Kostas Papaioannou between Marxism and Liberty
Abstract
This article provides a critical overview of the intellectual legacy of Kostas Papaioannou, framing human liberty as the central axis of his political thought. The author explores Papaioannou's multifaceted relationship with Marxism, describing how he utilized a deep knowledge of the material to either deconstruct its central arguments or turn them against Soviet-style totalitarianism. The study highlights Papaioannou's philosophical roots in Hegelianism and Ancient Greek thought, which allowed him to critique Marx's "oriental mode of production" and historical determinism with greater empirical accuracy than Marx himself. Furthermore, Meletopoulos analyzes Papaioannou's scathing critique of Leninism and Stalinism, which he viewed as systems that replaced class struggle with the absolute monopoly of a "new class"—the state bureaucracy. Ultimately, the paper portrays Papaioannou as an independent thinker who offered a humanist, Enlightenment-based alternative to the messianic and totalitarian traps of 20th-century ideology.
Article Details
- How to Cite
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Meletopoulos, M. (2023). Kostas Papaioannou between Marxism and Liberty . Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (16-17), 146–163. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.33683
- Issue
- No. 16-17 (2023)
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- Articles
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