Marxist vs. Marxian

[Skyhilist]

How exactly should the two be used differently?

[Comrade #138672]

I don't think there is a difference in meaning. It's just a different way of writing.

[LOLseph Stalin]

I have generally seen "Marxian" used when referring to Marx's economic system, but "Marxist" when referring to the ideology of a communist.

[Blake's Baby]

However, the SPGB and probably the Socialist Party of Canada tend to use the term 'Marxian' as most Marxists would use the term 'Marxist' - to describe the political philosophy of scientific socialism as expounded by Marx and Engels.

[Kalinin's Facial Hair]

Marxian refers to Marx himself. And Marxist to his followers (Lenin, Gramsci, Luxembourg etc).


I've always used/heard it this way.

[Rafiq]

Marxians do not identify as marxists but are heavily influenced by Marx in whatever field they adhere to, whether it be anthropology, psychology or economics. But only so much to the point where Marx is among others, Freud, Keynes and not an exclusive interest.

Classical Marxists adhere only to Marx and Engels while Bourgeois humanists adhere only to marx

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[Lucretia]

Marxian is an adjective. A Marxist is a noun.

[The Idler]

"Marxist" elevates Marx as special and his ideas in a way they're treated to different standards.
"Marxian" does not.

[Zanthorus]

"Marxist" elevates Marx as special and his ideas in a way they're treated to different standards.

No it doesn't, you can be a Marxist and still retain the ability to think critically. Marx was not wrong by default.

[The Idler]

If you're scientific you will use Marxian in the same way as Darwinian is applied to evolution or Newtonian is applied to physics.

[cantwealljustgetalong]

this squabble is exactly why 'Marxian' is used. 'Marxism' has certainly garnered a reputation in the mainstream for being a dogmatic, closed system of thought, regardless of whether it is or not. even as a Marxist, it's hard not to agree that many self-described 'Marxists' are wrapped up in idol worship and virtue ethics of some kind even today. I don't blame social scientists, specifically popularizers like Wolff (who takes more liberties with Marxism than just terminology), for describing their work in this way.

[Lord Hargreaves]

"Marxian" refers to the ideas and writings of Karl Marx. "Marxist" is the revolutionary tradition that started with Marx, but cannot be reduced to Marx.

A "Marxist" may have ideas which are not strictly speaking Marx's own but which still have a strong family resemblance, because it is an evolved intellectual tradition with a history.

Gramsci was a Marxist because the themes of his writings and his thought were very strongly Marxian; but, he was also influenced by Italian culture, by Croce and Machiavelli, in a way Marx wasn't. Thus, "Marxist". He was also his own man.

There can be a "Marxian" analysis of the law of the tendency of the rate of profit to fall, but only a "Marxist" analysis of the 2008 economic crash (for example)

[TiberiusGracchus]

How exactly should the two be used differently?

Marxian is german. Followers of german philosophers are generally called -ians; kantians, lutherians, jungians, freudians, hegelians, weberians...

Marxist is french. Followers of french philosophy are generally called -ists; structuralists, existentialists, postmodernists...

Sure, Marx was a german philosopher, but it was a group of french followers who first began calling themselves marxists (which Marx didn't appreciate - not that he would have prefered marxians) so that's why we commonly say marxists and not marxians.

Those who do call themselves marxians are often academics and it's plausible that most of them do so because they want to differ themselves from much of the marxist political tradition.

[Blake's Baby]

I think 'Marxian' was maybe more normal in British English at, for instance, the time the SPGB was set up (1904, before WWI when German things became unfashionable). I do think the distinction between 'Marxian' and 'Marxist' has a lot to do with differences between German and French (if it's understood that for all practical purposes here, 'English' can be regarded as a particularly successful dialect of German). I suspect 'Marxist' didn't come into regular (British) English usage until the 1920s or even 1930s, under the influence of French.