Academia.eduAcademia.edu

Abstracciones,pdf

2015, Representaciones

Abstract

The opening of Marx's "Method of the political economy" (1857) offers a paradoxical argument: "It would seem to be the proper thing to start with the real and concrete elements, (...) to start in the sphere of economy with population (...) however, that this is wrong." Shall we then start with the ideal and abstract? Althussers'answer to this question has been to distinguish three kinds of concepts, according to their function in the "theoretical practice" (raw material, instruments and scientific product). We will evaluate Althusser solution (a) as a way of ellucidating the paradox, and (b) as a way of clarify the complex relationships between ideology and science.