rather than refusing it.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 8. Essence

Abstract

This chapter deals with the relation between Marxism and essentialism. Modern ethics can be divided into three categories—deontology, utilitarianism, and essentialism—the last of which comprises virtue ethics and perfectionism. Deontology and utilitarianism are the dominant ethics in a capitalist society. Marxism utilizes deontology and utilitarianism to denounce a capitalist society but does not rely on these ethics as the main principles in forming a communist society. Nonwelfarist consequentialism is more progressive than utilitarian consequentialism because it abandons the hedonistic character of utilitarianism; it is thus the most suitable principle in a socialist society. In a communist society, essentialism becomes influential. Essentialism may sometimes include the following characteristics: relativism, moralism, elitism, and paternalism. The communist countries that have treated essentialism as national morality have stuck to these four characteristics. The communist society envisioned by Karl Marx refuses all of these qualities.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 9. Community

Abstract

This chapter clarifies the concept of community, one of the primary values in Karl Marx’s communism, by comparing it with that of modern communitarianism, which also centered on community. Communitarianism has emerged as a substitute notion for communism through debate with liberalism. Its advocates comprise Alasdair MacIntyre, Michael Sandel, Charles Taylor, and Michael Walzer. I compare communism with communitarianism in terms of nine elements: moralism, perfectionism, liberalism, individualism, conservatism, localism, particularism, democracy, and radicalism. Communitarianism attempts to criticize liberalism from its outside, whereas communism overcomes it from its inside. Communitarians attempt to maintain a traditional community in a capitalist society, whereas communists attempt to transcend capitalism and liberalism from within and build a new society founded on the association. The liberal-communitarian debate is only a reproduction of the problem that Marx addressed and answered. Communitarian criticism of Marxism eventually contributed to illuminating the significance of the communist community.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 10. Alienation

Abstract

This chapter elucidates the characteristics of alienation theory by comparing it with justice theory. First, as a framework of normative theory, three points are discussed: idealism versus materialism, universalism versus relativism, and individualism versus socialism. From these points, I compare the justice theory with the alienation theory. The alienation theory has a broader scope than the justice theory does. Next, I present the two-dimensional theory of alienation. The first and second dimensions take the perspectives of liberal and communist societies, respectively. In a capitalist society, justice is viewed as universal. Marxists do not transcendentally denounce justice but utilize it when opposing capitalism; this is the first dimension of alienation. However, Marxists do not intend that these values are valid from a communist society’s perspective; justice is negated as an alienated idea; this is the second dimension of alienation. Therefore, the theories of alienation and justice do not conflict with each other; the justice theory can be characterized as part of the alienation theory.

Satoshi Matsui

Chapter 11. Socialism as the Development of Liberalism

Abstract

This chapter concludes the book. Socialism as the extension of liberalism inherits the achievements of liberalism and extends it into the future; however, socialism as the negation of liberalism recognizes liberalism as an alienated idea and ultimately denies it. In this dialectical sense, socialism is characterized as the development of liberalism. My view on socialism can overcome the conflict between historical materialism and the theory of revolutionary subject. According to this view, if liberalism attempts to solve the contradiction that it contains, it must be transformed into socialism. Socialism, delineated by Karl Marx, is a universal principle that includes liberalism. Every country and region of the world will realize socialism through the capitalist era. If the feature of liberalism is universality, socialism is an orthodox successor to liberalism, with respect to this universality.

Satoshi Matsui

Titel: Socialism as the Development of Liberalism
Verfasst von: Satoshi Matsui
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-81257-7
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-81256-0
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81257-7

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Socialism as the Development of Liberalism

Marxist Analysis of Values

Über dieses Buch

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Socialism and Liberal Normative Theories

Chapter 2. Socialism and Moral Philosophy

Chapter 3. Justice

Chapter 4. Liberty

Chapter 5. Equality

Chapter 6. Property

Chapter 7. Utility

Chapter 8. Essence

Chapter 9. Community

Chapter 10. Alienation

Chapter 11. Socialism as the Development of Liberalism

Backmatter

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