''The Concept of Nature in Marx'' (german: Der Begriff der Natur in der Lehre von Marx) is a 1962 book by the philosopher Alfred Schmidt. First published in English in 1971, it is a classic account of

Karl Marx Karl Heinrich Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, critic of political economy, and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 ...

's ideas about nature.

Summary

The critic

Terry Eagleton Terence Francis Eagleton (born 22 February 1943) is an English literary theorist, critic, and public intellectual. He is currently Distinguished Professor of English Literature at Lancaster University. Eagleton has published over forty books, ...

summarizes Schmidt as arguing that, according to

Marx Karl Heinrich Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, critic of political economy, and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 ...

, "Human beings are part of Nature yet able to stand over against it; and this partial separation from Nature is itself part of their nature."

Reception

''The Concept of Nature in Marx'' has been seen as a classic work. Eagleton 2012. p. 248. The philosopher Herbert Marcuse offers a discussion of the role of nature in Marxist philosophy informed by Schmidt's work in his ''

Counterrevolution and Revolt ''Counterrevolution and Revolt'' is a 1972 book by the philosopher Herbert Marcuse. Summary Marcuse writes that the western world has reached a new stage of development, in which "the defense of the capitalist system requires the organization of ...

'' (1972). The political scientist David McLellan describes ''The Concept of Nature in Marx'' as, "an important and well-documented consideration of the importance of Marx's materialism." McLellan 1995. p. 446.

References

Bibliography

;Books * * * 1962 non-fiction books 1971 non-fiction books 20th-century German literature Critical theory Frankfurt School German non-fiction books Books about Karl Marx Books about Marxism {{philo-book-stub