tributaries to gebser's social thought

8/13/2019 Tributaries to Gebser's Social Thought

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Tributaries to Gebsers Social Thought

International Gebser Society Conference

University of Philosophical Research

Los Angeles, California

October 4 - , !"#$

Peter Pogany

Gebser%s archeology of conscio&sness 'ith its &nstoppable gravitation

to'ar( its nat&ral i))anence contains a vital core of social philosophy*

+e (espise( both ais) an( Co))&nis) 'itho&t beco)ing an i(eological

spo.es)an of /estern-style cons&)er capitalis)* +e sa' crisis co)ing

0big ti)e,1 &shering in rene'al*

2&tation to'ar( &niversally 0intensifie( a'areness1 3Gebser, #54 --

henceforth 6PO -- p* $$78 )eans the liberation of the in(ivi(&al fro)

an9iety 36PO, pp* $" an( $#8 an( alienation )anifest in 0isolation an(

collectivis)1 36PO, p* $758* +o' co&l( s&ch a portento&s transfor)ation

occ&r 'itho&t a change in the s&bstance an( for) an( politics, 'itho&t ne',

hitherto &nseen social an( econo)ic instit&tions, 'itho&t a ne' statecraft,

'itho&t a ne' for) of global self-organiation: ;espite his occasional

beatific overtones an( his generally theoretic-aesthetic (isposition, Gebser

'as not a pessi)istic


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=esi(es his br&sh 'ith the bro'n-shirts in the nascent >hir( Reich an(

'itnessing the agonies of Spain, 'hat f&rther personal e9periences an(

so&rces shape( Gebser%s vie's abo&t history, society, an( the f&t&re:

>he pres&)ption that philosophical greats li.e 2ig&el (e Una)&no y ?&go

3#54-#$8 an( ?ose Ortega y Gasset 3#55$-#778, 'ho 'ere present on the

Spanish c&lt&ral scene (&ring the Secon( Rep&blic ha( a )a@or infl&ence on

Gebser nee(s to be (iscar(e(*

6PO cites Una)&no only once in an en(note 3p* 4#, note ##8 as one of

several a&thors 'hose vie's on religio&s philosophy 'ere o&tsi(e the

to)e%s interest* Ortega is )entione( t'ice in the te9t 3three ti)es a)ong the

en(notes8* Gebser agrees 'ith his fa)o&s 0>r&th is )an%s agree)ent 'ith

hi)self1 36PO, p* 4$8, b&t sharply (isagrees 'ith his ta.e on perspectival

thin.ing*

Bor Ortega, 0perspective1 is relate( to s&b@ective inner perceptions, each of

'hich represents a separate, respectable co)prehension of reality, an i(ea

that he consi(ere( to be in perfect har)ony 'ith 6instein%s special theory of

relativity* ?&st as any partic&lar observation of a physical pheno)enon

thro&gh a s&b@ective fra)e of reference provi(es a vali( insight into absol&te

reality, so (o the varie( e9pressions of gifte( in(ivi(&als into the (yna)is)

of the h&)an 'orl(* Ortega%s perspectivis) 'as enth&siastically e)brace(

by artists an( 'riters as liberation fro) the shac.les of for)alis),

ro)anticis), an( social transfor)ation-bloc.ing relativis)* +is bran( of

perspectivis) )ay be regar(e( as an early post)o(ern )anifesto that

signale( a high-visibility green light to iconoclast vang&ar(is), incl&(ingnonrepresentational art, 'hich so forcef&lly (e)an(e( p&blic recognition

(&ring the first thir( of the !"thcent&ry*#

#In Ortega%s (efense, there is no contra(iction bet'een his perspectivis) an( his ref&sal of relativis)*

Universal )oral an( aesthetic val&es (o e9ist, he )aintaine(, b&t their vie' fro) in(ivi(&al perspectives

)ay have an infinite variety*

!


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Gebser%s &n(erstan(ing 'as totally (ifferent* >o


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At one place, Gebser praises Lorca for the crafty s.ill (eploye( in a(vancing

his )agically an( psychically a)bivalent nihilis) 36PO, pp* 4$ an( 448

an( at another he refers to hi), along 'ith ?a)es ?oyce an( A&strian 'riter,

(ra)atist +&go von +of)annsthal, as a&thors 'ho (are( to brea. stylistic

tra(itions by starting sentences 'ith the con@&nctive 'or( 0an(1 36PO, p*

7""8*

>hen ca)e the years in ParisE An( 'hat a ti)e it 'as to be thereE

/ith the si)&ltaneo&s presence of Picasso, 2atisse, Chagall, Giaco)etti,

Leger, =raho&gh by )i(-#$ it

'as o&t of po'er, the spirit of the cafes, bars, st&(ios, salons an( galleries

aro&n( the bohe)ian h&b of 2ontparnasse re)aine( ra(ically anti-

bo&rgeois an( antifascist*!

!Gertr&(e Stein, 'hose salon 'as a central ven&e for the congregation of so)e of the best .no'n fig&resof !"thcent&ry art an( literat&re, ret&rne( to the Unite( States in #$4* >h&s, Gebser (i( not )eet )ost of

the A)erican contingent of e9traor(inary talents*

4


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/as e9pos&re to this 2ar9ist-leaning political at)osphere on the Rive

Ga&che alone s&fficient to acco&nt for Gebser%s conviction that the

civiliation he observe( 'as &ntenable an( that one (ay it 'o&l( be replace(

by a better one: +ypothetically, of co&rse, the ans'er is 0no*1

Gebser ha( personal contacts 'ith Picasso 36PO, pp* ! an( !58 'hose

te)poric concreteness 3i*e*, )a.ing fig&res transparent by sho'ing the)

front, si(e, an( bac. at the sa)e ti)e8 serve( to (e)onstrate the

a(vance)ent of integral conscio&sness in the arts* =&t this infl&ence (i( not

translate into a social theory* Gebser certainly ha( conversations 'ith

Spanish Civil /ar veteran 2alra&9, 'ho, @&st li.e his close frien( Gi(e,

alrea(y ha( serio&s reservations abo&t Soviet co))&nis)*

A)ong 6PO%s post'ar so&rces, 'e fin( approving


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>he )otives an( tho&ghts of all these in(ivi(&als )esh perfectly 'ith

progressive post'ar /estern liberalis)*

>o see Gebser )ore clearly, let &s light &p o&r )acrohistoric )ar.ers*

So far, the 'orl( has .no'n t'o global syste)s* >he first one, GS#,

characterie( as laissez faire/zero multilateralism/metal money'as born in

the )i(-#5$"s an( fell apart 'ith the o&tbrea. of /orl( /ar I* >he secon(

global syste), GS!, has e9iste( since the en( of /orl( /ar II* In telegraph

style, it )ay be calle( mixed economy/weak multilateralism/fractional

reserve money.

In )y o'n pro@ect,New Historical Materialism, the 0##4-#471 perio( is

consi(ere( the chaotic transition that le( fro) GS# to GS!* One is not

)ista.en by (esignating the first as 0classical1 an( the secon( as 0refor)e(1

capitalis)* >here are )a@or (ifferences bet'een the t'o* /hereas Capital

en@oye( nearly absol&te po'er over Labor &n(er GS#, GS! is base( on a

co)pro)ise bet'een the t'o* Labor can bargain collectively, 'or.ers en@oy

&ncon(itional legal an( political enfranchise)ent in in(&strial (e)ocraciesD

respect an( (ignity in all spheres of life* Bro) being a )ere 'atch)an of


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private property &n(er GS#, the role of the state has increase( to that of a

responsible (irector of econo)ic an( social (evelop)ent* >he international

co))&nity ha( no fra)e'or. of cooperation &n(er GS#* As of the secon(

half of the !"thcent&ry, it has ha( the Unite( ations 'ith its )any charter

organiations*

/hile Gebser%s attit&(e to'ar( the post'ar 'orl( is one of recognition

accor(e( to 'or. in progress, GS! 'as clearly not his ultima Tule*

+ence the


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/hile all L>Fs share( the &n(erlying conviction that the a)o&nt of labor

spent in pro(&cing a co))o(ity (eter)ines its val&e, 2ar9%s i(eas stoo(

)ar.e(ly apart fro) those pro)&lgate( by his classical pre(ecessors -- )ost

pro)inently by A(a) S)ith an( ;avi( Ricar(o, as 'ell as fro) those of his

e)inent conte)porary, ?ohn St&art 2ill*

2ar9%s L>F 'as )ore te)poric 3)ore preocc&pie( 'ith ti)e8 than any

co)parable approach beca&se its central the)e 'as the 'or.(ayD ho' an(

'hy it 'as split into necessary an( s&rpl&s labor, this secon( being, of

co&rse, e9propriate( profit*

=y consi(ering the )eans of pro(&ction or real capital (ea( labor 3or

congeale( labor in so)e translations8 2ar9 de factopresentiate(D that is,

eli)inate( the (ivi(ing line bet'een the past an( the present* Altho&gh 'e

fin( the sa)e feat&re at Ricar(o 3'ho (efine( capital as 0store( &p labor18,

2ar9%s approach 'as )&ch )ore intense an( e9plicit, if not (ra)atic* >o


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e' ;eal, 'ages appear on national inco)e acco&nts both as cost an(

inco)e #H*

Gebser cites 2ar9 'ith approval for attrib&ting hese t'o reasons are really one since Gebser regar(e( ti)e as


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2ar9ian voices also echo fro) Gebser%s co)plaints abo&t alienation,

apropos gro'ing (epen(ence on technology 36PO, p* 4#8 an( the

consehe follo'ing is a hro&gh the s&bor(ination of )an to the )achine the sit&ation arises in

'hich )en are efface( by their labor *** >i)e is everything, )an is nothingD

he is at the )ost the incarnation of ti)e* &ality no longer )atters* &antity

alone (eci(es everything***1

>his so&n(s li.e Gebser b&t it 'as act&ally 2ar9 'ho sai( it in thePoverty

of Pilosopy! as


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=&t fa)iliarity 'ith the 'ritings of 2ar9, Gebser, an( L&.acs proffers the

thesis that Gebser%s &n(erstan(ing of 2ar9ist philosophy originate( )ainly

in secon(ary so&rces, incl&(ing L&.acs, 'ho) he )&st have rea( 'ith great

care*

>o &se concrete e9a)ples J

L&.acs paraphrases 2ar9 3fro) Part IF, Chapter KII of#as $apital8 in this

fashion

0*** ti)e she(s its


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Li.e L&.acs, Gebser attrib&te( great i)portance to the te)poral

(evelop)ent of syste)atiation* Bor Gebser, the proliferation of

philosophical syste)s coinci(e( 'ith a proportional (ecrease of )ythical

ele)ents 36PO, p* 548* Bor L&.acs, the (evelop)ent of )ental

co)prehension thro&gh syste)atiation coinci(e( 'ith the co)ing of age of

capitalis)* 0Syste)1 as the foc&s of thin.ing, he )aintaine(, first appeare(

vag&ely in classical Gree. philosophy to beco)e central 'ith ;escartes,

Spinoa, Leibni, an( Mant 3L&.acs, #, p* !##, n* ##8*

=oth a&thors regar(e( the i)perial r&le of rationality as a transitional phase

36PO, pp* $-D L&.acs, #, pp* ##, ##, #$, !#", n* 4, an( !$$8* =&t

'hereas L&.acs consi(ere( the appearance, gathering strength,

pre(o)inance, an( i))o(eration of rationality an epipheno)enon of the

tri&)ph an( (ecay of capitalis)D Gebser place( the sa)e sehey both sa' a close relationship a)ong egois), rigi(ification, isolation

an( the p&rs&it of narro'ly rational, perspectival goals*

L&.acs 0Bor the free(o)% of the )en 'ho are alive no' is the free(o) of

the in(ivi(&al isolate( by the fact of property 'hich both reifies an( is itself

reifie(* It is a free(o) vis'('visthe other 3no less isolate(8 in(ivi(&als* A

#7


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free(o) of the egoist, of the )an 'ho c&ts hi)self off fro) the others, a

free(o) for 'hich soli(arity an( co))&nity e9ist at best only as ineffect&al

reg&lative i(eas%1 3L&.acs, #, p* $#78*

0*** the haptification of space rigi(ifies an( encaps&lates the I% 'ith the

res&ltant possibility of isolation evi(ent in egocentris),1 says Gebser 36PO,

p* !!8D f&rther specifying that the overe)phasie( ego of the (eficient

)ental phase is incline( to a 0pen(&lation bet'een isolation an(

rigi(ification1 36PO, p* #7#8*

;eeply acc&lt&rate( r&thlessness an( gree(, )anifest in co)petitive

ache e)ergence of the integral )an is an essential part of Gebser%s )eta-

sociology, an( yes, L&.acs also tal.s abo&t restoring the in(ivi(&al to its

'holeness 3L&.acs, #, pp* #$, $#, an( $!"8*$

=oth ('elle( on the historical e)ersion of transparency*

0>he past only beco)es transparent 'hen the present can practice self-

criticis)***1 says L&.acs 3L&.acs, #, p* !$8* 0Until that ti)e the past

)&st either be naively i(entifie( 'ith the str&ct&re of the present or else it is

$It is note'orthy in this respect that L&.acs &rge( sociologists to e9a)ine the 'ealth of the pre-capitalist past beyon( the 'or. of 6ngels* Cf* 2erlea&-Ponty, #77, p* *

#


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hel( to be 'holly alien, barbaric an( senseless, beyon( all &n(erstan(ing*1

3Ibi(*8

Gebser%s (iaphaneity is, of co&rse, the ever-present spirit&al origin shining

thro&gh rather than 'orl( history revealing its necessity thro&gh the

overthro' of capitalis) by the victorio&s proletariat* evertheless, Gebser%s

(iaphaneity also i)plies a critical stance of the in(ivi(&al to'ar( itself*

Self-criticis) 36PO, p* $58 lin.e( to ego-transcen(ing 0transclarification1

36PO, p* 7!8 is a precon(ition of )a.ing sense of the past that )ental

conscio&sness in its (eficient phase regar(s either as a perio(iable

progression to'ar( its present-(ay perfection or ann&ls it thro&gh arg&ing

that there is nothing ne' &n(er the s&n* 3See point ii* &n(er 7H*8

+o' 'ill that better f&t&re associate( 'ith integral conscio&sness e)erge:

Altho&gh Gebser never &ttere( (eft political state)ents, he also (i( not

believe that the rosy (a'n 'o&l( fall into the lap of )an.in( 'itho&t ar(ent,

conscio&s str&ggle*

=oth re@ecte( nationalis) an( so-calle( progress*

#


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L&.acs, li.e all 2ar9ists, attrib&te( nationalist senti)ents to a capitalist r&se

to (istract the )asses% attention fro) class 'arfare 3L&.acs, #, p* !78*

Gebser tho&ght it 'as a passing pheno)enon of three-(i)ensional static

thin.ing 36PO, p* !#8*

Progress 'as a )islea(ing notion for both, altho&gh for (ifferent reasons*

Gebser sa' it as a rationalistic clichN 36PO, pp* $ an( $58 that helpe( )as.

)ove)ent a'ay fro) the origin 36PO, pp* 4# an( #$#8* Bor L&.acs it 'as a

tool of bo&rgeois i(eology to )ini)ie social proble)s an( ass&)e their

a&to)atic resol&tion 3cf* 2erlea&-Ponty, #77, p* 4, n* !8*

=&t their tho&ghts intersecte( again 'hen it ca)e to e9posing the fallacy of

technical a(vance as the taproot of progress* Gebser 'as convince( that

)an%s technological overconfi(ence, a to&chstone of the )o(ern notion of

progress 36PO, p* 7478, 'as lea(ing /estern civiliation to its s&ici(e 36PO,

p* $78 by 0f&lfilling the la' of the 6arth1 36PO, p* 8D @&stifying gloo)y

presenti)ents 36PO, p* #75, n* !$8* L&.acs clai)e( that the )&ch-la&(e(

infinite progress in service of private profits only hastene( the brea.ing forth

of capitalistic contra(ictions 3L&.acs, #, p* ##8*

#5


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>hey both pointe( at the erroneo&s nat&re of the polar opposites of

vol&ntaris) an( fatalis)*

L&.acs 'arne( against the fatalistic &n(eresti)ation of 'hat people can

act&ally acco)plish in concrete socio-historical sit&ations as 'ell as against

the vol&ntaristic overesti)ation of 'hat the lea(er can (o 3L&.acs, #, p*

$#58*

Gebser consi(ere( fatalis) or blin( belief in (estiny a )anifestation of

)ythical conscio&sness, a .in( of helplessness fro) 'hich )ental )an

atte)pts to flee thro&gh volition 36PO, pp* #45, #$, an( $""8* +e

&n(erscore( that )&tation is not a volitional pheno)enon 36PO, p* 4#8D nor

can it be graspe( as a necessity in the 'ay three-(i)ensional )an%s

perspectival )in( 'o&l( concept&alie it 36PO, p* $758*

avigating bet'een the Scylla of )an charting his co&rse as if he 'ere the

)aster of his fate an( the Charyb(is of being born helplessly by forces he

cannot co)prehen(, both thin.ers anchore( their insights to conscio&sness

groping to'ar( clarity 36PO, p* #$D 2erlea&-Ponty, #77, pp* ! an( $8*

#


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>he si)ilarity of critihe heresy of L&.acs began 'ith re)in(ing the 'orl( that the (e)i&rge of

(ialectical )aterialis) 'as +egel%s st&(ent after all*

0>he strength of every society is in the last resort spirit&al strength1 L&.acs


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2ar9 0>he refor) of conscio&sness consists onlyof )a.ing the 'orl(

a'are of its o'n conscio&sness, in a'a.ening it o&t of its (rea) abo&t itself,

in explainingto it the )eaning of its o'n actions*** +ence, o&r )otto )&st

be refor) of conscio&sness not thro&gh (og)as, b&t by analying the

)ystical conscio&sness that is &nintelligible to itself*1 3Bro) 2ar9%s letter to

Arnol( R&ge, &n(er the title 0R&thless Criticis),1 Septe)ber #54$*48

>h&s, by attrib&ting the role of s&bstrat&) to conscio&sness, the 2ar9ian

vie' of &niversal history re(&ces the (istance bet'een the )eltgef*lof

Gebser an( L&.acs* 3See )ore on L&.acs, incl&(ing his partic&lar

relationship 'ith 0conscio&sness,1 &n(er $H*8

Gebser strongly e)phasie( that integral conscio&sness 'ill overco)e

(ialectics 36PO, p* $!8* An(, in(ee(, one of the acc&sations of Soviet

i(eolog&es against L&.acs 'as that he


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that they 'ere al'ays sniffing for intr&(ers an( 'ere rea(y to bite on behalf

of the o'ner*8

+aving the te)erity to contra(ict 6ngels, 'ith 'ho) 2ar9 al'ays

conc&rre(, 'as not the only heresy i)p&te( to L&.acs* +e ha( criticie( the

si)ple-)in(e( (e)arcation bet'een s&b@ect an( ob@ect, 'ea.ening

i)plicitly one of the )ost cherishe( tenets of the 2ar9ist-Leninist (octrineD

na)ely, the ability of the vang&ar( 3i*e*, the co))&nist party of the USSR8

to i(entify the tactical possibilities that the (ialectical tension opens &p

bet'een the c&rrent socio-historical sit&ation an( the &lti)ate goal of 'orl(

socialis)* 3Bor the rest of his life, L&.acs apologie( for the apostate

(eviations ofHistory and "lass "onsciousnessan( re)aine( a fanatic

co))&nist* Cf* Cong(on, #, pp* - *8

>otality 'itho&t re)ain(er 'as f&n(a)ental for L&.acs* =&t his 0totality1

'as not Gebser%s conscio&sness* A cr&cial (ivergenceE Gebser cens&re( as

)islea(ing perspectival fallacy all &ses of 0totality1 that (i( not arise fro)

systasis 36PO, pp* #5 an( $58* >he &s&rpation of erroneo&s integral by

politics, he e)phasie(, al'ays points to'ar( totalitarianis) 36PO, p* $5!8*

!!


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pheno)ena of vehe)ent egocentris), rigi(ification, the p&rs&it of narro'ly

perspectival goals, an( the (o)inance of rationality represent a transitory

phase in &niversal historyD their share( vision abo&t a better f&t&re centering

on the integral )anD abo&t the co)ing transparency an( correlative necessity

of heightene( in(ivi(&al self-&n(erstan(ing an( self-criticis)D their e


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>his o)ission )a.es one consi(er the possibility that Gebser%s non-

negligible s&rvival instinct operate( at f&ll capacity in his chosen co&ntry*

S'iterlan(%s post'ar stance to'ar( co))&nist sy)pathies 'ithin its

bor(ers ca)e probably closest to 2cCartyist stan(ar(s in 6&rope*

=&t one nee(s to re@ect this hypothesis base( on Gebser%s tr&e (isg&st 'ith

co))&nist tyranny 36PO, p* 4!8* Leaving L&.acs &n)entione( 'as neither

a pecca(illo nor an ina(vertent oversight on his part* &oting a title s&ch as

History and "lass "onsciousness'o&l( have tainte( his oe&vre* An(

in(ee(, re)aining na)eless )ay 'ell be the @&st p&nish)ent history has

)ete( o&t to L&.acs for (e(icating his talent to the f&rtherance of a

)&r(ero&s &topia*

>his )ay be an appropriate place to )ention another a&thor 'ho) Gebser

)&st have rea( b&t 'ho also re)aine( &nreference( in 6PO* +is na)e is

/erner So)bart 3#5$-#4#8, one of the best .no'n sociologists of c&lt&re

(&ring the early years of the !"thcent&ry* >he yo&ng Gebser too. so)e of

his co&rses at +&)bol(t University in =erlin* So)bart ha( a 'ell-

(oc&)ente( infl&ence on philosophers 3li.e Si))el8, social scientists 3li.e

L&.acs8, an( artists 3li.e +off)annsthal8* Rea(ing thro&gh the collection of

!7


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his best .no'n essays 3So)bart, !""#8 leaves no (o&bt that he infl&ence(

Gebser as 'ellD perhaps )ost i)portantly by elaborating e9tensively on the

negative effects that the progressive rationaliation of society e9erts on the

in(ivi(&al* Unfort&nately, So)bart beca)e a ai*

Once again 'e )ay recognie in Gebser the e9ponent of intellect&al @&stice*

+e 'ithhel( cre(it 'here its attrib&tion 'o&l( have i)plicitly en(orse(

i(eologies the 'orl( has learne( to abhor*7

Ret&rning to the L&.acs factor -- in an( of itself, a no-hol(s-barre( re@ection

of co))&nis) (oes not e9plain Gebser%s vie's abo&t society, history, an(

the f&t&re* 2any active s&pporters of the Spanish Rep&blic (&ring the civil

'ar, 'hen camaradas(o)inate( the govern)ent in close cons&ltation 'ith

2osco', later gave th&)bs (o'n to the Soviet regi)e* 2alra&9 for

e9a)ple, 'ho thre' bo)bs on anti-Rep&blican troops fro) open coc.pits,

beca)e a cabinet )e)ber in General ;e Ga&lle%s govern)ent* =ritish

@o&rnalist Arth&r Moestler, a high-profile co))&nist, 'ho barely escape(

Branco%s firing s


27/39

+e)ing'ay, (espite his a(&lation in the 6astern =loc (&ring the Col( /ar,

ha( no &se for bolshevis)*

Gebser%s brilliance is )anifest in, b&t not e9ha&ste( by, his a(verting to the

'orl(%s s&stainability proble) (eca(es before reso&rce (epletion an(

environ)ental (egra(ation beca)e a s&b@ect of p&blic (isco&rse* +e alrea(y

sa' h&)an prospects (ar.en beca&se the st&bbornly p&rs&e( cono co)pose Gebser%s vision of global society%s f&t&re, first 'e nee( to

ac.no'le(ge that he 'as a'are that the cognitive contents of conscio&sness

reflect the e)pirical reality s&rro&n(ing the in(ivi(&al* +e lin.e( the

)agical str&ct&re to prehistoric h&nting an( gathering, the )ythical str&ct&re

to agric&lt&re an( the )ental one to in(&stry*

o' let &s have a glance at the 0=ig Pict&re1 -- the state of the 'orl(*

!


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>he (ra)atically e9ponential econo)ic an( (e)ographic gro'th of the past

t'o cent&ries is nearing its en(* =&t 'hile the cost of energy rises, several

econo)ically vital nonrene'able reso&rces are beco)ing (eplete(, an(

ra)pant environ)ental (a)age is t&rning into an i))inent so&rce of

(angerD tell&ric occ&pancy is still on the rise* >he planet%s pop&lation,

c&rrently seven billion, co&l( easily reach #" billion by the h&n(re(th

anniversary of 6PO%s p&blication* An( everybo(y on Go(%s green earth

'ants to (ine on go&r)et foo(s, (rive a 2erce(es, an( sport Lo&is F&itton

accessories*

O&r civiliation is colli(ing 'ith its ecological constraints, yet its for) of

self-organiation, the (irection of its technological a(vance)ent, its

co))on val&es, beliefs, an( coercionsD its ethics, c&lt&re an( politics -- all

concrete (i)ensions of )ental conscio&sness -- are s&ch that it cannot stop

this )assive Nlan fro) t&rning into a f&ll-blo'n historic crisis* +o' ironicE

Rationality, believe( to be the ac)e of ob@ective thin.ing, the )ental force

that can cast a glaring light on any proble), .eeps reality in a thic. fog 7H*

If, an( only if, the e9pectation of &nceasing gro'th in )aterial 'elfare is

e9coriate( fro) in(ivi(&al behavior an( instit&tions, co)petition yiel(s to

!5


29/39

cooperation, in(ifference to ache (ifference in instit&tional ter)s bet'een GS$ an( GS! is so great that

bri(ging it is i)possible 'itho&t envisaging a )a@or transfor)ation of

in(ivi(&al conscio&snessD yet, the average in(ivi(&al 'o&l( not -- co&l( notE

-- be in'ar(ly transfor)e( as long as socioecono)ic instit&tions

characteristic of GS! prevail* Patterns of )ental conscio&sness in t&ne 'ith

the e9tant global syste) have been reifie( so strongly that they )ay be

consi(ere( o&r secon( nat&re*

!


30/39


31/39

NOTES

#* G;P is calc&late( in t'o 'aysD thro&gh the e9pen(it&re approach 3Cons&)ption Invest)ent Govern)ent 69pen(it&res et 69ports8 an( the reso&rce costinco)e

approach* Un(er the secon( one 36)ployees Co)pensation Self-e)ploy)ent Inco)e

Rent Interest Profit In(irect =&siness >a9es ;epreciation et Inco)e ofBoreigners8, 'ages appear as both inco)e an( cost, an( profits are often calle( 0cash

flo' pai( to b&siness o'ners*1 >he t'o s&)s are ro&ghly eF has engen(ere( a long an( intense (ebate that laste( &ntil the en( of the

Col( /ar*

So)e of the attac.s, 'hich )ay be labele( political-econo)ic in nat&re, 'ere base( onthe assertion that besi(es labor, entreprene&rship is also an in(ispensable contrib&tor to

val&e* >h&s, profits are 'ell-earne( an( labor (oes not have the )oral right to everything

pro(&ce( 3i*e*, to the entire national inco)e8* B&rther, on p&rely technical gro&n(s, the

scarcity of so)e nat&ral reso&rces in in(&strial pro(&ction an( (ifferences in the


32/39

technology, the )o)entary state of the econo)y, the co)petitive str&ggle a)ong

capitalists an( that bet'een labor an( capitalD the for)er 'ants high 'ages an( short

'or. (ays, the secon(, lo' 'ages an( long ho&rs* Consehe collapse of co))&nis), spectac&larly (e)onstrating the fail&re of central planningalong 'ith the rest of socialist econo)ic principles, has force( the (efen(ers of 2ar9 to

rest their case*

$* Georg L&.acs 3#557-##8 'as a highly infl&ential 2ar9ist scholar, historian, art

critic, an( revol&tionary* +is (epart&res fro) (og)atic 2ar9ist-Leninist (is


33/39

)e(i&) of e9istence beyon( the scales of life on 6arth t&rne( o&t to be fo&r-(i)ensionalD

so)ething that )ental )in( cannot co)prehen( thro&gh (irect vis&aliation* Confi(ence

in )an%s tri&)ph over nat&re s&ffere( a h&ge setbac.*

>he i(ea that the separation of the e9periential s&b@ect fro) the ob@ect of e9perience 'as

an ill&sion le( L&.acs to i(entify tho&ght an( being 3Cong(on, ##, p* 8D an( consi(erthe proletariat both a s&b@ect an( an ob@ect of history 32erlea&-Ponty, #77, p* $8*

0Relativity1 p&she( L&.acs to'ar( accepting +egel%s assess)ent abo&t )an%s li)ite(

ability to &n(erstan( the f&t&re* Accor(ing to the )ighty thin.er, the present al'ayspoints (ialectically beyon( itself 3Cong(on, ##, p* 78D recogniing historically

significant ten(encies is the e9tent to 'hich insight into the f&t&re )ay be gaine(*

>h&s, L&.acs (eviate( fro) Lenin 'ho clai)e( inMaterialism and -mpirio'"riticismthat the )aterial co&rse of history an( society%s con(itions of pro(&ction (eter)ine

theoryD i*e*, the s&perstr&ct&re 3Cong(on, ##, pp* an( 8* Lenin%s vie' provi(e(

space for an in(epen(ent )in( to analye social (evelop)ents an( political sit&ations

'ith scientific precisionD hence @&stifying the lea(ing role of co))&nist parties*

=&t the 0heresy1 of L&.acs 'ent even f&rther* +e rehabilitate( conscio&sness as the all-incl&sive pheno)enon of c&lt&ral an( civiliational history, professing that the (&alistic

separation of e9istence an( conscio&sness lea(s to a fail&re to co)prehen( history as a

process 3L&.acs, #, p* $!#8* 2oreover, he a(vocate( a )&ch )ore liberal approach toaesthetics than co))&nist a&thorities fo&n( (esirable* L&.acs represente( a great (anger

for =olshevi. (og)a beca&se he co&l( cre(ibly tie his arg&)ents to 2ar9* ;i( he not

e9plain that the t'o relationships -- the one 'hereby history pro(&ces conscio&sness an(

the other 'hereby conscio&sness propels history -- are tie( together in an inseparable(ialectic: 32erlea&-Ponty, #77, pp* 7 an( 7*8 ;i( he not s&ggest that 0the 'orl( has

long possesse( the (rea) of that 'hich it )&st only beco)e conscio&s in or(er to possess

in reality1: 3Cong(on, ##, p* *8

>he aesthetics of L&.acs recognie( so)ething en(&ring in s&b@ective in(ivi(&al

e9perience, a certain core that appears to be eternal as it (e)onstrably s&rvives profo&n(historical changes* Co))&nist i(eolog&es 'ere o&trage(* A 2ar9ist sho&l( .no' betterE

It is one%s app&rtenance to a social class that (eter)ines one%s e9perience an( that alone

is reflecte( in arts an( literat&re* Qes, L&.acs ans'ere(, b&t 2ar9 also sai( that altho&gh

Gree. art an( epic e)erge( in a social for) that is (ef&nct by no' 3slavery8, they stillgive &s artistic pleas&re an( stan( o&t as &nehat certain 0core1 )ay re)in( one of Gebser%s 0it,1 as in(ee(, )any of L&.acs%

tho&ghts that reveal his (istance fro) scientific socialis) appear to be 0Gebserian*1 Bor

instance, he elaborate( on the co)ple9 relationship bet'een origin an( vali(ity 3L&.acs,#, p* !$48 an( )aintaine( that conscio&sness has a str&ct&re 3L&.acs, #, p* $!#8D

#th-cent&ry opti)is) abo&t the f&t&re of science pales in co)parison 'ith the techno-tri&)phalist h&bris

of conte)porary &necological econo)ics*

$$


34/39

that 0false conscio&sness is &nfree(o)1 3L&.acs, #, p* $#8 an( that history )oves

society to'ar( greater self-.no'le(ge 32erlea&-Ponty, #77, p* 578*

As )entione( in the te9t, L&.acs -- @&st li.e Gebser -- ha( a critical stance to'ar(

rationality* =&t it is 'orth pointing o&t significant (ivergences in their respective

(isapproval* L&.acs accepte( the philosophical clai) that the h&)an )in( is the so&rceof tr&th as long as it 'as associate( 'ith the right conscio&sness* /hereas so-calle(

rational tho&ght an( behavior in a capitalist society e)anate( fro) )an%s 0secon(

nat&reD1 that is, fro) his bo&rgeois conscio&sness, historic reason as an epipheno)enonof the proletariat%s revol&tionary conscio&sness correctly i(entifie( h&)anity%s tr&e

nat&re an( (estiny* In short L&.acs approve( rationality as a )etho(, 'ith he i(entity bet'een h&)anity%s )aterial a(vance)ent an( the conhe prefi9es 0)acro1 an( 0)icro1 are &se( as .no'n fro) econo)ics* >he first one in(icates concern

'ith aggregates or 'ith totality 3the aggregate of aggregates8 an( the secon( one refers to the analysis of

interactions a)ong co)posing &nits*

$4


35/39

service 3gloal population plus economy! GLOPP6, for short8 an( the resi(&al

0s&rro&n(ingsD1 i*e*, ato)s in the terrestrial sphere )in&s those containe( in GLOPP6*

>o the e9tent GLOPP6 e9pan(s, it ta.es )atter a'ay fro) the 0s&rro&n(ingsD1 a processthat )ay be perceive( as 0conhe (evelop)ent of transportation an( co))&nication, a vital aspect of )o(ern

civiliation, is a space-con


36/39

>he overe)phasis of space by )ental conscio&sness is )anifest in 0ti)e an9iety1 36PO,

pp* !! an( 7$#8*/e )ay recognie the vali(ity of this Gebserian tho&ght in theirreconcilable conflict bet'een the 'orl(%s e9ponentially gro'ing (e)an( for )atter an(

the terrestrial sphere%s spatially close( nat&re on the )acro scale* >he in(ivi(&al being

force( to beco)e space 3e9tension of physical capital8, th&s e9periencing thespatialiation of its ti)e 3life8 via econo)ic organiation, )ay 'ell be a )a@or so&rce of

an9iety at the )icro level*

7* >he p&blic at large, &nfa)iliar 'ith Gebser, is ta.en abac. &pon hearing criticis) of

rationality* It so&n(s li.e a blan.et re@ection of ob@ective, )atter-of-factness in

(iagnosing personal, b&siness, or social proble)s* 0/hat is the alternative irrationality:1

Gebser 'as a'are of this reaction an( )a(e it absol&tely clear that he (i( not e


37/39

)a9i)ie profits an( cons&)ption* Rationality-infecte( historiography (enies the

te)poral relativity of socioecono)ic arrange)entsD its votaries see present society an( its

antece(ents thro&gh neoclassical &tility an( pro(&ction f&nctions* Accor(ingly, the past isbest (escribe( by recogniing the proto-variants an( pri)itive )anifestations of to(ay%s

)ar.et-oriente( behavior, social interactions, an( legal-instit&tional fra)e'or.* >he

favore( approach to econo)ic history resonates 'ith the Brench a(ageplus 2a cange!plus c3est la m4me cose.

A pri)e e9a)ple of this is the critically acclai)e( 'or. of Reinhart an( Rogoff 3!""8,)otivate( by a .in(re( )antra 0/e have been here before*1 >he st&(y is certainly

thoro&ghly researche( an( elegantly presente(* =&t this har(ly e9onerates first-ran.

scholars fro) the folly of e


38/39

6merican Magazine.8 =&t, accor(ing to An(rN ;ie(eren 3senior scientist at the

etherlan(s-base( research instit&te, TN7 #efense! 5ecurity and 5afety8 the )an&fact&re

of that )any large 37 2/8 'in( t&rbines 'o&l( (e)an( ro&ghly three )illion tons ofeo(y)i&)* >he c&rrent ann&al pro(&ction is #5,""" tons an( Lenntech 3an associate

organiation of the >echnical University of ;elft in the etherlan(s8 p&ts global reserves

of eo(y)i&) at eight )illion tons*#"

>o begin 'ith, a total reserve fig&re (oes not reveal 'hat proportion of it is econo)ically

recoverable 3since it is the s&) of proven, probable an( possible (eposits8D acirc&)stance aggravate( by the fact that this 0rare earth1 ele)ent is har(ly fo&n( in p&re

for), i)plying that a goo( ch&n. of the eight )illion is too e9pensive to access*

2oreover, &nli.e the co))ons 3the oceans an( the at)osphere8, )etal reserves are

national property* China happens to be the richest in eo(y)i&) an( it has recentlyi)pose( controls on the e9portation of 0rare earth1 ele)ents* 6ven if three )illion tons

co&l( be pro(&ce( 3an e9tre)ely &nli.ely event8 ho' abo&t replacing 'in( t&rbines:

>hey (on%t last forever*

>he obstinate a(vocacy of n&clear, geother)ic, hy(roelectric, solar po'er, nat&ral gas, or

bio-f&els ree.s of si)ilar (eficiencies* =&t this is har(ly notice(* arro'-)in(e(parochialis) (oes not provo.e the tocsin of reality chec. in rationality-r&le( )ental

conscio&sness, not even 'hen iss&es of s&rvival significance stare h&)anity in the face*

>hese proble)s are &nsolvable 'itho&t recogniing the 0)anifol( aspect&ations1 36PO,p* 448 that hi(e in the fiel( of cr&cial inter(epen(encies*

REFERENCES

Cong(on, L* 3##8, 69ile an( Social >ho&ght, Princeton University Press, Princeton, ?*

Gebser ?* 3#548, >he 6ver-Present Origin, Ohio University Press, Athens, O+*

+egel, G* /* B* 3#$8, PhTno)enologie (es Geistes, Ullstein 2aterialien, Bran.f&rt2,Ger)any*

Meynes, ?*2* 3#78, >he General >heory of 6)ploy)ent, Interest, an( 2oney, A

+arbinger =oo., +arco&rt, =race /orl(, Inc*, e' Qor., Q*

;opfer, M* 3e(*8 3!""78, >he 6vol&tionary Bo&n(ations of 6cono)ics, Ca)bri(ge

University Press, Ca)bri(ge, UM*

L&.acs, G* 3#8, +istory an( Class Conscio&sness, St&(ies in 2ar9ist ;ialectics, >he

2I> Press, Ca)bri(ge, 2A*L&.acs, G* 3#78, >he Qo&ng +egel St&(ies in the Relations bet'een ;ialectics an(

6cono)ics, 2erlin Press, Chicago, IL*

#"Bro) An(rN ;ie(eren%s presentation, entitle( 02aterials Scarcity an( the 6le)ents of +ope,1 at the

8ioneers 9loal "onference, 2ay $#- ?&ne #, !"#", ;riebergen, the etherlan(s*

$5


39/39

L&.acs, G* 3#8, ;ie Grableg&ng (es alten ;e&tschlan(, 6ssays &r ;e&tschen

Literat&r (es #* ?ahrh&n(erts , Ro'ohlt, 2Vnchen, Ger)any*

2ar9, M* 3#"8, Capital, A Critihe 2o(ern Library, e'

Qor., Q*

2erlea&-Ponty, 2* 3#778, Les Avent&res (e la ;ialectihis >i)e Is ;ifferent 6ight Cent&ries of

Binancial Bolly, Princeton University Press, Princeton, ?*

So)bart, /* 3!""#8, 6cono)ic Life in the 2o(ern Age, >ransaction P&blishers, e'=r&ns'ic., ?*

tributaries to gebser's social thought

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