Toward a Radical Metaphysics of Socialism

Description

Toward a Radical Metaphysics of Socialism: Marx and Laruelle by Katerina Kolozova In Toward a Radical Metaphysics of Socialism: Marx and Laruelle, Katerina Kolozova presents a novel philosophical synthesis that explores the intersection of Marxist thought and the philosophy of François Laruelle. Kolozova seeks to forge a "radical metaphysics" that can both critique and transcend traditional socialist theories by incorporating Laruelle's non-philosophy. Through this lens, Kolozova reinterprets Marx's foundational ideas on capitalism, class struggle, and historical materialism, offering a fresh approach that challenges the limitations of both classical Marxism and contemporary post-Marxist thought. The book examines how Laruelle’s concept of non-philosophy—which seeks to escape the domination of philosophy's "exclusive" thinking—can be applied to Marxism to create a new theoretical framework for understanding socialism. For Laruelle, the notion of "the Real" is central, a concept that does not rely on human perception or conceptualization, but instead operates beyond the realm of thought. Kolozova applies this idea to Marxist theory, exploring how it can reconfigure our understanding of social structures and political possibilities without succumbing to the metaphysical constraints of traditional political ideologies. Kolozova critiques the historical attempts to construct socialist systems through conventional philosophical and political means, suggesting that these efforts often miss the transformative potential of socialism by adhering to preconceived metaphysical structures. She argues that socialism needs a new metaphysical foundation that moves away from dogmatic interpretations of both Marxism and capitalist critique. Throughout the work, Kolozova integrates key Marxist concepts, such as alienation and exploitation, with Laruelle’s insistence on thinking beyond the philosophical tradition’s limitations. The book thus proposes a new radical metaphysics that can better address the contemporary conditions of capitalism and offer a more effective framework for radical political action and transformation. In summary, Toward a Radical Metaphysics of Socialism presents an innovative philosophical project that bridges the work of Marx and Laruelle, offering a radical rethinking of socialism’s metaphysical and theoretical underpinnings and challenging the limits of traditional Marxist and socialist thought.