[lbo-talk] Re: Biology and Society

arash at riseup.net arash at riseup.net
Mon May 29 23:44:12 PDT 2006


Ted writes: "Evolutionary psychology" and "sociobiology" entail a form of determinism that excludes self-determination in the sense indicated by the ideas of a "will proper" and a "universal will". These ideas underpin Marx's idea of ideal human relations - relations of mutual recognition. So the "human capability" realized in these relations - a capability for self-determination - can't be explained by that form of determinism.

Arash:

"Will proper" and "universal will" may be vital for realizing the "true realm of freedom" Marx formulated, but that doesn't mean they are essential for cooperative democracy, socialistic or anarchistic, which is what Jerry was refering too. Also, was Marx really consistent about this point, he talks about a "species character" for creative work, isn't that a kind of determinism?

Jerry Monaco wrote:


> that Kropotkin assumes a perspective that we would call today
> "evolutionary psychology" and "sociobiology" shows that one does
> not have to be a "rightist" of any sort to think that some form of
> cooperative democracy (anarchism, socialism) are compatible with
> natural human capacities.

Any ontology that has no logical space for the ideas of a "will proper" and a "a universal will" also has no logical space for Marx's idea of a "true realm of freedom". The latter actualizes the former.

"The Will Proper, or the Higher Appetite, is (a) pure indeterminateness of the Ego, which as such has no limitation or a content which is immediately extant through nature but is indifferent towards any and every determinateness. (b) The Ego can, at the same time, pass over to a determinateness and make a choice of some one or other and then actualize it." (Hegel, The Philosophical Propaedeutic, p. 2)

The "Universal Will" is "the Will which is Lawful and Just or in accordance with Reason." (Philosophical Propaedeutic p. 1)

Ted



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