Abstract

The ideological via dolorosa connecting Hegel and Marx has been traversed so often and so heavily that it seems destined to sink into a philosophical rut. And so, understandably, the mere title of Colletti’s book was almost enough to warn off this reviewer. A title threatening yet another heavy helping of the Young Marx and other Young Hegelians. But - and here the worn phrase “pleasantly surprised” seems irreplaceable - Colletti’s work turned out to be a quite refreshing collection of arguments encouraging the rethinking of Marxism by means of a deeper appreciation of Hegel in particular and traditional philosophy in general. Now, the net results of Colletti’s efforts might be termed and “restored” Marxism, a Marxism more Hegelian, and so more reconciled with the philosophic enterprise than the politicized, exiled Marxism of Lukács or Lenin.