Ecology and Historical Materialism

This book challenges the widely-held view that Marxism is unable to deal adequately with environmental problems. Jonathan Hughes considers the nature of environmental problems, and the evaluative perspectives that may be brought to bear on them. He examines Marx’s critique of Malthus, his method, and his materialism, interpreting the latter as a recognition of human dependence on nature. Central to the book’s argument is an interpretation of the ‘development of the productive forces’ which takes account of the differing ecological impacts of different productive technologies while remaining consistent with the normative and explanatory roles that this concept plays within Marx’s theory. Turning finally to Marx’s vision of a society founded on the communist principle ‘to each according to his needs’, the author concludes that the underlying notion of human need is one whose satisfaction presupposes only a modest and ecologically feasible expansion of productive output.

• Original defence of Marxism against criticisms from the environmental movement • There is quite a lot of interest in the relationship between Red and Green politics • Of interest to those working on Marxism and/or the environment in philosophy, politics, or sociology departments

Introduction; 1. Ecological problems: definition and evaluation; 2. Marxism and green Malthusians; 3. Marxism and the ecological method; 4. Historical materialism: locating society in nature; 5. Development of the productive forces; 6. Capitalism, socialism and the satisfaction of needs; Conclusion.