Marxism and the Open Society

Abstract

A considerable part of Popper’s book, The Open Society and Its Enemies, is devoted to criticism of the social theory of Marxism. It is impossible to leave this criticism out of the question. Yet it is possible neither to attempt a broad and deep analysis of Popper’s arguments nor to enter into any lengthy dispute with his thesis in this paper. Therefore, I shall present in the first and second parts only some polemical remarks referring to the selected and more essential questions of Popper’s criticism of Marxism. My intention is to show only why Marxists reject the interpretation of the theory of Marx presented by Popper. In the third part of my article I shall present, though again very briefly, a critical analysis of the political doctrine of Popper himself. For the political estimation of Popper’s ideas seems to be more important than the polemic around the proper interpre- tation of Marxism.