European Intellectual History since Nietzsche: Class 18, Revisionist Marxism and Existentialism

This lecture offers a nuanced and well-informed overview of the intellectual exchanges between existentialism and Marxism in the post-war period. Marci Shore demonstrates deep familiarity with the primary sources and historical context, weaving together philosophical concepts with concrete historical events. The strength of the lecture lies in its ability to connect abstract ideas to lived experiences, such as the use of Sartre’s concept of the gaze in Aseyev’s account of torture. Shore’s argumentation is solid, though it is inherently interpretive, reflecting her own scholarly perspective. The sources cited are appropriate, including primary texts by Sartre, Lukacs, and Aseyev, as well as historical references. The lecture is well-structured, moving from historical background to philosophical analysis, and it effectively conveys the complexity of the period. However, it assumes a certain level of familiarity with the thinkers discussed, which may limit accessibility. The adéquation between title and content is strong, as the lecture directly addresses the themes of revisionist Marxism and existentialism. Overall, this is a high-quality lecture that provides valuable insights into a pivotal moment in intellectual history.

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on revisionist Marxism and existentialism in the context of European intellectual history.

8/10

Lecture by a Yale professor, based on established scholarship, with references to primary texts and historical events. The content is well-structured and academically sound, though it reflects the lecturer's interpretive perspective.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction to revisionist Marxism and its historical context
• 02:00Discussion of Stalinist terror and show trials
• 05:00Reading from Stanislav Aseyev's book and its connection to Sartre
• 10:00Sartre's political evolution and his relationship with Marxism
• 15:00The dialogue between Sartre and Eastern European philosophers
• 20:00Lukacs's critique of phenomenology and existentialism
• 25:00The scale of the Soviet experiment and its implications
• 30:00The impact of Stalin's death and the emergence of revisionist Marxism
• 35:00The synthesis of existentialism and Marxism in the 1960s
• 40:00Concluding reflections on the legacy of these ideas

• Course materials and syllabus — Provided in the video description for further study.
• Full course playlist — Link to the entire course on YouTube.

• Existentialism is a Humanism — Sartre's 1946 lecture, referenced in the video as a key text.
• Critique of Dialectical Reason — Sartre's 1960 work, mentioned as embracing Marxism.
• History and Class Consciousness — Lukacs's classic work, referenced in the lecture.

• Lukacs's critique of phenomenology — Lukacs's rejection of the phenomenological approach contrasts with the existentialist synthesis presented in the lecture.