Re: [OPE-L] Marxmyth or Marxfact? (M&E on economic equality for women)

From: Gerald_A_Levy@MSN.COM
Date: Tue Sep 13 2005 - 08:42:26 EDT


> The quotation cited in the forwarded message reproduces that myth of Marx
> "getting Helene Demuth pregnant".

Hi Paul Z;

On this point, see Terrell Carver's "Marx's 'Illegitimate Son'  or Gresham's
Law in the World of Scholarship":
http://marxmyths.org/terrell-carver/article.htm

The connection to Gresham's Law isn't explained:  I guess the idea is that
rumors if repeated enough and if sufficiently titillating or controversial
can overwhelm the facts.  Perhaps the "marxmyths" people might want to
consider in the future not only debunking Marx Mythology but also
consider _why_ the creation and reproduction of particular myths are
important from the standpoint of particular groups and individuals.
That is, an exploration into the _power of myths_ might be instructive.
For instance, there were myths that developed about Lenin and
Luxemburg that were widely diffused following their deaths.  This
was not simply a matter of  poor scholarship and/or rumor spreading:
rather the myths were used  for (even if they might not have been created
for) particular (political) ends.

In solidarity, Jerry


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