The Analytical Foundations of Contemporary Political Economy: A Comment on Hunt

I do not disagree with E. K. Hunt’s admirable description of analytical Marxism, nor do I differ strongly with his characterization of its differences with traditional Marxism. These differences are deep and fundamental, to the point that rational choice Marxism can indeed be considered hostile to many of traditional Marxism ‘ s most basic tenets. In this essay I will neither attempt to defend analytical Marxism against Hunt’s critique nor will I endorse this critique. I am not analytical Marxist, although I have sympathy with some of its positions. Nor am I a traditional Marxist, having made my peace with Marxism in my joint work with Samuel Bowles, Democracy and Capitalism: Property, Community, and the Contradictions of Modern Social Thought (1986). Marxism, I believe, has given us many important insights into the operation of society, but has no monopoly on truth.