Volume 14 – Section 1

  • Section I The Philosophic Moment of Marxist-Humanism

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11723.pdf

    In the last month of Raya Dunayevskaya’s life, she was preparing a presentation on the subject of her book-in-progress, the Dialectics of Organization and Philosophy., This presentation, scheduled for June 1, 1987, was never given. Raya Dunayevskaya died on June 9, 1987. The text she prepared, and the voluminous working notes which preceded it, however, were included in Volume XIII, Supplement to the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection, in February, 1988. In her June 1, 1987 presentation Dunayevskaya had singled out her May 12 and 20, 1953 Letters on Hegel’s Absolutes as the “philosophic moment” fruit which the whole Marxist-Humanist body of ideas, flowed. These 1953 Letters were now seen as the “element that governed the concretization” of the Marxist-Humanist Idea, from the first of Dunayevskaya’s “trilogy of revolution,” Marxism and Freedom, through Philosophy and Revolution, to Rosa Luxemburg, Women’s Liberation, and Marx’s Philosophy of Revolution. As a result of their study of this document, her comrades in the Marxist-Humanist organization, News and Letters Committees, decided to publish both Dunayevskaya’s June 1, 1987 presentation on “Dialectics of Organization and Philosophy” and her May 12 and 20, 1953 Letters on Hegel’s Absolutes together as one book. It appeared in January, 1989 under the title, The Philosophic Moment of Marxist-Humanism: two historic-philosophic writings by Raya Dunayevskaya. In their preface to this book, the Resident Editorial Board of News and Letters Committees wrote: “We have chosen to issue this publication in its present form — with the Presentation on Dialectics of Organization and Philosophy appearing first, followed by the 1953 Letters on Hegel’s Absolutes — because it is Dunayevskaya’s 1986-87 view of her 1953 Letters which enables us to see what she called the ‘many Universals inherent’ in them for today.” It is in that same spirit that the Raya Dunayevskaya Memorial Fund has decided to present Vol. XIV — with The Philosophic Moment of Marxist-Humanism appearing first, followed by documents on Dunayevskaya’s “trilogy of revolution.” We believe that Dunayevskaya’s final June 1, 1987 writing, and her 1953 “philosophic moment,” when taken together, shed powerful new illumination on the “long, hard trek and process of development” of the Marxist-Humanist Idea.

  • A. Draft Outlines for Marxism and Freedom, 1955-57

    Dunayevskaya’s work on what was to become Marxism and Freedom could be said to have begun with her 1941-43 study of “The Nature of the Russian Economy.” Her analysis of Stalin’s Russia, based on original Russian documents, also involved both a study of Marx’s archives, and her first translations of sections of Marx’s 1844 Humanist Essays. Two early draft outlines for her book have already appeared in this collection: “State-Capitalism and Marxism” (1947, #472), and “The Lenin Book” (1952, #1735). The actual writing of Marxism and Freedom in its published form, however, began only after two later developments: Dunayevskaya’s writing, in May, 1953, of her “Letters on Hegel’s Absolutes,” and the break-up, in March, 1955, of the united “Johnson-Forest Tendency.” Immediately after this latter event — the split between C.L.R. James and Raya Dunayevskaya, which resulted in the founding of a new organization, News and Letters Committees — Dunayevskaya returned to concentrated work on the writing of Marxism and Freedom.

  • 1. Marxism and Freedom: From the Industrial Revolution to Automation. “An Outline of a Book in Preparation.”

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11786.pdf

    Written Nov. 1955. A substantially revised version of the 1947 outline of “State Capitalism and Marxism,” this outline was submitted to publishers, interested intellectuals (including Herbert Marcuse, Meyer Schapiro, and Joseph Buttinger), and circulated among the members of News and Letters Committees.

  • 2. Outline of Contents of Marxism and Freedom.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11816.pdf

    Includes covering page “Note to: every reader,” and overline, “Preliminary draft – not for publication.” Probably written April, 1956. Outline includes summaries of those chapters not yet written out in draft form.

  • 4. Letter “to the NEB” (National Editorial Board of News and Letters Committees).

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11323.pdf

    Written Oct. 30, 1956. A letter on the writing of the book and the responsibilities of the organizational leadership. Includes “the outline of the book as it has changed in the process of reworking.”

  • 5. Table of Contents of Marxism and Freedom.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11826.pdf

    Written June, 1957. Includes titles of each of the sub-sections of each chapter. This outline contains only a few differences from the table of contents of the book as published in December, 1957.

  • B. Draft Chapters of Marxism and Freedom, 1952-57

  • 4. Ferdinand Lassalle: State Socialist, and The 1850s — Years of Reaction, and Proudhonism.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11860.pdf

    Probably written March, 1956. Two fragments from a chapter then called “Theoretic Interlude.” Parts of this document were used in Chapters 4 and 5 of M&F.

  • 5. Marx’s Capital and the Paris Commune.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11874.pdf

    Two drafts of what became Chapter 6 of M&F. The first draft was written in April, 1952, and published in the mimeographed bulletin, Correspondence (Vol. II No. 1, May 1, 1952). The second draft was probably written in April, 1956.

  • 7. The Logic and Scope of Volumes II and III of Capital (including Theories of Surplus Value).

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11921.pdf

    Written Aug. 22, 1956. A draft of what became Chapter 8 of M&F. Handnotes on the mss. are by Dunayevskaya.

  • 9. Lenin’s Will.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11953.pdf

    A brief article written in April, 1952 and published in the mimeographed bulletin, Correspondence (Vol. II, No. 2, May 15, 1952). Parts of this document were used in Chapter 12 of M&F.

  • 11. Part IV — The Problem of Our Day: State Capitalism vs. Freedom.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/11976.pdf

    Written October, 1956. A draft of three chapters of what was then Part IV: 1) “Russian State Capitalism vs. Workers’ Revolt”; 2) “Portrait of a Totalitarian”; 3) “The Beginning of the End of Russian Totalitarianism.” The second and third chapters written in fragmentary form only. These mss. used as Chapters 13, 14, and 15 of M&F.

  • C. Correspondence and Notes on the Writing of Marxism and Freedom February – December, 1955

  • 1. Dunayevskaya letter to Herbert Marcuse, written Feb. 12, 1955.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12036.pdf

    Suggests meeting in New York to discuss dialectics; tells Marcuse she “had been working for same time on the Absolute Idea, Absolute Knowledge, Absolute Mind.” (This letter and most of the other correspondence between Dunayevskaya and Marcuse can also be found in Vol. XII of this collection. They are included here because of their significance in the development of Marxism and Freedom.)

  • 3. Dunayevskaya letter to Marcuse, written April 3, 1955.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12038.pdf

    Asks about prospects for publishing a work on Marx and Marxism; says “twin poles of (such a work) must have automation at one end, and the absolute idea or freedom at the other end.”

  • 5. Dunayevskaya letter to Arthur Kunkin, written April 15, 1955.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12040.pdf

    On divergences between C.L.R. James and Dunayevskaya on philosophy in the 1940s; on the background of the current Marcuse-Dunayevskaya correspondence.

  • 6. Dunayevskaya letter to Will Lissner, written April 18, 1955.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12041.pdf

    On Dunayevskaya’s split with C.L.R. James and her plans for her book “on Marxism.” For a more extended discussion of “the book on Marxism” in April 1955, see Dunayevskaya’s report to the first Conference of News and Letters Committees (#2410).

  • 7. Dunayevskaya letter to “Editing Chairmen” (of News & Letters),

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12042.pdf

    written April 23, 1955. Draft of “Two Pages of Today’s History that have shown the way to Freedom.” An article on the 1953 East Berlin workers’ revolt and the revolt at the Vorkuta labor camp inside Russia. Portions of this article were used in Chapter 15 of M&F.

  • 11. Marcuse letter to Dunayevskaya, written June 22, 1955.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12051.pdf

    Reports reading Dunayevskaya’s 1947 draft outline on “State Capitalism and Marxism;” denies “immediate” connection between “philosophy and praxis.”

  • 13. Dunayevskaya letter to Chaulieu (Cornelius Castoriadis), written July 14, 1955.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12054.pdf

    Reports on her work on the book; sends him her 1953 Letters on Hegel’s Absolutes; asks for Chronique of Marx’s life.

  • 14. Dunayevskaya letter to “all local committees,” written July 28, 1955.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12055.pdf

    On preparations for her national tour to discuss ideas for the book; on “the opportunity to write the book as a collective effort.”

  • 18. Topics during 1955 lecture tour.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12060.pdf

    A one-page outline of subjects of Dunayevskaya’s speeches, types of lecture-groups, and universities at which Dunayevskaya spoke during her 1955 tour. Written Nov., 1955.

  • 19. Foreword to Philosophic Notes.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12061.pdf

    Introduction by Dunayevskaya to first pamphlet issued by News and Letters Committees, a mimeographed edition of Lenin’s “Abstract of Hegel’s Science of Logic” and Dunayevskaya’s 1953 Letters on Hegel’s Absolutes. “Foreword” written Nov. 1955. (For the text of the entire pamphlet, see #2431).

  • 22. Dunayevskaya letter to Russell Potter, written Dec. 18, 1955.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12067.pdf

    Encloses first outline of book “tentatively called Marxism and Freedom,” as well as 1944-45 articles in American Economic Review; asks for assistance in presenting mss. to publishers.

  • D. Correspondence, Presentations, and Notes on the Writing of Marxism and Freedom, January 1956 – December 1956

  • 1. Presentation by Dunayevskaya on first News and Letters Committees pamphlet, Philosophic Notes.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12069.pdf

    Speech given Jan., 1956 to Detroit committee. Transcript of speech was not edited or corrected by Dunayevskaya. Includes extended discussion of Lenin’s “Abstract of Hegel’s Science of Logic.”

  • 4. Dunayevskaya letter to Joseph Buttinger, written April 7, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12089.pdf

    On prospects for publishing contracts; sends drafts of sections of book on “The Great Divide in Marxism” and “State Capitalism and Workers’ Revolt.”

  • 6. Olga Domanski letter to Dunayevskaya, written April 21, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12091.pdf

    Reports on discussion in West Virginia with miners and miners’ wives, on the last chapter of M&F. Quotations from participants in this meeting appear in the Introduction to M&F and in what became Chapter 16. Also included here is a typed transcript of part of the discussion at that meeting.

  • 7. Translator’s Introductory Note and An Exchange of Letters on Hegel’s Absolute Idea.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12098.pdf

    Two introductions by Dunayevskaya, written for the second edition of the pamphlet, Philosophic Notes. Probably written April, 1956.

  • 11. Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Friends,” written May 18, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12105.pdf

    Reports completion of what became Chapter 1 of M&F, on “The French Revolution and Classical German Philosophy.” Discusses divergent views of C.L.R. James and Dunayevskaya on Hegelian dialectics; on the dialectic as the method of the Absolute.

  • 12. Dunayevskaya letter to Meyer Schapiro, written June 20, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12107.pdf

    Re-states the aim of M&F; asks for a loan to continue her writing work. During this period Dunayevskaya was preparing for the first Convention of News and Letters Committees. For documents from that Convention which relate to her work on M&F, see #2554-2592.

  • 14. Olga Domanski letter to Dunayevskaya, written July 29, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12109.pdf

    Extensive commentary on Chapter 1 of M&F, with emphasis on Dunayevskaya’s view of Hegel’s Absolutes and “our age of absolutes.” Also included is Domanski’s presentation on Chapter 1 to West Virginia local of News and Letters Committees, given June, 1956.

  • 15. Dunayevskaya letter to Saul Blackman, written Aug. 1, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12124.pdf

    Describes her first days of work in Pennsylvania on the book. Reports finishing the chapter on Marx’s early essays; says she has changed her mind about the appendices, and will now include her translations of Marx’s 1844 essays.

  • 16. Dunayevskaya letter to Saul Blackman, written Aug. 6, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12125.pdf

    Encloses chapter just completed on the “Organizational Interlude” of the Second International; describes her daily work schedule. Included with this letter is an unfinished letter to Olga Domanski, written Aug. 4, 1956, on Chapter 1 as “the key to the book,” and to “the problems of the age.” Discusses her process of thinking about the Second International. The letter to Domanski was enclosed in the letter to Blackman.

  • 21. Dunayevskaya letter to Saul Blackman, written Oct. 10, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12132.pdf

    Sends three chapters on Stalinist Russia, which grew from its original draft of one chapter. Includes also a “Postscript” (written Oct. 14, 1956), on “proving” the Absolute Idea vs. “creating” a dialectic which “thereby ‘proves’ the Absolute Idea.” Contrasts her view to that of both C.L.R. James and Marcuse.

  • 22. Dunayevskaya letter to members of News and Letters Committees, written Oct. 18, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12134.pdf

    On her new translation of “Private Property and Communism” and “Critique of the Hegelian Dialectic” from Marx’s Early Essays; contrasts her translation to that of Grace Lee (Boggs).

  • 23. Dunayevskaya letter to Bess Gogol, written Oct. 20, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12136.pdf

    On the relationship between where Marx stopped in his “Critique of the Hegelian Dialectic,” and where Dunayevskaya’s Letter of May 20, 1953 — on Hegel’s Philosophy of Mind — begins.

  • 25. Dunayevskaya letter to Olga Domanski, written Oct. 25, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12138.pdf

    On Domanski’s assignment to write an article for News & Letters on “stratification of workers” as “political-theoretical analysis.” Also included is Domanski’s response, written to Saul Blackman about Oct. 30, 1956.

  • 26. Dunayevskaya letter to Olga Domanski, written Nov. 2, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12143.pdf

    On the concept of stratification of the working class in Lenin and in Marx; includes an extract from Marx’s speech to 1871 London conference of the International Workingmen’s Association -translated by Dunayevskaya — on the trade unions as “an aristocratic minority.” This discussion appears in Chapter 11 of M&F.

  • 28. Dunayevskaya letter to members of News and Letters Committees, written Nov. 20, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12147.pdf

    Reports that “the book is finished!”; relates the 1953 East German workers’ revolt to the ongoing Hungarian Revolution.

  • 31. Alexander Ehrlich letter to Dunayevskaya, written Dec. 24, 1956.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12152.pdf

    Detailed comments on the draft chapters of M&F on Russian state-capitalism vs. workers’ revolt. For a letter from E.H. Carr on draft chapters of M&F, written Dec. 21, 1956, see #2593.

  • E. Correspondence and Notes on the Writing of Marxism and Freedom February 1957 – December 1957

  • 9. Dunayevskaya to “Dear Friends,” written June 8, 1957.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12174.pdf

    On promoting the new book; sums up “its unusual character in discussion of Chapter 11, on the relationship of ‘spontaneous self-organization’ to the ‘so-called vanguard party.’”

  • 11. Dunayevskaya to Olga Domanski, written June 23, 1957.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12179.pdf

    On Mao’s speech “On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People;” on Hegel’s discussion of “Spirit in Self-Estrangement” as illuminating Mao’s direction. During this period, Dunayevskaya composed footnotes on Mao which were later added to the galley proofs of M&F.

  • 13. Dunayevskaya letter to Olga Domanski and Andy Phillips, written July 22 (?), 1957.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12183.pdf

    Handwritten note accompanying copy of Marcuse’s Preface; Dunayevskaya says Marcuse “sums up all the objections.”

  • 14. Dunayevskaya letter to Saul Blackman, written July 26, 1957.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12185.pdf

    On the ramifications of the publication of M&F for organization; projects concept that “organization of thought determines organizational life.” Included here also is Dunayevskaya’s letter to Blackman written Aug. 5, 1957, which continues this discussion.

  • 16. Joseph Buttinger to Dunayevskaya, written Sept. 4, 1957.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12188.pdf

    On Marcuse’s Preface; finds it a ‘confirmation of the views you developed.’ In this same week, Dunayevskaya, presented her views on “The American Roots of Marxism in the World Today and Our Development.” She projected that “Marxism and Freedom will become the polarizing force for the new movement, Marxist-Humanism.” See #2596 for the text of this document.

  • 17. Dunayevskaya to “Dear Friends,” written Oct. 16, 1957.

    link to PDF file: http://rayadunayevskaya.org/raya/ArchivePDFs/12189.pdf

    Final proofs of the book and Index sent in. Dunayevskaya reports adding footnotes on Mao Tse-tung and Milovan Djilas; quotes new final paragraph added to Chapter 16 on Little Rock, Arkansas, school desegregation battle.