Home / Quotes / Quote by Allen W. Wood

Quote by Allen W. Wood

“The Russian revolution did not occur until a generation after Marx's death. He was not involved with it, or with what came after it. His works do not describe post-capitalist society, and a fortiori they do not recommend any part of what the Soviet Union did.”

Quote by Allen W. Wood

Author

Allen W. Wood, born in 1942, is a renowned professor in the field of philosophy. He has made significant contributions to ethics and political philosophy, with a rich academic career that spans several decades. Wood's research has influenced scholars worldwide, and his works have provided new insights into moral and political theories. more

You May Also Like

“It is absurd for anyone to think that Soviet "Marxism" is a correct application of the thought of Karl Marx. No doubt Soviet propaganda represented it this way. But who believes Soviet propaganda? It is remarkable (but maybe not so remarkable after all, when you consider their motives) that apologists for capitalism, who would not accept Soviet propaganda on any other point, are eager to agree with it on this point.”

Thinking Way Believe Accepting Doubt Capitalism Agree Absurd Propaganda Motive No Doubt Remarkable Application Soviet Marxism Soviet Propaganda

Author:Allen W. Wood

“Marx's own illusion was to think that the working class movement, which he devoted his life to creating and strengthening, would both be socially and politically successful in the industrial nations of Western Europe, and that it would develop an entirely new way of human social life that would retain and even enhance the productive benefits of capitalism while overcoming the inhumanity and exploitation of capitalist social relations. Marx himself had no solutions to these problems. His object of study was capitalism itself.”

“Karl Marx left it to others to find the way beyond capitalism to a higher form of society. He saw his role as giving them as accurate a theory as he could of how capitalism works, which would also show them the reasons why it needs to be abolished and replaced by a freer and more human form of society.”

Way Needs Giving Humans Reason Shows Form Left Roles Saws Theory Higher Capitalism Reason Why Accurate Replaced Human Form

Author:Allen W. Wood

“Clearly no working class movement ever came about that was able to do what Marx was hoping for.”

Able Class Movement Working Class

Author:Allen W. Wood

“We totally misunderstand both his aims and his contribution if we try to read into Marx some anticipation of either the modest successes or the disastrous failures of those who later thought they were acting in his name.”

Ifs Trying Names Acting Aim Contribution Anticipation Modest

Author:Allen W. Wood

“Marx's writings still have something to teach us about capitalism. They have little or nothing to teach us about any alternatives to it. Anyone who had read them knows that.”

Knows Writing Littles Stills Teach Capitalism Alternatives

Author:Allen W. Wood

“The problem is that many who reject Marx do not read him, or read him only by bringing prejudices to their reading that prevent them from understanding him.”

Problem Reading Understanding Prejudice Rejects Understanding Him

Author:Allen W. Wood

“It seems to me self-evident that it is worthwhile to understand the best thoughts of the past, to appropriate them, to criticize them.”

Self Seems Past Appropriate Criticize Worthwhile Evident

Author:Allen W. Wood

“Surely the world will be a better place, at least marginally, if people have a better understanding of Kant and Hegel, if Marx's thought its studied and appreciated, if people gain a better understanding of Fichte, whose philosophy is far more important than people realize.”

People Ifs World Important Philosophy Understanding Realizing Gains Better Place Appreciated Hegel

Author:Allen W. Wood

“I do not know how much my own work has achieved, and I must not pretend it has done more than it has.”

Knows Done My Own Know How

Author:Allen W. Wood