Yibing Zhang Livres

The book presents a unique interpretation of Lenin's Philosophical Notebooks, arguing they are not a cohesive work but rather a collection of notes reflecting the political and theoretical conflicts of Lenin's era. Professor Zhang Yibing emphasizes the importance of understanding these documents in the context of their time, particularly the collapse of the European Social Democratic Party in 1914. This fresh perspective invites readers to engage with Lenin's thoughts alongside contemporary philosophers, suggesting a path for future critical inquiry rooted in Marxist tradition.

Focusing on early Baudrillard's influential works, the author challenges prevailing interpretations of his philosophical evolution. Zhang Yibing, a prominent third-generation Marxist philosopher from China, employs a unique reading methodology to argue that Baudrillard's writings defy classification as either postmodernist or neo-Marxist. He highlights Baudrillard's critical stance towards Marxism, particularly in "The Mirror of Production," which seeks to dismantle Marxist theories from within, a perspective often overlooked by Marxist scholars.

Karl Marx's philosophical work has profoundly influenced Western concepts of society and economics, with ongoing discourse reflecting this impact. However, the contributions of Chinese scholars remain underrepresented due to language barriers. This book translates Zhang Yibing’s significant work 'Back to Marx,' originally published in 1999 in the PRC. It offers a thorough examination of the intricate relationships between Marx's political and economic philosophy, drawing on a careful reading of various textual sources, notably the newly released second edition of the Marx-Engels-Gesamtausgabe (MEGA2), which includes previously inaccessible notes and manuscripts. The analyses presented are nuanced and meticulously reasoned, portraying a “dialectics of Marx’s thought” from his early writings in the late 1830s through the 1840s, as well as the 'Grundrisse' and 'Capital.' Unlike the sharp breaks noted by “Western Marxist” commentators like Althusser, the author explores both continuities and discontinuities, alongside the interplay of philosophy, history, and economics within Marx's theoretical framework critiquing capitalism. The secondary literature encompasses works from various regions, offering valuable insights into the Chinese interpretation of Marx's international discourse. Prof. Dr. Zhang Yibing, a leading Marxism scholar at Nanjing University and its Chancellor, provides a critical perspective on contemporary philosophi