Episode 148: Brian Leiter & Jamie Edwards on Marx’s Economic Thought: Knowing What Ain’t So

Gabriel Donnelly interviews his co-host, Andrew Kliman, regarding Andrew’s article, “‘Have No Time To Believe’: Edwards & Leiter on Marx’s Economic Thought.” In the article, Andrew argues that the treatment of Marx’s critique of political economy in Edwards and Leiter’s recent book, Marx, is “extremely flawed,” because they “know little about the subject they’re discussing,” and that a much shorter and circumspect treatment would have been better. Gabriel also asks Andrew about Richard Marshall’s “answer” to his article, which defended the book’s treatment of Marx’s economic thought, and Andrew’s reply to Marshall. They also take up Edwards and Leiter’s claim that Marx’s “theory of historical materialism” implies support for China’s market-centered state-capitalism, Marshall’s defense of that claim, and Andrew’s criticisms of their arguments.

In addition to surveying what Andrew says that the book got wrong, he and Gabriel discuss why he wrote a lengthy response (was that overkill, or was it underkill?), the manner in which
Edwards and Leiter responded to his commentary, the extent to which misunderstandings of Marx are willful, and other ethical issues (believing without having sufficient evidence, leaving error unrefuted).

Plus current-events segment: “You Must Refuse Illegal Orders.” The co-hosts discuss Democratic lawmakers’ video reminding military personnel that they need not and must not obey illegal orders, and the Trump regime’s deadly September attack on passengers in a Venezuelan boat.

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