In Part 6 of our series "From Dawn to Decadence," we examine the intellectual trajectory and eventual "decay" of the Aufheben collective. This episode explores the group's early contributions to Marxist theory, their critique of the state, and the internal contradictions that led to their decline.
We dive deep into the specific criticisms leveled by the Aufhebung Collective against previous thinkers, including their critiques of Rosa Luxemburg's "objectivism" and the perceived "automaticity" of capitalist collapse. We also discuss how their work interacts with broader Marxist debates on over-accumulation, under-consumption, and the role of the state in managing the "common ruin" of society.

Key Topics Discussed:
The Roots of Aufheben: How the collective emerged within the landscape of radical Marxist theory.
Critique of Luxemburgism: Why Aufheben rejected theories of automatic economic collapse in favor of a more nuanced understanding of class struggle.
The Decay of Theory: Analyzing the shifts in the collective’s perspective that signaled a move away from their original radical foundations.
Theoretical Implications: How these debates on the "highest stage" of capitalism and the "rentier state" remain relevant in today's shifting global landscape.

Link:  https://files.libcom.org/files/Aufheben-%20Decadence.pdf

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Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
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