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Selections from the Prison Notebooks

Gramsci, Antonio
Publisher:  International Publishers, New York, USA
Year Published:  1973   First Published:  1951
Pages:  483pp   ISBN:  07187-0397-X
Dewey:  320.533
Resource Type:  Book

Gramsci's Notebooks cover a wide range of subjects including history, culture, politics, and philosophy.

Abstract:  A selection of texts, from the Notebooks written by Gramsci in prison between 1929 and 1935, translated into English. The texts cover a wide range of subjects including history, culture, politics, and philosophy. The book is divided into three main sections, "Problems of History and Culture," "Note on Politics," and "The Philosophy of Praxis," which are further divided into sub-sections. Part one contains the sub-sections "The Intellectuals," "On Education," and "Notes on Italian History." Part two is divided into "The Modern Prince," "State and Civil Society," and "Americanism and Fordism," and Part three has two sections titled "The Study of Philosophy" and "Problems of Marxism." Each sub-section has a detailed individual introduction in addition to the book's general introduction which gives "a brief outline of the political and intellectual experience which formed, inevitably, the background to and the point of departure for Gramsci's writing during his imprisonment". Individual chapters contain explanatory notes by English editors and translators as well as Gramsci's own notes.

[Abstract by Nabeeha Chaudhary]



Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

I. PROBLEMS OF HISTORY AND CULTURE

1. The Intellectuals
Introduction
The Formation of the Intellectuals
The Different Position of urban and Rural-Type Intellectuals

2. On Education
Introduction
The Organisation of Education and Culture
In Search of the Educational principle

3. Notes on Italian History
Introduction
History of the Subaltern Classes: Methodological Criteria
The Problem of Political Leadership in the Formation and Development of the Nation and the modern State in Italy
The City-Countryside Relationship
The Moderates and the Intellectuals
The Function of Piedmont
The Concept of Passive Revolution
First Epilogue
Material for a Critical Essay on Croce's Two Histories
The History of Europe seen as "Passive Revolution"

II NOTES ON POLITICS

1. The Modern Prince
Introduction
Brief Notes on Machiavelli's Politics
Machiavelli and Marx
Politics as an Autonomous Science
Elements of Politics
The Political party
Conceptions of the World and Practical Stances
Some Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Economism
Prediction and Perspective
Economic-Corporate Phase of the State
Analysis of Situation. Relations of Force
On Bureaucracy
The Theorem of Fixed Proportions
Number and Quality in Representative Systems of Government
Continuity and Tradition
Spontaneity and Conscious Leadership
Against Byzantinism
The Collective Worker
Voluntarism and Social Masses

2. State and Civil Society
Introduction
Political Parties in Periods of Organic Crisis
Caesarism
The Fable of the Beaver
Agitation and Propaganda
The "Philosophy of "Epoch"
Political Struggle and Military War
The Transition from the War of Manoeuvre (Frontal Attack) to the War of Position
Politics and Military Science
Internationalism and National Policy
Problems of the "Collective Man" or of "Social Conformism"
Sociology and Political Science
Hegemony (Civil Society) and Separation of Powers
The Conception of Law
Parliament and the State
Self-criticism and the Hypocrisy of Self-criticism
The State
Organisation of National Societies
Who is a Legislator?
Religion, State, Party
State and Parties
Statolatry
"Merits" of the Ruling Classes
Historical Belles-Letters
"Subversive"
"Wave of Materialism" and Crisis of Authority"

3. Americanism and Fordism
Introduction
Americanism and Fordism
Rationalisation and the Demographic Composition of Europe
Super-City and Super-Country
Financial Autarky of Industry
Some Aspects of the Sexual Question
Feminism and "Masculinism"
"Animality" and Industrialism
Rationalisation of Production and Work
Taylor and Americanism
Quantity and Quality
Taylorism and Mechanisation of the Worker
High Wages
Shares, Debentures and government Bonds
American and European Civilisation

III. THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRAXIS

1. The Study of Philosophy
Introduction
Some Preliminary Points of Reference
Problems of Philosophy and History

2. Problems of Marxism
Introduction
Some Problems in the Study of the Philosophy of Praxis
Critical Notes on an Attempt at Popular Sociology

INDEX


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