An Eco-Materialist Critique of Historical Materialism

An Eco-Materialist Critique of Historical Materialism
Presented by Craig Collins

Marx's historical materialism provides essential insights into the underlying patterns and forces shaping human history. However, in its present form, this theory has run into some serious dead-ends. These weaknesses can be rectified by integrating an understanding of the importance that energy and ecosystems play in shaping history, including the current crises undermining global capitalism and the industrial mode of production. An eco-materialist reformulation of Marx's theory improves our understanding of why and how people abandoned hunting & gathering for agriculture, and then replaced agricultural with industrial civilization. In addition, Eco-materialism helps clarify why working class revolts have been unable to replace industrial capitalism with a truly socialist alternative. And finally, eco-materialism offers some key insights into the emerging forces that may generate a potentially sustainable, democratic revolutionary alternative to the declining industrial mode of production.

Sunday April 26th, 2009, 10:00 AM - Noon
Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library
6501 Telegraph Ave. Oakland