Ecology and Historical Materialism

This book challenges the widely-held view that Marxism is unable to deal adequately with environmental problems. Jonathan Hughes considers the nature of environmental problems, and the evaluative perspectives that may be brought to bear on them. He examines Marx's critique of Malthus, his method, and his materialism, interpreting the latter as a recognition of human dependence on nature. Central to the book's argument is an interpretation of the 'development of the productive forces' which takes account of the differing ecological impacts of different productive technologies while remaining consistent with the normative and explanatory roles that this concept plays within Marx's theory. Turning finally to Marx's vision of a society founded on the communist principle 'to each according to his needs', the author concludes that the underlying notion of human need is one whose satisfaction presupposes only a modest and ecologically feasible expansion of productive output.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction; 1. Ecological problems: definition and evaluation; 2. Marxism and green Malthusians; 3. Marxism and the ecological method; 4. Historical materialism: locating society in nature; 5. Development of the productive forces; 6. Capitalism, socialism and the satisfaction of needs; Conclusion.

Zusammenfassung

This book presents a systematic challenge to the widely-held view that Marxism is unable to deal adequately with environmental issues. Jonathan Hughes responds to criticisms of Marx's theory, and offers an interpretation and reconstruction of key Marxian concepts, designed to show that the theory need not have harmful ecological consequences.

Produktdetails

• Autoren: Jonathan Hughes, Jonathan R. T. Hughes
• Mitarbeit: G. A. Cohen (Herausgeber), John Roemer (Herausgeber)
• Verlag: Cambridge Academic
• Sprache: Englisch
• Produktform: Fester Einband
• Erschienen: 26.06.2000
• EAN: 9780521660907
• ISBN: 978-0-521-66090-7
• Abmessung: 152 mm x 229 mm x 17 mm
• Gewicht: 510 g
• Illustration: 1 b/w illus., Zeichnungen, nicht spezifiziert
• Serien: Studies in Marxism and Social; Studies in Marxism and Social Theory
• Themen: Naturwissenschaften, Medizin, Informatik, Technik > Biologie > Ökologie; Sozialwissenschaften, Recht,Wirtschaft > Politikwissenschaft > Politische Theorien und Ideengeschichte; POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, Political science & theory, Political science and theory, Socialism & left-of-centre democratic ideologies, Left-of-centre democratic ideologies