Papers by Franz Heilgendorff
Philosophy of Globalization, Jun 11, 2018
Hegel-Studien, Oct 2020
Taking into account the complex debate concerning Hegel’s Elements of the Philosophy of Right, it... more Taking into account the complex debate concerning Hegel’s Elements of the Philosophy of Right, its relation to his Science of Logic, and its criticism by Marx who continues Hegel’s method in his Critque of Political Economy, this contribution develops three new thematic fields to demonstrate whether Marx’s criticism helps to explain how the method and the basic concepts of the Philosophy of Right may be able to establish a critical theory of modernity: Firstly, both Hegel and Marx consider the categories of modern law to be ‘realized’ in bourgeois society which by necessity leads to its ‘pathologic’ phenomena. Secondly, it is put into question why Marx understands modern society as a ‘system of labor’, whereas Hegel understands it as a ‘system of needs’, by investigating that Marx performs a fundamentally different operationalization of Hegel’s logical forms (like the ‘singular’, the ‘particular’ and the ‘universal’) than in Hegel himself. Thirdly, the question is answered how logical-dialectical forms of thought may apply to (social) reality at all.
a slightly different version available in the book "Philosophieren mit Hegel" --> https://www.academia.edu/122863621/Philosophieren_mit_Hegel
Das Argument, 2018
Kernargument des Artikels ist, dass die Rede von einer Popularisierung im marxschen Kapital aufgr... more Kernargument des Artikels ist, dass die Rede von einer Popularisierung im marxschen Kapital aufgrund einer fälschlichen Interpretation von Brief- und Textstellen entsteht. In Teilen der "Neuen Marx-Letküre" wird dadurch ein ein falsches Bild der dialektische Methode der Darstellung und des Verhältnisses von Marx und Hegel produziert.
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It is argued that the commonplace of current Marx readings, that Marx’s »Capital« represents a torso and misunderstandings are reflected in a continued popularization, is based on a misinterpretation of Marx’s correspondences and the preface to the first edition. The problem here is not only that the thesis of popularization can be rejected by comparing the
editions, but that this reading provokes a purely philological access to Marx’s »Capital«.
In contrast, when the focus shifts from a reading guided by the terms »torso« and »popularization« to a reading focusing on the learning process of Marx (as it is evolving in the various editions), it is possible to learn something about the method of a critique through exposition of the current social nexus. This reading perspective also provides important insights regarding the relationship between Marx and Hegel. The author shows that the attempt to reconstruct Marx’s method and critique from fragments instead of the underlying learning process, the debate shifts to intertextualities rather than to an understanding of the materialistic critique of contemporary capitalism.
Philosophy of Globalization, 2018
The philosophical theory of globalization is predominantly comprised of a critique of modern glob... more The philosophical theory of globalization is predominantly comprised of a critique of modern globalization, which is based on a theory of equal distribution of goods and guided by universal ethical principles. I argue that philosophical ethics cannot approach the problem in a different way, because of a lacking concept of society. The lack of a theory of society necessitates arguing with universal principles: philosophers focus on poverty and suffering as such, rather than on poverty and suffering generated by the process of globalization. From the perspective of Marx’s critique of political economy, the empirical perception of human society leads to a mystified and overly simplistic analysis of social interaction. This means that only a conceptual theory of society can reveal the hidden relationship between economical categories. It thereby enables a more complex and adequate critique of globalization than the positivistic theory and its solution to the problems provided by philosophical ethics. Based on a theory of capitalist society, the universalist promises of philosophy will not simply be criticized as illusions, but are recognized as realistic opportunities based on cooperative productive capacities to be liberated from their current alienated forms. Thus, globalization ultimately - in its alienated form - generates the basis for the universal principles that are used by philosophy for its critique of globalization.
Books by Franz Heilgendorff
Philosophieren mit Hegel, 2021
We (Johannes Rohbeck, Markus Tiedemann & Franz Heilgendorff) are publishing this volume in memory... more We (Johannes Rohbeck, Markus Tiedemann & Franz Heilgendorff) are publishing this volume in memory of Marco Kleber. It contains his as yet unpublished Master's thesis, an outline of his unfinished dissertation and other published and unpublished articles. Thematically, they revolve around Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, whose logic and practical philosophy is expanded in terms of linguistic analysis. This is followed by studies on Ludwig Wittgenstein's philosophy of language and Karl Marx's critique of economics. This is followed by texts on current problems of globalization and animal ethics. Marco was by no means a pure philologist, but an independent philosopher who dealt with the current crises.
Zum Andenken an Marco Kleber geben wir (Johannes Rohbeck, Markus Tiedemann & Franz Heilgendorff) diesen Band heraus. Er enthält seine noch nicht publizierte Masterarbeit, eine Skizze der unvollendeten Dissertation und weitere veröffentlichte und unveröffentlichte Artikel. Thematisch kreisen sie um Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, dessen Logik und praktische Philosophie sprachanalytisch erweitert wird. Daran schließen sich Untersuchungen zur Sprachphilosophie von Ludwig Wittgenstein und zur Ökonomiekritik von Karl Marx an. Es folgen Texte zu aktuellen Problemen der Globalisierung und zur Tierethik. Marco war keineswegs ein purer Philologe, sondern ein eigenständiger Philosoph, der sich mit den gegenwärtigen Krisen auseinandergesetzt hat.
Kategoriale Kritik. Zur Bedeutung von Kategorie und Begriff in der dialektischen Methode bei Marx, 2023
Bis heute ist ungeklärt, was Kategorien im marxschen Sinne eigentlich sind, und das, obwohl Marx ... more Bis heute ist ungeklärt, was Kategorien im marxschen Sinne eigentlich sind, und das, obwohl Marx seine Methode selbst als eine »Kritik der ökonomischen Kategorien« bezeichnet hat. Im vorliegenden Buch versuche ich diese Lücke zu schließen. Vor dem Hintergrund einer Reinterpretation des marxschen »Kapital« zeige ich, dass bereits die Verwissenschaftlichung der Metaphysik bei Hegel eine Form der Kategorienkritik ist.
Im Zentrum kategorialer Kritik bei Marx steht die Frage nach der Konstitution von Gesellschaft und ihrer gedanklichen Reproduktion – einer Denkform, die Wissenschaft, Ideologiekritik und jene in Marx’ »Thesen zu Feuerbach« angemahnte praktisch-kritische Tätigkeit in sich vereint. So zeichnet sich ab, dass »materialistische« Dialektik mitnichten ein Verzicht auf spekulatives Denken ist, sondern Metaphysik im Moment ihres Sturzes zur Methode rationaler Weltauffassung wird.
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It remains unclear until now what categories actually are in the Marxian sense, even though Marx himself described his method as a "critique of economic categories". In this book, I attempt to close this gap. Against the background of a reinterpretation of Marx's "Capital", I show that Hegel's scientification of metaphysics is already a form of a critique of categories.
In the centre of Marx's critique of categories is the question of the constitution of society and its conceptual reproduction - a form of thought that unites a scientific approach, a critique of ideology and the practical-critical activity Marx referred to in his "Theses on Feuerbach". Thus it becomes apparent that "materialist" dialectics is no renunciation of speculative thinking, but that metaphysics becomes a method of rational conception of the world at the moment of its overthrow.
Conference Presentations by Franz Heilgendorff
Call for Papers - International Conference at TU Dresden (14/15.11.2024)
This conference will fo... more Call for Papers - International Conference at TU Dresden (14/15.11.2024)
This conference will focus on Cuba as a laboratory of social change and the social, cultural and gender-specific processes associated with the current crisis. The small and medium-sized enterprises (micro y pequeñas y medianas empresas) created in the course of state reforms play a decisive role in Cuba's social and economic transformation. They touch on essential aspects of the way of life, the relationship with the Cuban state and the revolution, and also on fundamental questions of alternative social concepts, including climate change, combating hunger, access to education and health systems and gender equality. From a comparative perspective, the sociality of the labour process and the experience of work, including forms of ownership, are of particular importance. What are the possibilities and limits of collective forms of work organisation? What experiences, contradictions and challenges arise in private companies within state socialist economies? And in comparison, in co-operative enterprises in capitalist economies?
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Papers by Franz Heilgendorff
a slightly different version available in the book "Philosophieren mit Hegel" --> https://www.academia.edu/122863621/Philosophieren_mit_Hegel
************
It is argued that the commonplace of current Marx readings, that Marx’s »Capital« represents a torso and misunderstandings are reflected in a continued popularization, is based on a misinterpretation of Marx’s correspondences and the preface to the first edition. The problem here is not only that the thesis of popularization can be rejected by comparing the
editions, but that this reading provokes a purely philological access to Marx’s »Capital«.
In contrast, when the focus shifts from a reading guided by the terms »torso« and »popularization« to a reading focusing on the learning process of Marx (as it is evolving in the various editions), it is possible to learn something about the method of a critique through exposition of the current social nexus. This reading perspective also provides important insights regarding the relationship between Marx and Hegel. The author shows that the attempt to reconstruct Marx’s method and critique from fragments instead of the underlying learning process, the debate shifts to intertextualities rather than to an understanding of the materialistic critique of contemporary capitalism.
Books by Franz Heilgendorff
Zum Andenken an Marco Kleber geben wir (Johannes Rohbeck, Markus Tiedemann & Franz Heilgendorff) diesen Band heraus. Er enthält seine noch nicht publizierte Masterarbeit, eine Skizze der unvollendeten Dissertation und weitere veröffentlichte und unveröffentlichte Artikel. Thematisch kreisen sie um Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, dessen Logik und praktische Philosophie sprachanalytisch erweitert wird. Daran schließen sich Untersuchungen zur Sprachphilosophie von Ludwig Wittgenstein und zur Ökonomiekritik von Karl Marx an. Es folgen Texte zu aktuellen Problemen der Globalisierung und zur Tierethik. Marco war keineswegs ein purer Philologe, sondern ein eigenständiger Philosoph, der sich mit den gegenwärtigen Krisen auseinandergesetzt hat.
Im Zentrum kategorialer Kritik bei Marx steht die Frage nach der Konstitution von Gesellschaft und ihrer gedanklichen Reproduktion – einer Denkform, die Wissenschaft, Ideologiekritik und jene in Marx’ »Thesen zu Feuerbach« angemahnte praktisch-kritische Tätigkeit in sich vereint. So zeichnet sich ab, dass »materialistische« Dialektik mitnichten ein Verzicht auf spekulatives Denken ist, sondern Metaphysik im Moment ihres Sturzes zur Methode rationaler Weltauffassung wird.
***************
It remains unclear until now what categories actually are in the Marxian sense, even though Marx himself described his method as a "critique of economic categories". In this book, I attempt to close this gap. Against the background of a reinterpretation of Marx's "Capital", I show that Hegel's scientification of metaphysics is already a form of a critique of categories.
In the centre of Marx's critique of categories is the question of the constitution of society and its conceptual reproduction - a form of thought that unites a scientific approach, a critique of ideology and the practical-critical activity Marx referred to in his "Theses on Feuerbach". Thus it becomes apparent that "materialist" dialectics is no renunciation of speculative thinking, but that metaphysics becomes a method of rational conception of the world at the moment of its overthrow.
Conference Presentations by Franz Heilgendorff
This conference will focus on Cuba as a laboratory of social change and the social, cultural and gender-specific processes associated with the current crisis. The small and medium-sized enterprises (micro y pequeñas y medianas empresas) created in the course of state reforms play a decisive role in Cuba's social and economic transformation. They touch on essential aspects of the way of life, the relationship with the Cuban state and the revolution, and also on fundamental questions of alternative social concepts, including climate change, combating hunger, access to education and health systems and gender equality. From a comparative perspective, the sociality of the labour process and the experience of work, including forms of ownership, are of particular importance. What are the possibilities and limits of collective forms of work organisation? What experiences, contradictions and challenges arise in private companies within state socialist economies? And in comparison, in co-operative enterprises in capitalist economies?
a slightly different version available in the book "Philosophieren mit Hegel" --> https://www.academia.edu/122863621/Philosophieren_mit_Hegel
************
It is argued that the commonplace of current Marx readings, that Marx’s »Capital« represents a torso and misunderstandings are reflected in a continued popularization, is based on a misinterpretation of Marx’s correspondences and the preface to the first edition. The problem here is not only that the thesis of popularization can be rejected by comparing the
editions, but that this reading provokes a purely philological access to Marx’s »Capital«.
In contrast, when the focus shifts from a reading guided by the terms »torso« and »popularization« to a reading focusing on the learning process of Marx (as it is evolving in the various editions), it is possible to learn something about the method of a critique through exposition of the current social nexus. This reading perspective also provides important insights regarding the relationship between Marx and Hegel. The author shows that the attempt to reconstruct Marx’s method and critique from fragments instead of the underlying learning process, the debate shifts to intertextualities rather than to an understanding of the materialistic critique of contemporary capitalism.
Zum Andenken an Marco Kleber geben wir (Johannes Rohbeck, Markus Tiedemann & Franz Heilgendorff) diesen Band heraus. Er enthält seine noch nicht publizierte Masterarbeit, eine Skizze der unvollendeten Dissertation und weitere veröffentlichte und unveröffentlichte Artikel. Thematisch kreisen sie um Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, dessen Logik und praktische Philosophie sprachanalytisch erweitert wird. Daran schließen sich Untersuchungen zur Sprachphilosophie von Ludwig Wittgenstein und zur Ökonomiekritik von Karl Marx an. Es folgen Texte zu aktuellen Problemen der Globalisierung und zur Tierethik. Marco war keineswegs ein purer Philologe, sondern ein eigenständiger Philosoph, der sich mit den gegenwärtigen Krisen auseinandergesetzt hat.
Im Zentrum kategorialer Kritik bei Marx steht die Frage nach der Konstitution von Gesellschaft und ihrer gedanklichen Reproduktion – einer Denkform, die Wissenschaft, Ideologiekritik und jene in Marx’ »Thesen zu Feuerbach« angemahnte praktisch-kritische Tätigkeit in sich vereint. So zeichnet sich ab, dass »materialistische« Dialektik mitnichten ein Verzicht auf spekulatives Denken ist, sondern Metaphysik im Moment ihres Sturzes zur Methode rationaler Weltauffassung wird.
***************
It remains unclear until now what categories actually are in the Marxian sense, even though Marx himself described his method as a "critique of economic categories". In this book, I attempt to close this gap. Against the background of a reinterpretation of Marx's "Capital", I show that Hegel's scientification of metaphysics is already a form of a critique of categories.
In the centre of Marx's critique of categories is the question of the constitution of society and its conceptual reproduction - a form of thought that unites a scientific approach, a critique of ideology and the practical-critical activity Marx referred to in his "Theses on Feuerbach". Thus it becomes apparent that "materialist" dialectics is no renunciation of speculative thinking, but that metaphysics becomes a method of rational conception of the world at the moment of its overthrow.
This conference will focus on Cuba as a laboratory of social change and the social, cultural and gender-specific processes associated with the current crisis. The small and medium-sized enterprises (micro y pequeñas y medianas empresas) created in the course of state reforms play a decisive role in Cuba's social and economic transformation. They touch on essential aspects of the way of life, the relationship with the Cuban state and the revolution, and also on fundamental questions of alternative social concepts, including climate change, combating hunger, access to education and health systems and gender equality. From a comparative perspective, the sociality of the labour process and the experience of work, including forms of ownership, are of particular importance. What are the possibilities and limits of collective forms of work organisation? What experiences, contradictions and challenges arise in private companies within state socialist economies? And in comparison, in co-operative enterprises in capitalist economies?