I’m planning to write a monograph about every mention of Marx in “Who Shall Survive?”
And I’ll put each section here as a blog post. Tag: Monograph. Here is the Intro.
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Marx in Moreno’s Who Shall Survive?
About this Monograph
I aim to explore every mention of Marx, Marxism, Lenin, or communism in Who Shall Survive? (Moreno, 1978).
For many years, I’ve embraced and been held by both Marx’s and Moreno’s methodologies, and indeed, this monograph may become biographical at times. I’m not writing to primarily to compare Marx and Moreno or philosophize about them—I’m on a deeper quest. Somewhere in this intersection, I believe, lies a way to be both socially and psychologically active at the same time. I envisage a path forward, waiting to be revealed. Might the distinction between the two dissolve entirely? Marx isn’t opposed to psychology, and Moreno certainly advocates for social revolution. They’re close but don’t understand each other. I aim to bridge the gap.
And not just in writing – one thing Moreno & Marx share is praxis. Ideas and action.
Moreno often conflates Marx with Stalinism, which distorts his view. He struggles to see Lenin clearly as well.
Both Marx and Moreno are revolutionaries. Their differences will become clear in this exploration. I have questions that I think will become clear as I work my way through this project. For example: Moreno interprets Marx as seeing two distinct spheres—an economic one and a psychological one, just like he does.
On this question I am of the same opinion as Susan Rosenthal and Patricia Campbell:
“In reality, there is only one sphere, capitalism, that we experience socially and individually — one sphere with one solution. The liberal emphasis on personal choice hides the impact of capitalism as a social system and deflects workers from our common class interests.”
(Rosenthal and Campbell, 2016)
And here is more to this question. If there is one overarching sphere, where does the psyche fit in? I look forward to diving into Moreno’s take and adding to the discussion including third party input.
And is psychodrama holding itself back? And socialism too? Does Marx need Moreno and Moreno need Marx? – I’m sure of it.
How can humans find harmony with nature and with each other? Harmony is a good word. It has a sense of music, dance and relationship. That vision is not just my vision. That vision exists in the world. It is a social vision, a social force.
So these a a few of the explorations I look forward delving into to as I begin this monograph
References
Moreno, J. L. (1978). Who Shall Survive? Foundations of Sociometry, Group Psychotherapy and Sociodrama. Beacon House. Beacon N.Y.
Rosenthal, S. and Campbell, P. (2016). Marxism and Psychology. ReMarx Publishing. Kindle Edition.