Did the Occult Influence Karl Marx and Early Communism?

Summary

In this esoteric exploration, Dr. Justin Sledge delves into the philosophy of Karl Marx, scrutinizing its esoteric and occult aspects. He compares Marx's materialist views with those of Hegel, highlighting Hegel's hermetic influences and Marx's rejection of such mysticism. The video also touches on Marx's Jewish heritage and its misconceptions, emphasizing Marx's clear disdain for religion and spirituality. It discusses the literary Gothic elements in 'Das Kapital' and the concept of commodity fetishism, suggesting a materialist form of apocalypticism in Marx's view of history.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the complex relationship between esotericism and the philosophy of Karl Marx, challenging the notion of a direct occult influence on Marxism.
• 🧙‍♂️ It explores the influence of hermetic thinking on G.W.F. Hegel, Marx's philosophical predecessor, suggesting that Hegel's dialectical idealism has hermetic or occult characteristics.
• 🔮 The script mentions specific hermetic elements in Hegel's philosophy, such as the Divine's incompleteness and the evolutionary process of absolute consciousness.
• 📖 Dr. Justin Sledge critiques Alexander McGee's thesis on Hegel's hermetic influences, arguing that some connections are overstated and that Hegel's mature philosophy does not robustly reflect hermetic traditions.
• 🤔 The discussion points out that Marx's philosophy is a radical inversion of Hegel's, moving from idealism to materialism and rejecting mystical and occult dimensions.
• 👻 The script humorously suggests that Marx's work has Gothic horror elements, likening capitalism to a vampire feasting on the working class.
• 📈 Marx's view on religion as described in the script is that it serves a dual function as a social analgesic and an addictive poison, ultimately benefiting the religious hegemony.
• 🏭 The concept of commodity fetishism in Marx's philosophy is highlighted, where commodities take on a spectral life and shape social reality and consciousness.
• 🔮 The script argues that ideology, formed by commodity fetishism, acts as a materialist version of demonic possession, influencing desires and consciousness.
• 🌟 Lastly, the script touches on the apocalyptic aspect of Marxism, where history is seen as leading to a final battle and the eventual establishment of a communist utopia.

Q & A

What is the main topic of discussion in the provided transcript?

The main topic of discussion is the exploration of esotericism and occult aspects within the philosophy of Karl Marx and its relation to Hegel's philosophy.

What is the relationship between Hegel's philosophy and esotericism as discussed in the transcript?

The transcript suggests that Hegel's philosophy was profoundly influenced by hermetic thinking, with elements such as the Divine's incompleteness, reality as a system of correspondences, and the theory of history as an evolutionary process influenced by medieval apocalyptic prophecies and Germanic mystical traditions.

How does the transcript describe Marx's view on religion?

The transcript quotes Marx describing religion as 'the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions,' and famously as 'the Opium of the people,' suggesting a dual function of religion as a social analgesic and an addictive poison.

What is the significance of 'commodity fetishism' in Marx's philosophy as explained in the transcript?

Commodity fetishism in Marx's philosophy refers to the way commodities take on a spectral life, appearing to have value inherent to them rather than being a result of the labor that produced them. This concept is described as having the ability to shape social reality and consciousness, similar to a materialist version of demonic possession.

How does the transcript connect Marx's philosophy to Gothic literature?

The transcript suggests that Marx's work, particularly 'Das Kapital,' can be seen within the context of Gothic literature, with elements of horror and the supernatural used as metaphors for the exploitation and oppression within capitalist systems.

What is the 'apocalypticism' in Marx's theory of history as mentioned in the transcript?

The transcript describes 'apocalypticism' in Marx's theory of history as a materialist view of history as a linear progression towards a final battle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, leading to the establishment of a communist utopia.

How does the transcript address the conspiracy theories linking Marx's philosophy to occultism?

The transcript dismisses conspiracy theories that link Marx's philosophy to occultism, arguing that Marx's work was a radical rejection of Hegel's idealist and mystical elements, and that any such connections are not supported by evidence.

What is the author's personal stance on Marxism as mentioned in the transcript?

The author, Dr. Justin Sledge, mentions being a 'rather cynical Marxist' himself and that historical materialism is his default way of doing history, indicating a personal alignment with Marxist principles.

How does the transcript discuss the influence of the Victorian interest in the supernatural on Marx?

The transcript notes that despite Marx's rejection of the supernatural, his work 'Das Kapital' contains elements of Gothic horror, suggesting that the Victorian interest in the supernatural influenced his literary style.

What is the significance of the 'ruling ideas' in Marx's 'German Ideology' as discussed in the transcript?

The 'ruling ideas' in Marx's 'German Ideology' are described as having an emergent property with effective causal agency, meaning they can influence the material base of production and shape social reality, similar to the concept of commodity fetishism.