[lbo-talk] Taibbi: Plutocrats Still in Charge, Empire Still Suicidal

[c b]

Julio Huato :
A perhaps not duly recognized influence on the philosophy of self-help
so popular now in most of the world (with the possible exception of
Western Europe?) is, of course, Hegel. Here is Gerald A. Cohen's
superb "dramatization" of the anthropomorphized World Spirit in
Hegel's conception of history (which, I guess, Cohen compiled from his
reading of Hegel's lectures on the philosophy of history) -- a
conception that Marx inverted and grounded on the material conditions,
natural and social. (It is interesting to contrast Cohen's rendition
of Hegel with the 7th chapter, 1st volume of Capital.)

^^^^^^^
CB: It is difficult to imagine the working class struggling through to
socialism if it is depressed and despirited. Good espirit de corps or
morale are necessary conditions for the victory of the proletariat
over the bourgeoisie. So, Marx and Engels' peptalk to the proletariat
is applying a principle of materialist psychology.

One task of working class partisan rhetoricians is to find a new
narrative inspiring enthusiasm.

So, comrades come rally !

Espirit de corps refers to the morale of a group.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morale

Morale

Morale, also known as esprit de corps when discussing the morale of a
group, is an intangible term used for the capacity of people to
maintain belief in an institution or a goal, or even in oneself and
others. The second term applies particularly to military personnel and
to members of sports teams, but is also applicable in business and in
any other organizational context, particularly in times of stress or
controversy.