Can Biography Benefit from a Marxist Theory of Individuality? Lucien Sève's Contribution to Biographical Theory and Practice. Issue 2 (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roche, Julian
• Is Part Of: Rethinking Marxism. Volume 30:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 291
• Page End: 306
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Biography -- Marxism -- Personality -- Psychology -- Lucien Sève; Communism -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 335.4305
• DOI: 10.1080/08935696.2018.1502312
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0893-5696

Abstract

Abstract : This essay examines the theory of personality compatible with Marxism developed by the French Marxist philosopher Lucien Sève, including his view of how a Marxist biography should be written and how actual biographies should be evaluated. The conclusion is that Marxist biography should be distinctive and that Sève has presented a plausible sketch of what a Marxist biography should look like. But he has also laid down an incredibly difficult set of criteria for success that even Marxists fail to satisfy in their biographical writing. Unsurprisingly, no one fulfills, or perhaps ever could, all the criteria of such a biography, however potentially worthwhile the effort.