Critically evaluate Althussers and Marcuses critiques of capitalism Essay

Critically evaluate Althussers and Marcuses critiques of capitalism - Essay ExampleAlthusser advanced a progressive critique of humanism, historicism, and empiricism, which he depicted as the medium of the influence of bourgeoisie ideology on the modern red ink theory. Althussers collection of essays titled Pour Marx (1965) and Lire de Capital (1965) inspired a bout of new left thinkers. He focused on the mature Marx as exhibited by his analysis of alienation in the capitalist society. The essays represented intellectually sturdy Marxism but not dogmatism.Althusser attempted to employ Marxs tools such as mode and means of production to probe the production of Marxian knowledge and highlight its uniqueness from other philosophical systems. This aided in promoting the credibility of Marxism as a science. Althusser confronted contemporary softer interpretations of Marxs work. In particular, he sought to reread Western Marxist theory and free it from Soviet dogmatism, as well as human istic interpretations (Michael 2011, p.134). Meanwhile, he wanted to reinstate their pace in the class struggle.Pour Marx is considered as the founding text of the school of structuralism in Marxism. Although he refused to be labeled as a structuralist, he used structuralism to abolish the knowing subject as the centre of thought and action. jibe to Althusser, Marxism is not an ideology or a world view but a revolutionary science. He holds that Marxism should ultimately be the science of society. He claimed that Marx had introduced a theoretically plus practically revolutionary philosophy such as dialectical materialism (Ferretter 2006, p.32).According to Althusser, the epistemological rupture witnessed around 1845, climaxed Marx coming out as a scientific theorist. Althusser wanted to sever ties from idealist (Hegels philosophy) and materialist (Feuerbachian) philosophies. Althusser adopted the method of diagnostic reading, which is a deep analysis of structures