Theory and History

Theory and History is primarily a critique of Karl Marx, his materialism, and his prediction of the inevitability of socialism. Marx attributes the creation of tools and machines, as well as the economic structure of society, to undefined "material productive forces." Mises rejects this materialistic view; he points out that tools and machines are actually created by individuals acting on the basis of non-materialistic ideas. This book discusses the theory of economics, i.e., the study of purposive human action, and history, the record of the past actions of individuals. Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) was the leading spokesman of the Austrian School of economics throughout most of the twentieth century. Bettina Bien Greaves is a former resident scholar and trustee of the Foundation for Economic Education and was a senior staff member at FEE from 1951 to 1999.

Theory and History is primarily a critique of Karl Marx, his materialism, and his prediction of the inevitability of socialism. Marx attributes the creation of tools and machines, as well as the economic structure of society, to undefined "material productive forces." Mises rejects this materialistic view; he points out that tools and machines are actually created by individuals acting on the basis of non-materialistic ideas. This book discusses the theory of economics, i.e., the study of purposive human action, and history, the record of the past actions of individuals. Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) was the leading spokesman of the Austrian School of economics throughout most of the twentieth century. Bettina Bien Greaves is a former resident scholar and trustee of the Foundation for Economic Education and was a senior staff member at FEE from 1951 to 1999.

First published in 1997, the aim of this book is to look at the historical materialism of E.P. Thompson while introducing him as a political thinker of distinction. The study examines many aspects of Thompson’s life and work to give a comprehensive statement on his theory of historical change. It surveys the intellectual background from which he emerged; the core values of socialist humanism as understood by his generation of the Left; his contribution to history from below; his critique of structuralist Marxism; and his practical input to political dissent. The scope of this study covers fifty years of socialist polemics and offers an insight into the battles which were fought out between the old and new Left until the collapse of command-economy communism in 1989. Throughout the work of Thompson is presented as a testimony to a lineage of social thinkers as well as to the ideal of the common weal much cherished by radical practitioners of the past.

First published in 1997, the aim of this book is to look at the historical materialism of E.P. Thompson while introducing him as a political thinker of distinction. The study examines many aspects of Thompson’s life and work to give a comprehensive statement on his theory of historical change. It surveys the intellectual background from which he emerged; the core values of socialist humanism as understood by his generation of the Left; his contribution to history from below; his critique of structuralist Marxism; and his practical input to political dissent. The scope of this study covers fifty years of socialist polemics and offers an insight into the battles which were fought out between the old and new Left until the collapse of command-economy communism in 1989. Throughout the work of Thompson is presented as a testimony to a lineage of social thinkers as well as to the ideal of the common weal much cherished by radical practitioners of the past.