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Articles

Reading the Mao texts: The question of epistemology

Pages 330-358 | Published online: 15 Jun 2007

Notes

  • Hirst , Paul . 1979 . On Law and Ideology , 6 – 6 . London : Macmillan .
  • See: Hirst Paul On Law and Ideology Macmillan London 1979 19 21 Anthony Cutler, Barry Hindess, Paul Hirst and Athar Hussain, Marx's “Capital” and Capitalism Today, I (Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 1977), pp. 211–18; Barry Hindess and Paul Hirst, Mode of Production and Social Formation (Macmillan, London, 1977), pp. 7–22, 31; Barry Hindess, Philosophy and Methodology in the Social Sciences (Harvester, Sussex, 1977), pp. 4–6, 16–17, 113–228; and Anthony Cutler, Barry Hindess, Paul Hirst and Athar Hussain, “An imaginary orthodoxy; a reply to Laurence Harris,” Economy and Society, VIII:3, August 1979, pp. 310–13. My Ph.D. thesis discusses the work of Hindess and Hirst at some length. See Paul Healy, Mao and Classical Marxism: Epistemology, Social Formation, Classes and Class Struggle in Mao Zedong's Post-1955 Thought (unp. Ph.D. thesis, Griffith University, 1987), esp. pp. 47–71.
  • For a brief discussion of this see Hindess Hirst Mode of Production and Social Formation 11 11 12, 15, 30.
  • See Healy Mao and Classical Marxism 137 183
  • Womack , Brantly . 1982 . The Foundations of Mao Zedong's Political Thought, 1917–1935 , xii – xii . Honolulu : Univ. of Hawaii Press . 34, 77; Brantly Womack, “Theory and Practice in the Thought of Mao Tse-tung,” in James Chieh Hsiung (ed.), The Logic of “Maoism”: Critiques and Explication (Praeger, New York, 1974), pp. 2, 8, 13, 14, 15.
  • Bulkeley , Rip . 1977 . On ‘On Practice’ . Radical Philosophy , 18 Autumn : 4 – 4 . 6, 9.
  • Szhwartz , Benjamin I. 1977 . “ The Philosopher ” . In Mao Tse-tung in the Scales of History , Edited by: Wilson , Dick . 29 – 29 . Cambridge : Cambridge Univ. Press . in
  • Brugger , Bill . Practice, Praxis and Pragmatism: On the Correct Handling of Mao's ‘On Practice’ . paper presented at the 28th Annual Conference of the Australasian Political Studies Association . August , Brisbane. pp. 5 – 5 .
  • Knight , Nick . 1983 . The Form of Mao Zedong's “Sinification of Marxism . The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs , 9 : 19 – 19 . 20, 22–23.
  • See: Womack The Foundations of Mao Zedong's Political Thought xi xii esp. 84–85, 198.
  • For their analysis of the underlying and unsubstantiated premises involved in the epistemological postulate of both a distinction and a correspondence between the two realms of thought and the real see the works cited in Hirst Paul On Law and Ideology Macmillan London 1979 6 6
  • Zedong , Mao . 1970–72 . Mao Zedong Ji , Edited by: Minoru , Takeuchi . Vol. VI , 281 – 281 . Tokyo : Hokubasha . (Collected Writings of Mao Zedong) [hereafter Ji] Mao Zedong, Mao Zedong Ji Bujuan (Supplements to Collected Writings of Mao Zedong) [hereafter Bujuan J, ed. by Takeuchi Minoru (Sososha, Tokyo, 1983–86), V, pp. 202–03. Despite John E. Rue's assertion that Mao “probably” did not write “Dialectical Materialism,” I have nonetheless accepted it, in line with most authorities, to be a text bearing Mao's authorship, even if heavily plagiarised from Soviet texts on philosophy.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 283 – 283 . Bujuan, V, p. 204.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 268 – 268 . Bujuan, V, p. 189.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 282 – 282 . Bujuan, V, p. 204.
  • See, for example Miscellany of Mao Tse-tung Thought, (1949–1968) Joint Publications Research Service Arlington 1974 I 144 144 [hereafter Miscellany] Mao Zedong sixiang wansui [Long Live the Thought of Mao Zedong] (n.p., August 1969) [hereafter Wansui (1969)], p. 264; also Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung [hereafter SE] (Foreign Languages Press, Peking, 1967–1977), II, p. 339; Mao Zedong xuanji (Selected Works of Mao Zedong) [hereafter XJ] (Renmin chubanshe, Beijing, 1968–1977), II, p. 623. I have, following Schram, taken the texts contained in the various Wansui collections to be authentic Mao texts. See Stuart Schram (ed.), Mao Tse-tung Unrehearsed: Talks and Letters, 1956–71 [hereafter MTTU] Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1974), pp. 49–50.
  • On this point see, for example SW III 22 22 XJ, III, p. 759.
  • See: SW I 300 300 XJ, I, p. 264; also Bujuan, V, p. 225; also Mao Tse-tung, Where Do Correct Ideas Come From? [hereafter WDCICF?] (Foreign Languages Press, Paking, 1966), p. 1; Richard Baum and Frederick Teiwes, Ssu-ch'ing: The Socialist Education Movement of 1962–1966 [hereafter Ssu-ch'ing] (Chinese Research Monographs No. 2, University of California, Berkeley, 1968), p. 58; Mao Zhuxi de wupian zhexue zhuzuo (Five Philosophical Essays by Chairman Mao) [hereafter Zhexue zhuzuo] (Renmin chubanshe, Beijing, 1970), pp. 225–26. For examples of other references to this matter see: Miscellany, I, p. 104; Wansui (1969), p. 203; also SW, I, p. 303; XJ, I, p. 267; also Bujuan, V, p. 228. A translation of the pre-Liberation version of “On Practice” is forthcoming in Knight (ed.), Mao Zedong on Dialectical Materialism.
  • See, for example: SW I 297 297 XJ, I, p. 262; also Bujuan, V, p. 222; also WDCICF?, p. 1; Ssuch'ing, p. 58; Zhexue zhuzuo, pp. 225–26.
  • See, for example: SW I 323 323 324, 330; XJ, I, pp. 287, 288–89, 294; also Chinese Studies in Philosophy (hereafter CSP), XIX:2, Winter 1987–88, pp. 36, 41; Bujuan, V, pp. 254, 258; also SW, III, pp. 18, 21; XJ, III, pp. 755, 757–58; also SW, V, pp. 315–16, 372; XJ, V, pp. 297, 352.
  • SW Vol. III , 74 – 74 . XJ, III, p. 810.
  • Tsetung , Mao . 1977 . A Critique of Soviet Economics , 73 – 74 . New York : Monthly Review Press . [hereafter COSE], Tr. Moss Roberts 108; Miscellany, II, pp. 274–75, 300; Wansui (1969), pp. 353, 383; Wansui (1967), pp. 201–02, 231.
  • COSE 73 – 74 . 108; Miscellany, II, pp. 274–75; Wansui (1969), pp. 353, 383; Wansui (1967), pp. 201–02, 231.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 267 – 268 . Bujuan, V, p. 189; also SW, V, p. 174; XJ, V, p. 159; also Jerome Ch'en (ed.), Mao Papers: Anthology and Bibliography [hereafter MP] (Oxford University Press, London, 1970), p. 53.
  • Ssu-ch'ing 126 – 126 .
  • See, for example: Bujuan V 223 223 224; also SW, I, pp. 119, 120, 298, 299; XJ, I, pp. 96, 97, 262, 263; also SW, V, pp. 165–66; XJ, V, pp. 150–51; also Miscellany, II, pp. 320, 383; Wansui (1969), pp. 443, 642.
  • See, for example Bujuan V 223 223 also SW, I, pp. 119, 298; XJ, I, pp. 96, 262; also Miscellany, II, p. 320; Wansui (1969), p. 443.
  • See Miscellany II 320 320 Wansui (1969), p. 443; also COSE, p. 112; Miscellany, II, p. 303; Wansui (1969), p. 386; Wansui (1967), p. 235; also MTTU, p. 179; PR, XXI:27, 7 July 1978, pp. 17–18; Wansui (1969), p. 416; Renmin ribao (hereafter RMRB), 1 July 1978, p. 3; also MTTU, p. 236; CB, 891, 8 October 1969, p. 52; Wansui (1969), p. 625.
  • MTTU 236 – 236 . CB, 891, 8 October 1969, p. 52; Wansui (1969), p. 625.
  • See, for example: Miscellany I 152 152 Wansui (1969), p. 272; also SW, I, p. 303; XJ, I, pp. 267–68; also Bujuan, V, p. 228.
  • SW Vol. I , 119 – 119 . 120; XJ, I, pp. 96, 97.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 293 – 293 . Bujuan, V, p. 214.
  • Bujuan Vol. V , 223 – 223 . also SW, I, p. 298; XJ, I, p. 262; also WDCICF?, p. 1; Ssu-ch'ing, p. 58; Zhexue zhuzuo, p. 226.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 293 – 294 . Bujuan, V, p. 215; also Bujuan, p. 222; also SW, I, p. 297; XJ, I, p. 262.
  • SW Vol. V , 327 – 327 . XJ, V, p. 308.
  • 1987–88 . CSP , XIX ( 2 ) : 37 – 37 . Winter Bujuan, V, p. 255; also SW, I, p. 324; XJ, I, p. 288.
  • SW Vol. I , 319 – 319 . XJ, I, pp. 282–83; also CSP, XIX:2, Winter 1987–88, pp. 32–33; Bujuan, V, p. 251; also SW, III, p. 40; XJ, III, p. 775.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 295 – 295 . Bujuan, V, p. 217; also Bujuan, V, pp. 223, 228; also SW, I, pp. 298, 303; XJ, I, pp. 262, 268; also WDCICF?, p. 1; Ssu-ch'ing, p. 58; Zhexue zhuzuo, p. 226.
  • Bujuan Vol. V , 223 – 223 . also SW, I, p. 298; XJ, I, p. 262; also WDCICF?, p. 1; Ssu-ch'ing, p. 58; Zhexue zhuzuo, p. 226.
  • See, for example: COSE 56 57 Miscellany, II, pp. 262–63; Wansui (1969), pp. 338–39; Wansui (1967), pp. 186–87; also MTTU, pp. 109–110; Wansui (1969), pp. 169–70.
  • See, for example: SW I 298 298 XJ, I, p. 262; also Bujuan, V, p. 223.
  • Miscellany Vol. I , 104 – 104 . Wansui (1969), p. 203.
  • See, for example: Ji VI 289 289 293; Bujuan, V, pp. 211, 215.
  • SW Vol. I , 299 – 299 . XJ, I, p. 263.
  • See, for example: SW I 315 315 346; XJ, I, pp. 279, 311.
  • SW Vol. III , 23 – 23 . XJ, III, p. 759.
  • SW Vol. III , 37 – 38 . XJ, III, p. 772.
  • MTTU 223 – 224 . Miscellany, II, p. 392; Wansui (1969), p. 556.
  • SW Vol. V , 325 – 325 . XJ, V, p. 306.
  • See, for example: SW III 21 21 41, 43; XJ, I, pp. 758, 775, 778.
  • MTTU 236 – 236 . CB, 891, 8 October 1969, p. 52; Wansui (1969), p. 626. Translation altered slightly.
  • See, for example: Bujuan V 223 223 also SW, I, p. 298; XJ, I, p. 262; also Miscellany, I, p. 104; Wansui (1969), p. 203; also MTTU, p. 251; Wansui (1969), p. 631.
  • MP 72 – 72 . CB, 892, 21 October 1969, p. 11; CLG, V:1, Spring 1972, p. 112; Mao Zedong sixiang wansui [Long Live the Thought of Mao Zedong] (n.p., April 1967) [hereafter Wansui (Suppl.)], p. 36.
  • MP 71 – 72 . CB, 892, 21 October 1969, p. 11; CLG, V:1, Spring 1972, p. 112; Wansui (Suppl.), p. 36.
  • SW Vol. I , 185 – 185 . XJ, I, p. 161.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 293 – 293 . Bujuan, V, pp. 214–15.
  • See, for example: Bujuan V 227 227 228; also SW, I, pp. 302, 303; XJ, I, pp. 267, 268; also SW, III, pp. 42, 61–62; XJ, III, pp. 776–77, 796.
  • SW Vol. III , 119 – 119 . XJ, III, p. 854.
  • Bujuan Vol. V , 228 – 228 . also SW, I, p. 303; XJ, I, p. 268. See also: SW, I, p. 188; XJ, I, pp. 163–64.
  • See: SW I 319 319 XJ, I, pp. 282–83; also CSP, XIX:2, Winter 1987–88, pp. 32–33; Bujuan, V, p. 251.
  • SW Vol. III , 21 – 21 . XJ, III, p. 757.
  • 1986 . The Writings of Mao Zedong, 1949–1976 , Vol. I , 508 – 508 . New York : M.E. Sharpe . Selections from China Mainland Magazines, Supp. 22, 8 April 1968, p. 9.
  • 1976 . CLG Vol. IX , 103 – 103 . 3, Fall Wansui (1967), p. 56.
  • Miscellany Vol. I , 152 – 152 . Wansui (1969), p. 272. For other references to the real as a totality, see: Bujuan, V, p. 223; also SW, I, pp. 298, 312; XJ, I, pp. 263, 275.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 271 – 271 . Bujuan, V, p. 193.
  • See, for example: COSE 72 72 Miscellany, II, p. 274; Wansui (1969), p. 352; Wansui (1967), p. 200; also SW, V, pp. 158, 180; XV, V, pp. 142, 165; also SW, I, pp. 179–80, 190; XJ, I, pp. 155, 165–66; also COSE, pp. 136, 137; Miscellany, I, p. 192; Wansui (1967), pp. 157, 158; also MTTU, p. 179; PR, XXI: 27, 7 July 1978, p. 17; Wansui (1969), p. 416; RMRB, 1 July 1978, p. 3; also SW, IV, p. 411: XJ, IV, p. 1357; also Miscellany, II, p. 458; CLG, II:1, Spring 1969, p. 6; Wansui (1969), p. 676.
  • See: Miscellany I 156 156 Wansui (1969), p. 277; also SW, I, pp. 181–82; XJ, I, p. 157.
  • MTTU 84 – 84 . Compare BR, XXII:37, 14 September 1979, p. 9.
  • See, for example: SW I 179 182 XJ, I, pp. 155–57; also SW, II, p. 219; XJ, II, p. 506; also COSE, p. 114; Miscellany, II, p. 304; Wansui (1969), p. 388; Wansui (1967), p. 236.
  • See, for example: MTTU 112 112 Wansui (1969), p. 171; also MTTU, p. 179; PR, XXI:27, 7 July 1978, p. 17; Wansui (1969), p. 416; RMRB, 1 July 1978, p. 3; also SW, V, p. 454; XJ, V, p. 437; also COSE, p. 137; Miscellany, I, p. 192; Wansui (1967), p. 158; Miscellany, II, p. 458; CLG, II:1, Spring 1969, p. 6; Wansui (1969), p. 676; also Miscellany, II, p. 383; Wansui (1969), p. 641.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 292 – 292 . Bujuan, V, p. 214.
  • COSE 75 – 75 . Miscellany, II, p. 276; Wansui (1969), p. 354; Wansui (1967), p. 203. See also: MTTU, p. 228; Miscellany, II, p. 394; Wansui (1969), p. 559; also MTTU, p. 173; PR, XXI:27, 7 July 1978, p. 14; Wansui (1969), p. 411; RMRB,1 July 1978, p. 3.
  • Ji Vol. VI , 294 – 295 . Bujuan, V, p. 216.
  • COSE 73 – 73 . Miscellany, II, p. 274; Wansui (1969), p. 353; Wansui (1969), p. 201.
  • MP 72 – 72 . CB, 892, 21 October 1969, p. 11; CLG, V:1, Spring 1972, p. 113; Wansui (Supp.), p. 36.
  • See, for example: SW V 392 392 XJ, V, p. 372.
  • See: SW IV 204 204 XJ, IV, p. 1181.
  • On the test of practice see, for example: Bujuan V 221 222 229–31; also SW, I, pp. 188–89, 296–97, 304–06; XJ, I, pp. 164, 216, 268–71; also SW, II, pp. 339–40; XJ, II, p. 623; also WDCICF?, pp. 2–3; Ssu-ch'ing, pp. 58–59; Zhexue zhuzuo, pp. 226–27; also SW, V, p. 316; XJ, V, p. 297; also MTTU, pp. 172–73; PR, XXI:27, 7 July 1978, p. 14; Wansui (1969), pp. 410–11; RMRB, 1 July 1978, p. 3; also COSE, p. 75; Miscellany, II, p. 276; Wansui (1969), p. 354; Wansui (1967), p. 203.
  • See, for example: Bujuan V 230 230 also SW, I, p. 304; XJ, I, p. 269.
  • See, for example: Bujuan V 221 222 229–30; also SW, I, pp. 296–97, 304–05; XJ, I, pp. 261, 268–69; also WDCICF?, pp. 2–3; Ssu-ch'ing, pp. 58–59; Zhexue zhuzuo, pp. 226–27.
  • See, for example: SW I 306 306 XJ, I, p. 271; also Bujuan, V, p. 231; also Ji, VI, pp. 294, 296; Bujuan, V, pp. 216, 219.
  • SW Vol. I , 307 – 307 . XJ, I, p. 272; also Bujuan, V, p. 233; also Ji, VI, pp. 294, 296–97; Bujuan, V, pp. 215, 219.
  • SW Vol. I , 306 – 306 . 307; XJ, I, pp. 271, 272; also Bujaun, V, pp. 231, 233; also Ji, VI, pp. 290, 294; Bujuan, V, pp. 211, 216.
  • Bujuan Vol. V , 226 – 227 . also SW, I, pp. 188, 301–02; XJ, I, pp. 163–64, 266; also MP, pp. 71–72; CB, 892, 21 October 1969, p. 11; CLG, V:1, Spring 1972, p. 112; Wansui (Supp.), p. 36.
  • Bujuan Vol. V , 222 – 222 . 226; also SW, I, p. 301; XJ, I, pp. 265–66; also SW, V, p. 104; XJ, V, p. 91; also MTTU, pp. 170–73; PR, XXI:27, 7 July 1978, pp. 13–14; Wansui (1969), pp. 409–11; RMRB, 1 July 1978, pp. 2–3.
  • Bujuan Vol. V , 226 – 226 . also SW, I, p. 301; XJ, I, p. 265; also Miscellany, II, p. 399; Wansui (1969), p. 564.
  • See, for example: MTTU 183 184 PR, XXI:27, 7 July 1978, p. 20; Wansui (1969), p. 420; RMRB, 1 July 1978, p. 4; also SW, V, pp. 408–09; XJ, V, p. 388; also Miscellany, I, p. 176; Wansui (1967), p. 52; also Miscellany, II, pp. 339–40; Wansui (1969), pp. 472–73.
  • WDCICF? 2 – 2 . Ssu-ch'ing, pp. 58–59; Zhexue zhuzuo, pp. 226–27.
  • Womack . The Foundations of Mao Zedong's Political Thought xi – xii . 34, 77, 84–85, 198.
  • Schram . Mao Studies 105 – 105 . 109.
  • Schram , Stuart . 1972 . The Political Thought of Mao Tse-tung , 15 – 20 . New York : Praeger . 56.
  • Starr , John Bryan . 1979 . Continuing the Revolution: The Political Thought of Mao , xi – xii . Princeton : Princeton University Press .
  • See Knight Nick Mao and History: Who Judges and HOw? The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs January 1985 121 136 13
  • Althusser , Louis . 1979 . For Marx , 38 – 39 . London : Verso . Louis Althusser and Etienne Balibar, Reading Capital (Verso, London, 1979), pp. 34, 74.
  • Althusser , Louis . 1979 . For Marx , 38 – 39 . London : Verso .
  • Cutler , Hindes , Hirst and Hussain . Marx's “Capital” and Capitalism Today , I 107 – 109 . Hindess and Hirst, Mode of Production and Social Formation, pp. 21–22; Hindess, Philosophy and Methodology in the Social Sciences, pp. 9–10, 19–21; and Paul Hirst, “The necessity of theory,” Economy and Society, VIII:4, November 1979, p. 434.
  • See, for example: Schram Mao Studies: Retrospect and Prospect 96 96 122, 125; Schram, The Political Thought of Mao Tse-tung, pp. 73–74; Stuart Schram, “The Marxist,” in Wilson (ed.), Mao Tse-tung in the Scales of History, p. 35; and Stuart Schram, “Some Reflections on the Pfeffer-Walder “Revolution” in China Studies,” Modern China, III:2, April 1977, p. 172.
  • Cutler , Hindess , Hirst and Hussain . Marx's “Capital” and Capitalism Today , I 158 – 158 . 216–17; Hindess and Hirst, Mode of Production and Social Formation, pp. 7–8, 19–22; Cutler, Hindess, Hirst and Hussain, “An imaginary orthodoxy,” p. 310; Hindess, Philosophy and Methodology in the Social Sciences, pp. 186–87; Hirst, On Law and Ideology, pp. 19–21.
  • Womack . Theory and Practice in the Thought of Mao Tse-tung 2 – 2 . 8, 13, 14, 15.
  • Healy . Mao and Classical Marxism chp. 1.
  • Cutler , Hindess , Hirst and Hussain . Marx's “Capital” and Capitalism Today , I 218 – 218 . Cutler, Hindess, Hirst and Hussain, “An imaginary orthodoxy,” p. 310; Hindess and Hirst, Mode of Production and Social Formation, pp. 7–8, 31; Hindess, Philosophy and Methodology in the Social Sciences, pp. 223–28.
  • See: Knight Mao and History 121 136 Knight, “Mao Studies: Notes Towards a Critique of the Field,” pp. 1–72; Nick Knight, “The Marxism of Mao Zedong: Empiricism and Discourse in the Field of Mao Studies,” The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, 16, July 1986, pp. 7–22.
  • See, for example: Bryan Starr John ‘Good Mao’ “Bad Mao”: Mao Studies and the Re-evaluation of Mao's Political Thought The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs July 1986 2 2 16 Lowell Dittmer, “Mao Zedong: Ten Years After,” The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, 16, July 1986, pp. 113–14; and Timothy Cheek, “The ‘Genius’ Mao: A Treasure Trove of 23 Newly Available Volumes of Post-1949 Mao Zedong Texts,” The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, 19 and 20, January and July 1988, p. 312.

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