Historical materialism and Capital

It is commonly supposed that Marx's Capital is part and parcel of his theory of historical materialism. It is argued here, however, that this view is incorrect, and that Capital is distinguished from the more general theory of historical materialism in its standing as a work of social science. This conclusion rests on several grounds. First, Capital is substantially more specialized than the theory of historical materialism, since it is concerned only with one aspect of one mode of production. As a result, Capital provides a more rigorous treatment of its subject matter. Second, Capital is based on a fund of empirical evidence which is substantially more detailed than that offered in support of the theses of historical materialism. And third, given the preceding points, Capital is a developed empirical theory, whereas historical materialism is best construed as a general program of research. For these reasons Capital is epistemically distinct from historical materialism: unlike the latter, it is a substantive contribution to social science.     

Leisure,materialism, well-being and the environment

Introduction

There are increasing concerns that people in modern societies spend too much of their leisure time on activities such as shopping and watching television and that this undermines human well-being and damages the environment.

Kripke and materialism

Philosophical Studies -     

Maxwell and materialism

In a recent article, Grover Maxwell presents a case for a kind of mind-brain identity theory which he claims precludes materialism. His case is based on some views about meaning which I find plausible. However, I will argue that, by adopting certain assumptions about the nature of sensory experience, and extending some of Maxwell's views about meaning in a plausible way, the issue of a materialistic identity theory is reopened. Ultimately, I will agree that such a theory is not true, but more is needed to show this than Maxwell gives us. But the question of materialism is not thereby closed, because it has become axiomatic these days that materialism does not require an identity theory. So I will go on to consider if all forms of materialism have been ruled out by Maxwell's theory, as extended by me. I will end with a tentative affirmative answer but also with a proposal which, if it can be worked out, would reverse the decision.     

元伦理学崛起的历史原因探析

元伦理学在西方崛起的历史原因必须在垄断资本主义的社会现实、现代主义运动和“现代性”中寻找。垄断资本主义的出现是西方现代主义运动爆发的现实基础,而现代主义运动则为西方带来了以“反传统”为基本特征的“现代性”。元伦理学家既是现代主义运动的受影响者,也是该运动的直接参与者和推动者。元伦理学具有显而易见的现代性特征。     

Learning,cognition and ideology

Abstract

Invited to give the 2000 Rick Turner Memorial Lecture, I pondered the following question: What explains the fact that the sincere thought of a brilliant and heroic person such as Turner can appear preposterous to me, if bad faith or scholarly ignorance on one side or the other are ruled out, as they should be in this case? I address this question by considering what ‘ideologies’ are from the perspective of cognitive learning theory. I describe the dynamics by which pressures for social coordination cause brains to implement alternative natural soft-wares for performing inferences in complex domains of association and inference. I conclude by noting that this need not imply normative relativism, since the relative justifications for conclusions produced by different softwares can still be debated. My aim is thus not to contest Turner’s ideology or political views, but to partially explain how learning produces differences that transcend factual disagreements and even ethical ones.     

Hume and vital materialism

ABSTRACT

Hume was not a philosopher famed for what are sometimes called ‘ontological commitments'. Nevertheless, few contemporary scholars doubt that Hume was an atheist, and the present essay tenders the view that Hume was favourably disposed to the 'vital materialism' of post-Newtonian natural philosophers in England, Scotland and France. Both internalist arguments, collating passages from a range of Hume's works, and externalist arguments, reviewing the likely sources of his knowledge of ancient materialism and his association with his materialistic contemporaries are employed.     

青少年物质主义的成因、测量与干预

物质主义是一种看重个体所拥有的财物的价值观。本文回顾了青少年物质主义的成因、测量与干预方法。青少年物质主义价值观的形成主要受家庭、同伴和媒体等因素的影响。常用的测量方法包含青少年物质主义量表、物质主义价值观量表—儿童版以及消费者卷入度等自陈量表,操作性测量工具——拼贴画,以及想象、观看社会榜样视频等启动青少年物质主义的方法。干预活动主要通过家庭、学校、媒体和社会等渠道展开。未来研究值得关注下述两点,一是从新角度考察环境对青少年物质主义价值观的影响;二是开展本土化的青少年物质主义研究。