[ show plain text ]
I take it that an "evolutionary, scientistic, positivist notion of
'Marxism'" is to be considered "bad." If so, why?
At 11:39 PM 3/14/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Paul (Z, OPE-L 2510) is right. This was discussed on this list several
>years ago. My memory is a bit fuzzy these days, but the story is
>something like this: Marx's papers were in the hands of the Avelings.
>Aveling wrote a book, _The Student's Darwin_ or something like that, that
>he wanted to dedicate to Darwin. He wrote to Darwin and sent a copy of
>the book. Darwin wrote back thanking him for the book and declining the
>offer of dedication. This letter got mixed in with Marx's papers and
>that's the beginning of the myth.
>
>But of course there's more to it than that. The myth was perpetuated
>because it conformed to a prevalent evolutionist, scientistic, positivist
>notion of "Marxism."
>
>The whole episode was exposed by Margaret Fay, writing in Monthly Review,
>I think, maybe about 20-25 years ago. I can't remember any more details.
>
>BTW, the way I always heard the myth was that it was *Vol. I* that Marx
>wanted to dedicate to Darwin.
>
>Andrew Kliman
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Paul Zarembka <zarembka@acsu.buffalo.edu>
>To: <ope-l@galaxy.csuchico.edu>
>Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 11:11 PM
>Subject: [OPE-L:2510] Re: Marx & Darwin
>
>
>: I read somewhere that this whole thing about Marx wanting to dedicate
>: Capital to Darwin is bogus. I cannot remember where I read it but it
>: sounded convincing. Paul
>:
>: ***********************************************************************
>: Paul Zarembka, supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY
>: ******************** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
>:
>:
>: Alejandro Ramos <aramos@btl.net> said, on 03/14/00 at 10:02 PM:
>:
>: >Dear Patrick and Steve:
>:
>: >According to Draper's Chronology (M&E Cyclopedia, I, p. 189), Marx
>sent a
>: >copy of the 2nd edition of Capital I to Darwin on Sept 25, 1873.
>Darwin
>: >replied on Oct 1st. He also sent a copy to Spencer.
>:
>: >Unfortunately, I don't have a good collection of Marx's letters but
>I'm
>: >sure you can trace Marx's letter easily. I have a Spanish version of
>: >Darwin's letter which is, as traditionally believed, a polite one.
>:
>: >It seems also that Marx wanted to dedicate the 2nd Volume of Capital
>to
>: >Darwin but he declined the honour for religious concerns.
>:
>: >By the way, Marx died on March 14, 117 years ago.
>:
>: >Alejandro
>: >----------------------------------
>:
>: >At 18:47 14/03/00 -0500, you wrote:
>: >>
>: >>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>: >>Date Tue, 14 Mar 2000 14:02:56 PST
>: >>From: "Steve Keen" <stevekeen10@hotmail.com>
>: >>
>: >>I heard the same, with detail about Marx sending Darwin a copy of
>Capital,
>: >>and receiving a polite letter back. I'll go offline and see if I can
>find
>: >>the gist--hopefully someone will beat me to it though!
>: >>
>: >>Steve
>: >>
>: >>>From: "Patrick L. Mason" <pmason@garnet.acns.fsu.edu>
>: >>>Reply-To: ope-l@galaxy.csuchico.edu
>: >>>To: ope-l@galaxy.csuchico.edu
>: >>>Subject: [OPE-L:2504] Re: Re: The employment contract
>: >>>Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 09:31:43 -0500
>: >>>
>: >>>
>: >>>OPE-Lers:
>: >>>
>: >>>Somewhere, sometime, someplace, I remember reading about or hearing
>about
>: >>>the relationship between Marx and Darwin. Does anyone have a
>reference
>: >>>handy?
>: >>>
>: >>>I ask because I am a co-author on a paper where racial identity and
>wealth
>: >>>are endogenous variables. The formal model is an application of
>: >>>evolutionary game theory. I'd be happy to forward the paper (e-mail)
>to any
>: >>>interested person(s).
>: >>>
>: >>>Thanks, patrick l mason
>:
>
>
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