I have some probably dumb questions to ask about marxism and wasn’t sure where to go. Is there like a ask marxists or debate marxists forum? Anyway
What and how many branches of marxism want state socialism during the socialist transition period before Communism? I was under the impression that all (or most) leninists wanted state socialism during this period. I have since been told that Trotskyists don’t want this. Is this correct if so what do they want instead? How does this all relate to vanguardism?
Furthermore how does marxism define a state? Is this different from how other groups define statehood?
I still don’t fully grasp the difference between marxists and anarchists. I thought the difference was mainly that anarchists don’t want a state, and encourage mutual aid. Now that I hear not all marxists want a state I am pretty confused.
It is always interesting to me that for most people the state always has to be a large centralized entity.
Marxists and anarchists believe that the ‘state’ in political science terms is any entity that can legalize the use of violence as a method of compliance. And that can mean any number of things, including financial dispossession (though not terms such as emotional violence, as those are not quantifiable material (at least as of me writing this)), but usually is the backstopped with physical force and deprivation.
Marxists are not morally relativist, we just believe that moral calculation for action is not as easy as deontological statements or utilitarian calculations, mostly because we disagree that those standards are, in fact, universal or have been applied in a universal manner historically. Perhaps relativist is the right word, but I’ve always found “historically particular” or “morally contextual” to be a more useful terms. Marxists believe, much like Hegelians that people naturally seek to be liberated, just that morally we must seek to create the material.conditions that allow for freedom, and not assume that it will arise out of thin air. Saying Marxists don’t have a reason to exist and act is an absurd statement. There is only this life, this world, this perception, so we must fight as best we can to improve our conditions within it. To live is to struggle.
As for your statement on nihilism and solipsism, that is correct, yet to assume meaninglessness is also logically fraught, and most absurdists, existentialists and nihilists are living the partially examined life, examining their lives and what makes it worth living and how to expand and share those things with others. Even the absurdist comic is compelled to post and make a fool of themselves. Even the ubermensch values the power of society to make their will reality. Even the existentialist can find solace in a Christian God. Even the nihilist doesn’t say to themselves, I will kill myself on a coin flip, because it doesn’t matter anyway.’
Humans are sensual rational beings. Not perfectly rational, and most of our rationality is post-hoc at best with imperfect information, but we absolutely have the capability for considered, effective, action. Perhaps someday we will use it. I’m not holding my breath, but there are good things coming.