(We are distributing this announcement outside of New York because we have
had students from outside New York. For instance, last year two students
from California came to New York for two months to attend our course on
Capital, Volumes 2 & 3.)
Winter & Spring 2007 Courses at The New SPACE, New York City
MARX'S CAPITAL, VOLUME I
Andrew Kliman
14 sessions: Thursdays, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Feb. 15 - May 24, 2007 (no class March 22)
DIALECTICS, THE ALGEBRA OF REVOLUTION:
AN EXAMINATION OF HEGEL'S LOGIC
Alex Steinberg
10 sessions: Tuesdays, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Feb. 27 - May 8, 2007 (no class April 3)
FIGHTING SUPPRESSION OF DISSENT: ANOTHER LEFT IS POSSIBLE
Andrea Fishman, Joshua Howard, Anne Jaclard, Andrew Kliman and Seth G. Weiss
(The New SPACE Organizing Committee)
4 sessions: alternate Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m,
March 13 - April 24, 2007
See course descriptions below. Please see the New SPACE website for
additional information on courses and for pre-registration requirements.
______________________________________________________
MARX'S CAPITAL, VOLUME I
Andrew Kliman
14 sessions: Thursdays, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Feb. 15 - May 24, 2007 (no class March 22)
Tuition: $150 - $180, sliding scale
This 14-week course is devoted to Volume I of Karl Marx's Capital: A
critique of political economy. Marx analyzes the capital relation as a
process of "self-expanding value." Throughout the course, we will stress the
relevance of this concept to the contemporary expansionism of the capitalist
system and the new movements against global capitalism. The specific
character of Marx's critique of capital, and its differences from others'
critiques, will also be highlighted.
We will go through most of the text fairly carefully, but proceed quickly
through some lengthy discussions of factual material - on struggles over the
length of the workday, "machinofacture," and the historical origins of the
capitalist system - in order to have more time to devote to more difficult
portions of the work. The instructor will provide study questions to assist
students as they work through the text. Students are strongly encouraged to
obtain the Penguin (or Vintage) edition of Capital, since this is what will
be cited in class. (The Penguin and Vintage editions are identical in terms
of translation and page numbers.)
Andrew Kliman has taught courses on Volume I and Volumes II & III of Marx's
Capital at the New SPACE. A professor of economics at Pace University, he
has written extensively on Capital, crisis theory, and value theory. His
book, Reclaiming Marx's "Capital": A Refutation of the Myth of
Inconsistency, has just been published by Lexington Books. Many of Kliman's
writings are available at his website: http://akliman.squarespace.com/
______________________________________________________
DIALECTICS, THE ALGEBRA OF REVOLUTION:
AN EXAMINATION OF HEGEL'S LOGIC
Alex Steinberg
10 sessions: Tuesdays, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Feb. 27 - May 8, 2007 (no class April 3)
Tuition: $120 - $150, sliding scale
"Dialectics" is one of the most widely used and widely abused words in the
lexicon of left-wing discourse. This series of classes will try to uncover
the real philosophical and scientific content behind this elusive term.
Is dialectics just a form of ritual incantation or pseudoscience? Or is it
truly "The only logic of change to emerge out of the Western tradition", as
one eminent scientist has asserted?
Our investigation of dialectics will be focused on a reading of Hegel's
Encyclopedia Logic. This is the one book wherein Hegel develops the
dialectical logic that has both puzzled and inspired generations. Wherever
possible, we will supplement the reading of Hegel with examples from such
varied realms as sociology, politics, art and the natural sciences.
No previous knowledge of philosophy or logic is expected or required. But
this will not be a superficial summary of what some authors have called the
"principles of dialectics". We will explore at a deep level the problems
inherent in formulating a logic of change and their proposed solution by
Hegel, Marx and Engels, as well as recent developments in chaos theory,
biology and physics.
We will explore the difference between Hegel's version of dialectics and
that of Marx's as well as various attempts by contemporary theorists to
employ elements of the dialectic in their scientific work. We will also
examine the attempts to systematize dialectical logic within the broader
framework of logic by such varied figures as the Soviet philosopher E. V.
Ilyenkov, the Hegelian John Burbidge and the pragmatist philosopher Nicholas
Rescher.
Finally, we will discuss the implication of dialectics for developing a
practice aimed at human emancipation. This is the side of dialectics that
has been called "The algebra of revolution" by the 19th century Russian
revolutionary and social theorist, Alexander Herzen; and this is why Marx
said that the dialectic is considered "a scandal and an abomination" by a
conservative bourgeoisie.
Readings will include Hegel's Encyclopedia Logic, supplemented with
selections from Engels' Dialectics of Nature and essays by contemporary
philosophers, artists, social theorists and scientists. Theodore F. Geraets'
translation of the Encyclopedia Logic is recommended.
Alex Steinberg has taught courses on Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit and "
Reason in History" at the New SPACE. He is facilitator of a philosophy and
literature discussion group in Brooklyn and author of several essays,
including "The Case of Martin Heidegger." Following his recent reelection,
Alex Steinberg is once more an active member of the WBAI Local Station
Board.
_____________________________________________________
FIGHTING SUPPRESSION OF DISSENT: ANOTHER LEFT IS POSSIBLE
Facilitators: Andrea Fishman, Joshua Howard, Anne Jaclard, Andrew Kliman,
and Seth G. Weiss (the New SPACE Organizing Committee)
4 Sessions: alternate Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m,
March 13 - April 24, 2007
Tuition: $45 - $60, sliding scale
"[T]he most important effect of suppression is not on the dissident . but on
others who observe the process. Every case of suppression is a warning to
potential critics not to buck the system. And every case in which
suppression is vigorously opposed is a warning to vested interests that
attacks will not be tolerated." - Brian Martin
This four-session workshop will provide tools for recognizing,
understanding, dealing with, and combating suppression of dissent, and it
will serve as a support group for victims of suppression.
Drawing on New SPACE organizers' extensive experiences during the last
several years, we will often focus on suppression of dissent within the
Left. Yet suppression of dissent on the Left generally takes the same forms
and has the same dynamics and motivations as suppression of dissent
elsewhere. Thus, everyone who has been a victim of suppression and/or who
wants to fight suppression anywhere in society is encouraged to participate
in the workshop. It will be of value to you as well, and your own
experiences and thoughts will be most relevant and welcome. (Proponents of
suppressive practices are also invited to come and argue with us!)
The basic premise of the workshop is that "diversity" is not enough. New,
liberatory ideas and ways of life develop through the engagement of opposing
ideas and perspectives, and cannot develop without this. It is necessary to
encourage, protect, and engage with dissident voices within our own groups
and communities, and to fight suppression of dissent. It is also vital
that, in order to help show that "another world is possible," we begin to
prefigure this other world by fighting suppression of dissent within the
forums, publications, e-mail lists, and other institutions of the Left
itself.
Recognition that suppression of dissent is quite prevalent on the Left is a
crucial component of the workshop. Leftists tend to view themselves as
victims, but not also perpetrators, of suppression. As we will discuss,
however, the Left frequently internalizes and reproduces within its
institutions the suppressive practices, and the authoritarian attitudes that
foster these practices, that prevail elsewhere in this society. The main
classes of suppression identified by Brian Martin, an important
anti-suppression activist and anarchist thinker - "direct suppression"
(attempts to stop or penalize dissidents), "indirect suppression" (ignoring
dissidents, denying them access to resources and opportunities, etc.), and
"self-censorship" (in order to avoid ostracism, harassment, rumormongering,
etc.) - are all very common within Left groups and institutions.
Of course, these groups and institutions currently lack the power to deprive
their internal dissidents of freedom of expression and movement elsewhere in
society - i.e., if they go away. Thus, as we shall discuss, a key objective
of the suppressive practices employed within the Left is precisely to force
or "encourage" dissidents to go away. Internal democracy, protection of
internal dissent, and internal means to challenge those who wield power,
which are needed in order to ensure engagement of opposing ideas and
perspectives, are frequently absent.
Countering attempts to justify this exclusionary behavior is another crucial
feature of the workshop. For instance, we will examine the argument that
people should be able to associate with whom they want. We will argue that
exclusionary behavior toward dissidents is in fact a new form of enclosure,
a monopolization of scarce social resources. Denying or limiting dissidents'
access to these resources is very different from associating only with those
you want. We will also argue against monopolization of scarce social
resources on the ground of the "right" to private property, and we will show
how the "freedom of association" gambit has historically been used to
justify racial discrimination in housing, employment, and education.
Recognizing and dealing with the "blaming the dissident" tactic is a third
crucial component of the workshop. On the Left, and in general, suppression
is almost never admitted to. Instead, the suppressors and their apologists
try to justify their actions against dissidents by blaming the dissidents'
performance, personality characteristics, methods ("you're going about this
the wrong way"), motives, etc. We will discuss Brian Martin's "double
standard test" and how to apply it in order to expose the hypocrisy and
illegitimacy of the "blaming the dissident" tactic. We will also discuss
its authoritarian character, noting that, when dissidents are blamed and
actions are taken against them, they are frequently deprived of the right to
confront their accusers, to refute charges against them, to an impartial
hearing, and other democratic rights.
Most of the readings for the workshop will be taken from Brian Martin's
invaluable "Suppression of Dissent" website
(http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent). For the first session,
participants should have read and be prepared to discuss "Suppression of
dissent: what it is and what to do about it"
(http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/intro/DNAleaflet.html).
______________________________________________________
The New SPACE teachers, speakers, and organizers include:
Stanley Aronowitz, Erika Biddle, Roz Bologh,Jack Z. Bratich, Stephen Eric
Bronner, Crystal DeBoise, Andrea Fishman, Jeannette Gabriel, Loren Goldner,
David Graeber, Andrej Grubacic, Robin Hahnel, Jesse Heiwa, Charles Herr,
Joshua Howard, Anne Jaclard, Andrew Kliman, Louis Kontos, Joel Kovel, Eric
Laursen, Houzan Mahmoud, Len Mell, Alan W. Moore, Bertell Ollman, Howard
Seligman, Stevphen Shukaitis, Marina Sitrin, Tom Smith, Alex Steinberg, Bill
Weinberg, Seth G. Weiss
______________________________________________________
New SPACE classes and talks meet at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural &
Educational Center: 107 Suffolk Street, NYC (located between Rivington and
Delancey Streets). F train to the Delancey Street station or J, M, Z to
Essex Street station. See the New SPACE website for a map.
______________________________________________________
The New SPACE
(The New School for Pluralistic Anti-Capitalist Education)
http://new-space.mahost.org
[log in to unmask]
Tel: 1 (800) 377-6183
|
