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Karl Marx: His Life and Works
Ruhle, Otto
http://www.connexions.org/CxArchive/MIA/ruhle/1928/marx/index.htmhttp://www.marxists.org/archive/ruhle/1928/marx/index.htm Publisher: Viking Press Year First Published: {25530 Karl Marx: His Life and Works KARL MARX HIS LIFE AND WORKS Ruhle, Otto http://www.connexions.org/CxArchive/MIA/ruhle/1928/marx/index.htm http://www.marxists.org/archive/ruhle/1928/marx/index.htm Viking Press Therewith our appraisement of Marx's personality has likewise been profoundly modified. Whereas persons of the last generation, in view of the opposing nature of their interests, reflected in their ideology, looked upon Marx either as a criminal disturber of the peace and a devil, or else as a saint and as an infallible pope-those of our own generation can admit him to have been a man equipped both with human weaknesses and with human strengths, both with human vices and with human virtues. We are, indeed, compelled to regard him thus, unless we would refuse to apply the materialist interpretation of history to individuals as well as to general processes. Marx had to be an obstinate, pig-headed, intolerant thinker and investigator; had to regard other people's opinions with suspicion; had to be hostile towards every alien trend; had to be cantankerous, dictatorial, fanatically obsessed with the rightness of his own convictions, fiercely opposed to any deviations from, any falsifications of, his ideas. He had to concentrate his genius, his understanding, his creative energy, for decade after decade, upon this one point, upon this one scientific task; had to neglect his calling, his family, his livelihood, his friends. 1928 1943 B Book CX10824 0 false true false CX10824.htm [0xc0006c2a20 0xc00075c480 0xc0007c1320 0xc0005fa480 0xc0009195f0 0xc00097c060] Cx} Year Published: 1943 Resource Type: Book Cx Number: CX10824 Therewith our appraisement of Marx's personality has likewise been profoundly modified. Whereas persons of the last generation, in view of the opposing nature of their interests, reflected in their ideology, looked upon Marx either as a criminal disturber of the peace and a devil, or else as a saint and as an infallible pope-those of our own generation can admit him to have been a man equipped both with human weaknesses and with human strengths, both with human vices and with human virtues. We are, indeed, compelled to regard him thus, unless we would refuse to apply the materialist interpretation of history to individuals as well as to general processes. Marx had to be an obstinate, pig-headed, intolerant thinker and investigator; had to regard other people's opinions with suspicion; had to be hostile towards every alien trend; had to be cantankerous, dictatorial, fanatically obsessed with the rightness of his own convictions, fiercely opposed to any deviations from, any falsifications of, his ideas. He had to concentrate his genius, his understanding, his creative energy, for decade after decade, upon this one point, upon this one scientific task; had to neglect his calling, his family, his livelihood, his friends. Subject Headings |