Marks a teoria wiedzy odzwierciedlonej
Marx and the theory of reflected knowledge

Author(s): Tom Rockmore
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Marx; Marxism; Engels; dialectic; reflection theory; Hegel
Summary/Abstract: Marx’s position emerges in an ongoing dialogue with Hegel whom he never leaves behind. It is hence false to think that Marx’s overall position, specifically including Marxian economics, is, as is sometimes claimed, independent of his reading of Hegel. It is false as well that at a certain point in his intellectual trajectory, as Engels implies, and many Marxists, for instance Althusser, believe, Marx was finally able to free himself from philosophy in simply leaving Hegel behind. It is finally false to believe that Marx relies on what many Marxists call a reflection theory of knowledge. This view, which was adopted by Engels and Lenin, is a central element in Marxist theory of knowledge. Though this view is often attributed to Marx, it is never defended by him. This paper argues that, if our interest lies in understanding Marx’s position, since the reflection theory of knowledge has no basis at all in Marx’s writings, we should turn away from this Marxist myth.

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