[Marxism] -ismic doctrine or science? (was: Cockburn contrarianism)

[Rod Holt]

Concerning science, the various theories of science, and the 
speculations of historians of the theories of science, I will just 
mention the influence of Euclid and the Sophists. Although Plato the 
Idealist could not tolerate the Sophists, both adopted Euclid. My 
concern is with the role of mathematics in science. Ultimately, there is 
no endeavor more mental and dealing more with the "ideal" than 
mathematics, which does not prevent many from putting mathematics at the 
center of scientific discovery. Marx's Mathematical Manuscripts have 
been published in English* and their study is most interesting as it 
reveals Marx's interest in the purely formal aspects of the calculus. In 
fact, Marx had already absorbed through every pore the differential, the 
differential equation and the rest of the concepts of the calculus 
before he turned to the purely formal aspects of that area. Why was he 
so deeply interested in the intricate notation, the symbols and the 
proof structures of the calculus? I'd appreciate a hint from others who 
have studied this question.
*H.S. Surjeet & others, published by Viswakos Parisad, Calcutta, 1994.

--rod



think both

Haines Brown wrote:

>Luko, you raise an interesting question:
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