Karl Marx and Contemporary Philosophy, edited by Andrew Chitty and Martin McIvor, is a formidable and rigorous analysis of the philosophical dimensions and implications of Karl Marx’s thought, revealing his enduring relevance in the contemporary intellectual landscape. This collection, drawn from papers presented at meetings of the Marx and Philosophy Society, offers a unique, comprehensive snapshot of the cutting-edge scholarship in Marxist philosophy today. It bridges the work of seasoned scholars and emerging voices, providing a platform where established expertise meets innovative inquiry.
The anthology addresses the resurgence of interest in Marxist thought at the turn of the twenty-first century, particularly in the aftermath of the collapse of Soviet communism and the ostensible triumph of liberal democratic capitalism. Far from being relegated to the dustbin of history, Marx’s critiques of capitalist society have found new resonance amid the intensifying contradictions and systemic risks of global market societies. The editors begin by contextualizing this revival, noting that Marx’s critique—rooted in the alienation and exploitation endemic to capitalism—has regained traction as the inequalities and instabilities of neoliberal globalization have come into sharper relief.
The contributors to this volume go into the relationship between Marx’s philosophical foundations and his social and economic critiques, offering diverse interpretations. Joseph McCarney’s opening chapter examines Marx’s early break with Hegelianism, particularly his critique of Hegel’s Doctrine of the State, where Marx identifies and seeks to transcend the conservative implications embedded in Hegel’s metaphysical principles. McCarney’s analysis underscores the radical turn Marx takes, extending Hegel’s Logic to critique the socio-political structures of his time, thus laying the groundwork for a revolutionary praxis aimed at societal transformation.
In a complementary vein, Martin McIvor posits Marx as a post-Kantian thinker, whose project continues and radicalizes the Kantian and Hegelian revolutions in philosophy. McIvor’s essay provides a fresh perspective on Marx by situating him within the broader trajectory of modern German Idealism, thereby opening new avenues for understanding Marx’s engagement with concepts of subjectivity and agency. This approach is particularly illuminating in an era where much of contemporary moral and political philosophy remains deeply indebted to Kantian principles, suggesting that Marx’s work can be read as both a continuation and a radical critique of this philosophical tradition.
Scott Meikle’s contribution pushes the historical context even further back, tracing the Aristotelian influences on Marx’s critique of political economy. Meikle argues that Marx’s confrontation with the political economists of his day is best understood against the backdrop of a metaphysical realism derived from the Aristotelian tradition. This perspective reveals Marx’s critique of capitalism as one that not only engages with but also challenges the underlying assumptions of modern economic thought, exposing its reduction of all human activity and value to mere instrumentality.
As the volume transitions to the political dimensions of Marx’s thought, Georgios Daremas and Andrew Collier explore the implications of Marx’s critique for contemporary political theory. Daremas revisits Marx’s early critique of the political state, arguing for a more refined conception of democracy that transcends the limitations of liberal democratic frameworks. Collier, meanwhile, provocatively aligns Marx’s political methodology more closely with conservatism than with liberalism, highlighting the organic, immanent nature of Marx’s approach to societal development, which paradoxically aligns with revolutionary outcomes despite its particularist roots.
Robert Fine bridges Marx’s political philosophy with his economic analyses by reinterpreting Capital as an implicit dialogue with Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. Fine’s analysis suggests that Marx and Hegel, far from being in outright opposition, offer complementary critiques of modernity—Marx focusing on its material forms, and Hegel on its ideal forms. This juxtaposition enriches our understanding of both thinkers, revealing the depth of Marx’s engagement with the philosophical tradition even as he sought to transcend it.
The core of the collection is its detailed examination of Marx’s economic theories, particularly his analysis of labor, value, money, and capital. Andrew Chitty revisits the concept of Capital in Marx’s early writings, interpreting it as an alienated manifestation of humanity’s essential nature, or ‘species-being’. This interpretation situates Marx within a broader philosophical anthropology, drawing on Rousseau and Hegel to illuminate the philosophical underpinnings of Marx’s later economic critiques.
Sean Sayers defends Marx against charges of anachronism, arguing that Marx’s concept of labor is far more flexible and philosophically sophisticated than his critics acknowledge. By presenting labor as a reflective, world-making activity, Sayers bridges Marx’s theories with those of later thinkers like Habermas, Arendt, and contemporary theorists such as Hardt and Negri, who focus on immaterial and biopolitical labor.
Chris Arthur and Patrick Murray further deepen the philosophical analysis of Marx’s critique of capitalism, particularly focusing on the roles of money and Capital. Arthur provides a reconstruction of Marx’s theory of value, elucidating how the abstraction inherent in the practice of exchange gives rise to the social form of value, instantiated in the institution of money. This leads to an exploration of how monetary relations become hegemonic in capitalism, culminating in the emergence of capital as a self-expanding value. Murray’s essay extends this analysis by critiquing Hegel’s oversight of the disruptive potential of capital’s self-expansion, positioning Marx’s insight into the capital-wage labor relationship as the cornerstone of his revolutionary critique.
Karl Marx and Contemporary Philosophy is a landmark collection that not only revitalizes Marxist scholarship but also situates it at the intersection of contemporary philosophical debates. Through its rigorous engagement with both the historical and philosophical dimensions of Marx’s work, the book offers readers an unparalleled opportunity to grapple with the complexities of Marxist thought in a way that is both intellectually demanding and deeply relevant to the challenges of our time. This volume is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the philosophical foundations and implications of Marx’s critique of capitalist modernity, and its continued relevance in the twenty-first century.
Simon Gros 
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