To Be or Not to Be, That Is the Question?—Fragments of Marxist Theory on the Movements of Class Consciousness

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the possibilities and limits encountered in analyzing the complex and paradoxical dynamics of what Marxism terms political praxis. Among the tools employed is the concept of class consciousness, which is used to identify the theoretical-philosophical principles that serve as guides. The basis for the paper is provided mainly by the works of Marx, Engels and Lukács, as well as by the Lukácsian tradition that permeates the academic field in Brazil, where the author of the paper is located. Also proposed is a dialogue with such authors, extensively studied on the Brazilian national scene, as Paulo Freire and Mauro Iasi. Using these references, and taking into consideration the similarities and differences of approach, an attempt is made to understand how to identify movements of class consciousness based on the difference between the Lukácsian concepts of psychological consciousness and class consciousness, discussed in the Brazilian conjuncture and more widely. Finally, an attempt is made to demonstrate that these two concepts can be articulated through an understanding of the totality of the phenomenon under study; this is the case despite the differentiation between the concepts that emerges from considering the aspect of the universality of the class, as indicated by Lukács, Lenin, Marx and Engels.

KEYWORDS:

• Marxism
• Brazilian Marxism
• class consciousness
• psychological consciousness
• levels of consciousness

Notes on Contributor

Antonio Euzébios Filho, a psychologist, graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas in 2005, and completed his Masters (2007) and PhD (2010) in psychology at PUC-Campinas. He has experience in the areas of social psychology, school psychology and education, working mainly in educational and community contexts. He is currently an assistant professor of Department of Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.