The implications of the thinking paradigms of British neo-Marxism

Abstract

British neo-Marxism is a novel theory that emerged and developed in the UK during the period from 1950s to 1980s. It encompasses issues of history, culture, politics, society, technology, and outer space as it continues to broaden alternate critical research approaches. It carries on the intellectual tradition of British Marxism and is guided by the guiding role of Marx’s thought. British neo-Marxism has contributed to the formation of multiple neo-Marxist thinking paradigms with unique British characteristics, and its theatrical implications concern the new historicism focused on cultural criticism, the neo-rationalist thinking of changing social orders, and the neo-humanistic thinking aiming to fulfill the reform of social institutions. Its innovation in the systemization of thinking paradigms is doubtless an effect of the paradigm shift in the way of thinking of humankind to change the social order. Our study of British neo-Marxism is of important theoretical significance and practical value for both the enhancement of research on Marxist philosophy, and the innovation in the Marxist thinking paradigm.

Keywords:

• British neo-Marxism
• thinking paradigm
• new historicism
• new rationalism
• new humanism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ji Xue

Ji Xue (PH D) is the professor and associate dean at the School of Philosophy, Shanxi University. He is also one of the directors of the China Society of History of Marxist Philosophy (CSHMP). He was a visiting Research Fellow of Simon Fraser University in Canada and a visiting scholar in the Department of Philosophy, Nanjing University. He mainly engaged in research on the basic principles of Marxism, foreign Marxist philosophy, and the intellectual history of contemporary Western leftism. His major publications include The Study of Eagleton’s Cultural Critical Thought; New Marxism in Britain; Research on Some Major Issues of Marxist Philosophy abroad in the 21st Century; and A Guide to the Frontier Problems of Marxist philosophy.

Zhongfang Tong

Tong Zhongfang is a graduate student of The Institute of Marxist Philosophy, Shanxi University. Her research interests include foreign Marxist philosophy, Western Marxology and Historical Materialism.