The Tyranny of Theory

A Contribution to the Anarchist Critique of Marxism

by Ronald D. Tabor

Does Marxism equal totalitarianism? Are the ideas of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels somehow responsible for the horrors of Communism? Or were Communist societies simply an aberration - the result of a profound misreading of Marxian concepts, the unfortunate outcome of objective conditions, or the work of perverse, power-hungry individuals? In this volume, Tabor argues that, despite the apparently libertarian vision of Marx and Engels, the roots of totalitarianism lie within Marxism itself. Focusing on central facets of Marxist theory – its conception of the state; the notion of the dictatorship of the proletariat; the analysis of capital; the materialist conception of history; and dialectical materialism — Tabor argues that the sources of despotism can be traced in all of these. However, Tabor contends, Marxism’s totalitarian logic is especially apparent in two of Marxism’s most fundamental notions: (1) the belief that the state, in the form of the “dictatorship of the proletariat,” can be utilized to establish a free society; (2) a philosophical outlook that insists that human society, history, and the cosmos as a whole can be convincingly explained by, and subsumed under, one logically consistent world view, its own. Seen philosophically, then, Marxism must be understood as a form of totalizing rationalism that seeks to impose itself on humanity (and the Earth) by means of a monolithic state. Ronald D. Tabor is a long-time revolutionary activist and writer (author of Trotskyism and the Dilemma of Socialism [with Christopher Z. Hobson], and A Look At Leninism). A Marxist for many years, Tabor was active in SDS, a member of the International Socialists, and a founder of the Revolutionary Socialist League. After years of study, Tabor became critical of Marxism and embraced anarchism, becoming involved in the Love and Rage Revolutionary Anarchist Federation. He is currently part of the collective that publishes the Utopian magazine and a member of the First of May Anarchist Alliance. ISBN 978-1-926878-12-6

20.5 cm x 13.2 cm; 488 g

358 pp, perfect-bound $29.95

Contents



PREFACE INTRODUCTION The Crisis of Marxism and the Opportunity for Anarchism CHAPTER 1 Marxism and Its Historic Responsibility CHAPTER 2 The Marxist Theory of the State Critique Relative Scarcity and Human Nature The State as an Instrument of the Ruling Class The State as an Element of the Superstructure The Tendency of the Capitalist State to Expropriate the Capitalists The Contradictions of the State CHAPTER 3 The Dictatorship of the Proletariat Critique: The Statist Thrust of Marxism The State: a Passive Phenomenon? Dictatorship of the Proletariat, or Dictatorship over the Proletariat? Nationalized Property: the Essence of the Dictatorship, and the Outcome of History Nationalized Property = the Expropriation of the Workers The Paris Commune The Sources of Marxian Statism Hegelian Political Philosophy The Perfect State CHAPTER 4 Capital: Karl Marx’s Analysis of Capitalism – Part 1 I. Marx’s Method Critique: Circular Reasoning II. Commodities, Value, and the Role of the Market Critique: the Internal Contradiction of the Commodity The Phenomenology of Labour Philosophy, Not Science III. Surplus Value 104 Critique: Moralism or Science? Exploitation by Definition Exploitation: Only Economic? Economics as Determinant Economics: Science of Human Behaviour? The Return of Circular Reasoning CHAPTER 5 Capital: Karl Marx’s Analysis of Capitalism – Part 2 IV. The Accumulation of Capital Critique: Humanity Dominated by Its Products Capital: Nothing But Congealed Labour? The Means of Production: Purely Material Productivity of Labour or Productivity of Capital Exploitation: Scientifically Demonstrated? The Labour Theory of Value V. The Formation of the Average Rate of Profit VI. The Tendency of the Rate of Profit to Fall VII. Economic Crises VIII. Tendencies of Capitalist Development Critique: Socialism: the Logic of Capitalist Development? Dialectic of Labour? Marx’s Theory as a Whole Humanity: Defined by Labour? Humanity: the Symbolic Species The Logic of Marxism The Ironies of Marxism CHAPTER 6 The Materialist Conception of History Introduction Historical Materialism: an Attempt at a Summary Critique: Two Definitions of Materialism Marxian Theory: Explanatory or Predictive? Some Tenets of Historical Materialism 1. The Class Struggle 2. The Mode of Production 3. The Stages of History 4. Base and Superstructure/Social Existence and Consciousness A Summary of Points Marx and Hegel Once Again Marxist Messianism CHAPTER 7 Marxist Philosophy – Part 1 Is There a Marxist Philosophy, and If So, What Is It? Materialism Dialectics Marxian Dialectics Marxism and Science Marxism and Philosophy CHAPTER 8 Marxist Philosophy – Part 2 Marxism, Knowledge and Truth Marxism and Morality Determinism and Freedom The Tyranny of Theory CONCLUSION WORKS CITED FURTHER READING