“… mid-century critical theorists like Max Horkheimer and Herbert Marcuse claimed the working class had been brainwashed into contentment. Rather than accepting that Marxism had been disproven, they came up with a new set of mental gymnastics to justify their pursuit of power.”
I think you posted ragebait. Marxism has long since been dissected for it's useful economic theory, tested and then iterated on. I don't know of any reputable academic bodies that fully espouse or detract from his works, it's a complex and expansive effort that influenced many successful modern economies (eg. PRC).
It sounds like you’re interpreting Marxism by its stated aims? The speakers in the video are making the case that the stated aims aren’t the actual aims, that the theory is less about how to organize society, and more a political tactic that can be used to take over a society, regardless of what you want to do with it after that.
Yuval Noah Harari said something along the lines of "communism is a religion, but so is capitalism, and so is Google." Of course Harari is being a bit of a troll, but so is whomever wrote "Marxism is a cult of power" video. I find Harari's framework more useful than labeling any specific ideology as a "cult".
I agree the use of the word “cult” was perhaps stronger than necessary, and maybe even a bit trollish, however, I think James Lindsay’s analysis is still quite sound
Full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUWQozp304g
“… mid-century critical theorists like Max Horkheimer and Herbert Marcuse claimed the working class had been brainwashed into contentment. Rather than accepting that Marxism had been disproven, they came up with a new set of mental gymnastics to justify their pursuit of power.”
I think you posted ragebait. Marxism has long since been dissected for it's useful economic theory, tested and then iterated on. I don't know of any reputable academic bodies that fully espouse or detract from his works, it's a complex and expansive effort that influenced many successful modern economies (eg. PRC).
It sounds like you’re interpreting Marxism by its stated aims? The speakers in the video are making the case that the stated aims aren’t the actual aims, that the theory is less about how to organize society, and more a political tactic that can be used to take over a society, regardless of what you want to do with it after that.
Yuval Noah Harari said something along the lines of "communism is a religion, but so is capitalism, and so is Google." Of course Harari is being a bit of a troll, but so is whomever wrote "Marxism is a cult of power" video. I find Harari's framework more useful than labeling any specific ideology as a "cult".
I agree the use of the word “cult” was perhaps stronger than necessary, and maybe even a bit trollish, however, I think James Lindsay’s analysis is still quite sound
Why do these sorts of screeders never remember that China is an explicitly Marxist country? Like, with 5 year plans and everything?