'species Being' In Marx

[boxinghefner]

In the early writings of Marx (the economic and philosophical manuscripts for example) Marx utilises a particular conception of Species-being influenced strongly by Feuerbach. Within this conception man relates to himself as an inherent social being and thus a species being.This may relate to the social character of capital creation within capitalism.

There also seems to be the suggestion that man relates to himself as a species-being within objects; the externalisation of the species-being seems to be the objecitification of the species-being. However, in a dialectical way, Marx seems to suggest this is a positive process - because it is in the nulification of self-consciousness, it is the objectified externalisation of self that provides man the possibility to understand this process as an abstration away from his true species being.

What's your understanding of species-being? Is mine correct? Did any of that make sense? Your input please! I use the term 'man' for ease of use only.

Thanks

x

[boxinghefner]

no takers eh?

I know this topic has been discussed in reference to an early/late distinction in Marxist thought though I think a thread devoted to this alone would better enable a 'synthesis' of thought between the two - I don't think the distinction is helpful. Anywho