Philosophie und Wissenschaftstheorie nach Althusser

Kritischer Materialismus: Luis Althusser

• Wissenschaftstheorie: Focuses on scientific knowledge as a productive process, constructing objects of knowledge, and breaking from theoretical ideologies.
• Sozialontologie und Gesellschaftstheorie: Views society as a complex, already structured whole, emphasizing class struggle, contingency, and the reproduction/transformation of social structures.
• Althusser's Theoretical-Political Interventions: Criticizes subordinating theory to party lines, rejecting Stalinist ideology and positivist interpretations of Marx's theories. Critiques dogmatism, aiming for a philosophy suitable for emancipatory politics.
• Philosophie: Seeks to clarify Marxist theory of the state (not present in Marx's work) and to create a dialogue with other social sciences.
• Bachelard, Althusser, Foucault, Derrida: Focuses on critiquing philosophical and epistemological theses hindering the advancement of scientific knowledge.
• Ziel: Critically assess existing theories in all scientific fields, including contemporary ones (e.g. neoliberal states), seeking materialist analyses and removing hindering ideological assumptions.

Was bedeutet "materialistisch"?

• Gegenbegriff: Idealistic positions where ideas/spirit drive historical development
• Ideen: Ideas are strong historical forces.
• Diskurse: Discourses are more powerful than economic structures.
• Denken: Thought is immaterial.
• Primat der Theorie: Theory is more important than practice/experience in understanding society.
• Bedeutung: Materialism is a contrast to idealism, highlighting the interconnectedness of social and material forces. Collective actions and structures are important historical drivers.

Althusser's Critical Materialism

• Epistemological Break: Marx's theory had a gradual, decades-long epistemological shift. Not a sudden break.
• Marx and Hegel: Marx's theory differs significantly from Hegel's philosophy.
• Production Process: Knowledge is a product of social, political and economic processes, not a separate entity. Scientists are also social actors embedded in specific conditions.

SoWi Erkenntnisse (Social Science Knowledge)

• Production Metaphor: Viewing scientific knowledge as a product (understanding created by social scientists), emphasizes its social and historical context.
• Relatively Autonomous Productive Processes: Scientific knowledge isn't simply a reflection of social conditions; rather, it is influenced by social factors, including class struggle, power, and the position of the individual social scientist.
• Scientific Knowledge Production: Acknowledges the societal and political context in knowledge production and recognizes their interplay with political and economic structures.

Erkennen als Produktionsprozess

• Never Starts with the Object: Scientific knowledge does not instantly originate from the physical object of study, but rather from prior theoretical and conceptual frameworks.
• Theoretical Work: Social and political contexts are always intertwined and inseparable from theoretical work.

Theoretische Arbeit: Relativ Autonom

• Not Just a Reflection: Theoretical texts aren't just reflections of societal relations. They have their own dynamic properties and follow inherent development logics.