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References
T. Parsons, Social Classes and Social Conflict in the Light of Recent Sociological Theory, in Essays in Sociological Theory, Glencoe, 1958, pp. 323–324. In an article in “Current Sociology” reviewing the attainments of modern political sociology, R. Bendix and S. M. Lipset wrote: “During the 19th century only Marxism created a systematic theory for the comparative study of political relations and even 100 years later that theory continues to be fruitful as a point of departure”. (R. Bendix and S. M. Lipset, Political Sociology, in “Current Sociology”, 1957, No. 2).
M. Hirszowicz, Konfrontacje socjologiczne [Sociological Confrontations], Warszawa, 1964, p. 33. The above view which seems to be identical with the position of M. Hirszowicz differs from Hochfeld's on this question. He approaches historical materialism as a meta-sociological conception, composed of anthropological, philosophical, epistemological and ideological theses connected with a general world-view. (J. Hochfeld, Studia o marksowskiej teorii spoŀeczeństwa [Studies in the Marxian Theory of Society], Warszawa, 1963, pp. 73–74).
A. Malewski, Dwa modele socjologii [Two Models of Sociology], in “Studia Socjologiczne”, 1961, No. 2.
B. Baczko, Marksizm współczesny i horyzonty filozofii, w: Filozofia i socjologia XX wieku [Modern Marxism and the Horizons of Philosophy], in 20th Century Philosophy and Sociology, Warszawa, 1962.
In addition, the conception integrating and synthesizing may also constitute a specific form of one-sidedness, and limited possibilities for detailed and ehaustive analysis (see B. Baczko, Wokół problemów alienacji [On the Problems of Alienation], in “Studia Filozoficzne”, 1959, No. 6).
See for instance, the chapters on classes, the State, revolution, dictatorship of the proletariat in the handbooks Podstawy filozofii marksistowkiej [Foundations of Marxist Philosophy], Warszawa, 1960; Konstantinow, (ed.), Materializm historyczny [Historical Materialism], Warszawa, 1955; and the following books: Theory of the State and Law, Moscow, 1962; S. Rozmaryn, Istota Państwa [Nature of the State], Warszawa, 1950; S. Bednarski, J. Kolczyński, Podstawowe wiadomości o państwie i prawie [Basic Informations on the State and Law], Warszawa, 1961.
“[...] The question of the distribution of political powers is not built into the Marxist theory of the division of power in society. But it's not difficult to perceive that this kind of question may be appended to Marxian theory without undermining its principal theses”, wrote W. Wesołowski in his correct concern for the assimilation by Marxists of analyses by the interest-group theory. But he perhaps overlooked at the time, for instance, The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte and many publicistic works of Marx and Engles and particularly of Lenin in which the question of the distribution of political power among various groups occupy a central place (not only among classes). See W. Wesołowski, Studia z socjologii klas i warstw społecznych [Studies in the Sociology of Social Class and Strata], Warszawa, 1962, p. 112. The same author conceived the question more broadly in a later essay Marksowska teoria panowania klasowego [The Marxian Theory of Class Domination], in “Studia Socjologiczno-Polityczne”, 1964, No. 17. For the variformity and many-sidedness of the analysis of the phenomenon of government see the present author's O pojeciu i problematyce władzy w pracach Lenina [The Concept and Subject-matter of State Power in Lenin's Works], in “Studia Socjologiczno-Polityczne”, 1961, No. 8.
See Z. Bauman, O poj eciu władzy [The Concept of Power], in “Studia Socjologiczno-Polityczne”, No. 13, p. 26.
The term “general theory” is used here in a broader meaning than proposed by Malewski (op. cit.); it is not limited to strictly general propositions based on systematic research findings. Nor does it eliminate definitional considerations, typology, working hypotheses, and laws whose appearance is limited to a historical framework and methodological directives. A common trait of the systematization of Marxian conceptions in the form of a general theory is their arrangement in logical order as a coherent entity.
See particularly A. Malewski, Empiryczny sens teorii materializmu historycznego [The Empirical Meaning of the Theory of Historical Materialism], in “Studia Filozoficzne”, 1957, No. 2; O rozbieżnościach w poglądach socjologicznych [Divergencies of Sociological Views], ibid., 1958, No. 2; Jeszcze o sensie teorii materializmu historycznego [Once More on the Meaning of the Theory of Historical Materialism], ibid., 1958, No. 5.
J. J. Wiatr, O interpretacji materializmu historycznego [On the Interpretation of Historical Materialism], in “Studia Filozoficzne”, 1958 No. 1 and Jeszcze o interpretacji materializmu historycznego [Once More on the Interpretation of Historical Materialism], in “Studia Filozoficzne”, 1958, No. 3; Maria Hirszowicz, Problemy interpretacji Marksa [Problems of Interpretation of Marx], ibid., 1958, No. 6; J. Kossak, Konfrontacja czy negacja [Confrontation or Negation], in “Nowe Drogi”, 1959, No. 2.
Hochfeld, op. cit., pp. 149–237.
Hochfeld, op. cit., p. 157.
A. Malewski, Szczeble ogólności teorii a proces myjaśniania [Levels of Theoretical Generality and the Explanatory Process], in “Studia Socjologiczne”, 1963, No. 2, p. 84. J. Witt-Hansen in his work on historical materialism shows that Marx successfully applied the same methodological principles defined by modern mathematicians as the principles of generalization, to explain the contradiction between the law of simple commodity circulation and the law of the circulation of capital. (J. Witt-Hansen, Historical Materialism. The Method, the Theories. Exposition and Critique, Copenhagen, 1960, See also a review of this work by M. Hirszowicz, Praca o metodzie materializmu historycznego [A Work on the Method of Historical Materialism], in “Studia Filozoficzne”, 1963, No. 2). It would seem possible to use the same principles, for instance, to explain the contradiction between statements on the integrating and class functions of the state or the seemingly contradictory definitions of freedom found in the works of Marx.
S. Nowak, Refleksje nad struktura teorii socjologicznych [Reflections on the Structure of Sociological Theories], in “Studia Socjologiczne”, 1963, Nr. 2, p. 86.
F. Engels, Ludwig Feuerbach and the Outcome of German Classical Philosophy (Marxist Library), Vol. XV, New York, 1935, p. 75.
Z. Bauman, Wizje ludzkiego świata [Visions of a Human World], Warszawa, 1964, p. 60.
The coincidence of the evaluating descriptive and explanatory components of the Marxian conception of alienation was shown by B. Baczko in Wokól problemów alienacji [On the Problems of Alienation], in “Studia Filozoficzne”, 1959, No. 6, p. 36. He also pointed to the importance for modern literature devoted to the problems of alienation to treat autonomously each of the components in separate conceptions. He thus distinguishes between the “ethical” — evaluating, “positivist-sociological” — descriptive and “historio-philosophic” — constructional theories of social development and then indicates the one-sidedness of these separate conceptions. He postulates the linking together anew of these varied cognitional perspectives long ago fused in the works of Marx, by the critical assimilation of the materials accumulated there (ibid., p. 38).
M. Fritzhand, Spór o puścizn e filozoficzną młodego Marksa [Controversy Over the Philosophical Heritage of the Young Marx], in “Nowe Drogi”, 1960, No. 1.
B. Baczko, Kryptoproblemy i historyzm [Krypto-Problems and Historicism], in “Studia Filozoficzne”, 1958, No. 3.
L. Pazitnow, The Sources of Revolution in Philosophy, Moscow, 1960 and T. Ojzerman, Forming of Marxist Philosophy, Moscow, 1962. Both of these reviewed by R. Panasiuk in “Studia Filozoficzne”, 1963, No. 2 and 1964, No. 2.
J. Szacki, Perspektywa historii myśli społecznej [Perspective of a History of Social Thought], in “Studia Socjologiczne”, 1962, No. 1, p. 173.
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Jasińska, A. The need for and principles of systematizing the teachings of Karl Marx. Qual Quant 5, 265–279 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218983
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218983