Historical materialism and the economics of Karl Marx

This volume brings together a series of essays that aim to untangle the often‑confusing debates surrounding Marx’s economic thought and his theory of historical materialism. Written in response to contemporary controversies, the pieces examine the philosophical foundations of Marx’s work, asking what can truly be called scientific law and where abstraction ends and lived reality begins. The author argues that without such philosophical scrutiny, both economics and history risk slipping into vague generalities that obscure rather than illuminate the forces shaping society.

The writer, a critical Hegelian, uses his background to highlight the tension between Marx’s indebtedness to Hegel and his own departures from that system. By clearly separating the realms of science, history, and moral judgment, the essays show how Marx’s analysis of capitalism, class struggle, and labor value can be read without the distortions that have plagued later interpretations. Readers will come away with a sharper sense of why Marx’s ideas remain a vital, if contested, lens on economic and historical change.