Did the Occult Influence Karl Marx and Early Communism?

Marxism has transformed the world, for better and for worse. But what lies are the root of the philosophy of Karl Marx? Are there occult roots to what became world Communism? This episode explores to what degree, if any, hermetic ideas from Hegelian Idealism came to influence Marx. What about Kabbalah or other Esoteric currents?
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New to Studying Esotericism? Check out my Reading Guide here - docs.google.com/document/d/1c...
Recommended Readings:
Rosenthal - The Occult in Russian and Soviet Culture
amzn.to/4b1TqRV
Magee - Hegel and the Hermetic Tradition
amzn.to/4dn4TwU
Goodrick-Clarke - The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology
amzn.to/4b3aPda
Goodrick-Clarke - Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity
amzn.to/3WkKBOu
Hanegraaff - Esotericism and the Academy: Rejected Knowledge in Western Culture
amzn.to/3JEs7Bd

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Consider Supporting Esoterica! Patreon - www.patreon.com/esotericachannel Paypal Donation - www.paypal.me/esotericachannel Merch - kzbin.info/door/oydhtfFSk1fZXNRnkGnneQstore New to Studying Esotericism? Check out my Reading Guide here - docs.google.com/document/d/1caKNlW7sogEF7lAeYNbOQF9pt5O5b70yAXa-icUJO3o/edit

[@Misko.filipovic]

Could you make a video about Haitian Vodou in general?It has an interesting pantheon,practices and history considering its a blend of Catholicism,the indigenous folk religion and the African Vodun.Its a shame that the rest of the world only known it for its magic practices which of course includes zombies

[@YouTubdotCub]

Have you read Ian Wright's article Marx on Capital as a Real God and its sequel Dark Eucharist of the Real God? I feel like they would be INCREDIBLE grist for the mill for an ESOTERICA video and if not, I think you'd REALLY enjoy them.

[@MrGksarathy]

One thing that interests me greatly is your bit about Marxist apocalyptic theology and how it differs greatly from my own conception of the Marxist class struggle. Of course, I do hold to some extent to that idea that the final revolution, however that happens, must be violently apocalyptic, I never viewed the struggle as building up towards a final, Book of Revelations type battle. Instead, I have always conceived of it as this cyclical back and forth between labor and capital akin to the struggle between the devas and asuras in Hinduism, with late-stage capitalism functioning more like a Kali Yuga period in which we more likely than not descend into fascism and then possibly come out the other side to start the cycle partially anew. This probably has to do with my Hindu upbringing as compared to the Christian context of a lot of these thinkers, but I think it really goes to show how much your religious upbringing is a potent material force in shaping your conception of reality and the ideas of others.

[@DemainIronfalcon]

So glad you appeared on Alex's channel I've found my homes now in you tube. So much to learn.. I'm excited, thankyou for exploring what I feel is lost knowledge awesome😎💯✌️

[@ban.zai01]

National socialism is not fas cism

[@thescoobymike]

We must seize the means of alchemy

[@supernimo739gaming7]

LOL

[@raskassputin7408]

I mean covens are kind of a union

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

United Alchemists 101

[@FoodNerds]

Sure do you have the money for the x-ray machines for it? 🤣🤣🤣

[@rmtheconsumer]

This is not a joke. Do we really believe the “powers” aren’t utilising esoteric, forbidden and ridiculed, technologies?

[@rexpowercolt5230]

If any other channel had a video with this title and thumbnail, I'd think it would be some quackery made to push views. So glad this channel exists to talk about the occult in scholarly terms.

[@MrMarlowe3488]

same honestly wild how quick i clicked a video with this title

[@BH-wh2vo]

Not looking forward to what it does to my recommended feed lol

[@b.6603]

I think this may be the only channel where such a combination is possible

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

​@@BH-wh2vo sorry!

[@oneoflokis]

@TheEsotericaChannel Why be sorry, learned sir? 🙂👍

[@CJ-nv6yw]

"Maybe it's you. Maybe it's Maybelline. But it's definitely false consciousness." Incredible.

[@delroku]

Esoteric Marxist analysis? It really IS my birthday

[@smavi4133]

OUR birthday!

[@joeneedstosleep]

Happy Birthday, and (further to the video at hand) Happy International Workers' Day!!

[@corinaelenaradulescu6450]

Tanti auguri a te Delroku ❤! Ti auguro con tutta gioia e volontà Vita lunga è prosperità! Sii benedetto ovunque ! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@artemismoonbow2475]

Born on May Day Comrade? You may just be the messiah we've been waiting for. :)

[@eyuchez]

Congrats, magical comrade!

[@ashleydewing1420]

History, philosophy, and RELIGIONISTHEOPIATEOFTHEMASSES. The comedic timing here is getting better and better! Hoping for an extremely niche comedy set here soon.

[@estebanrodriguez5409]

great ending

[@JeremyPatMartin]

His sense of humor is refreshing. His image captions are so entertaining. He has the perfect alchemical mix of serious and silly

[@estebanrodriguez5409]

@@whatabouttheearth People hang up on the catchy parts. It's like how "God is dead" from Nietzsche gained so much popularity. But it happens EVERYWHERE, like how the whole Schrödinger's cat story is usually used to "explain" the exact opposite of what Erwin tried to say. Probably this doesn't need more explanation.

[@whatabouttheearth]

A great sage once said, "Shrodingers Bastet is dead because it took a cheerful dose of opiates" Threw a little bit of Benjamin Franklin in there, the quote was something like "I do apologize for missing the meeting of Congress the other morning, for I took a cheerful dose of opiates and slept in"

[@whatabouttheearth]

​​@@estebanrodriguez5409 A great sage once said, "Shrodingers Bastet is dead because it took a cheerful dose of opiates" Threw a little bit of Benjamin Franklin in there, the quote was something like "I do apologize for missing the meeting of Congress the other morning, for I took a cheerful dose of opiates and slept in"

[@CindyBallreich]

Another wonderful episode, and I hope the Demiurgic Algorithm enjoys this tasty comment and drops a penny in your cup.

[@br.brandanodapetroio570]

thats your sophia, like literally named Sophia.

[@RedDuke777]

“Dollar Store phalangists”😅 You are a national treasure, Dr. Sledge.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

They don't even dress well, one of the only things fascism has going for it.

[@xunqianbaidu6917]

@@TheEsotericaChannel You do not, under any circumstances, gotta hand it to them

[@Jaylicelizpectre]

@@TheEsotericaChannel thinking about they might be giants here 😂

[@anndavejackash2984]

I thought it was Falangists. Falangism: authoritarian conservative political movement in Francoist Spain. (wiki). A Phalangist is a member of the Lebanese Phalange party. Which might be what Justin actually meant. idk Sometimes Justin is just too brilliant for me.

[@whatabouttheearth]

​@@anndavejackash2984 Spelled with an Fa or a Pha. The one is related historically to the other.

[@reybot5125]

I absolutely LOVE the idea of Das Kapital as a gothic novel 😂

[@DinoCism]

I mean, it's got capitalist vampires and "dark satanic mills" so you're already halfway there.

[@joeydewiel1180]

@@moose7012 Recommend reading Jon Greenaway's "Capitalism: A Horror Story-Gothic Marxism and the Dark Side of the Radical Imagination."

[@positivepolitics1]

And David McNally's Monsters of the Market

[@reybot5125]

@@joeydewiel1180 well damn that seems interesting

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

I honestly can't segregate vampires and capitalists in my mind now. Even if the history shows vampires aren't an analogy for landlords, it's just too perfect a fit!

[@uncleobscurenobody8861]

All my 12 children sitting at the table with forks and knives in their hands, pounding their fists chanting "DOC-TOR SLEDGE, DOC-TOR SLEDGE"

[@ElGlaz]

great topic and nice video! I'd might add that there's actually a section in the Grundrisse where Marx speaks about the power of the money-form of capital as a sort of "black magic that throw men and goods into the alchemical retort to make gold", that evaporate all the "relations and illusions that slow the bourgeios mode of production". Greetings from Chile

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

You're totally right can't believe I forgot that one! Have you even been reading Harvey's book on the text. Oh well, even monkeys fall from trees

[@ElGlaz]

@@TheEsotericaChannel You already did a great breakdown of the obscure gothic themes in Capital, enjoyable content as always. You also quoted Debord, which makes me want to see you explore the esoteric hegelian marxism of The Society of Spectacle, that would be awsome. Love your stuff, your response made my day, cheers.

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

@@ElGlaz The Society of the Spectacle is quite the brain-bender, it feels like reification run amok but it's meticulous, if loaded with jargon.

[@agender7052]

yeah I was waiting for this exact quote to pop up! the Grundrisse is my favourite work of his and when I clicked play I was like "he is definitely dropping that fire bar from the Grundrisse about black magic and alchemy"

[@diegoperezsommariva2509]

Wena bro

[@urielgutierreztapia3113]

I think "The Theological Metaphors of Marx" by Enrique Dussel is an interesting reading about the religious and theological terminology Marx uses in Capital

[@drrbrt]

Thank you! Great reference.

[@agender7052]

seconding Dussel! my favourite disciple of Levinas

[@comradeghostboi7989]

what do you like about it?

[@thedanieljason]

Ohhh man, the idea of regular May Day episodes on esoteric labor history warms my Wobbly heart

[@PopularWobbly]

Esoteric wobbly ritual to make an injury to one a literal injury to all

[@technodruid]

You had me at the esoteric history of anarchy

[@tylerclark2481]

Very disappointed that Bigfoot's contribution to the Russian Revolution was ignored; his use of Solomonic Magic was instrumental in securing the end of the monarchy.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Not to mention the Vril Atlantis Ninja Kabbalah.

[@FoodNerds]

That is dry comedy gold!

[@FoodNerds]

@@TheEsotericaChannelNinja Kabala?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Only ashida Kim is the true master of ninja kabbalah

[@AC-dk4fp]

@@TheEsotericaChannel No there are plenty of others but you can only tell because like True Rosicrucians they're invisible.

[@sock2828]

I'd be really interested in an episode on Max Stirner. He had some pretty unusual philosophy and it seems to have been partially inspired by concepts from multiple religions

[@lanpartylandlord6123]

bump for max stirner

[@nyanwolf66]

bump

[@knightofavalon86]

I have never clicked a thumbnail faster holy shit

[@drrbrt]

St. Paul defined Mammon as "the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life," the very engine of capitalism. Your analysis of "false consciousness as demonic possession" is fascinating as hell.

[@fogsalmon]

Happy Bealtaine and International Workers' Day to those who celebrate either and/or both!

[@christophermackie1175]

Same to you pal!

[@StigFerrari]

1st May was the founding day of the Illuminati, As celebrated on the USD bill 🐐

[@ilowmusic]

"You got nothing to lose but your chains" Bless your soul sir for all you do to bring these varied and multitudinous topics together under a steady handed tutor's and teacher's approach.

[@loveless131]

Let the workers unite...to summon angels to tell us where buried treasure is.

[@cmacinc]

My friend and I were going to start a zine and the parallels between gnosticism and Marxism was my first topic! You win this time, Dr. Sledge!

[@oneoflokis]

Sounds like a good idea for a zine! Or a KZbin channel! 👍 Pray proceed... (I've always had a bit of an interest in Gnosticism: I "introduced" the Ophites to a friend a little while back (more like shoved them in his face to prove a point: for as a Lokean, I was right annoyed by his trite assumption, to the effect that: "I was only 'allowed' to see Loki as not a villain, through the lens of post-modernism". 🙄🙄 Like the "rebellious", "alternative" viewpoint is anything NEW 🙄, I retorted, and came up with the Ophites as an example, from my reading of Colin Wilson. 🙂) But overall, I've never really understood Gnosticism: though I noted that popular novelists such as Kate Mosse (and to a lesser extent, Dan Brown) made a thing of them in pop culture some years back. So I might appreciate some accessible content thereon.. 🙂

[@cmacinc]

@@oneoflokis If anything, it would probably be a mixture of History (friend is a history major), critical theory and esotericism/religion. Maybe some oddball film analysis too.

[@robertgreen7593]

God is a Fascist Dictator sounds like a song title, but needs some pseudo intellectual word substitution to hone it to perfection.

[@AC-dk4fp]

@@oneoflokis Funny I was allowed to see Loki as a non-villain by being told the stories where he isn't one in the order they're actually given in the prose Edda.

[@oneoflokis]

@AC-dk4fp Graat for you! 🙂👍 (This friend of mine is bi-polar and went a bit funny on me. This "Loki is an evil villain" shtick, comes I think either from books he's read by conservative Heathens (eg Stephen Flowers/Thorsson).. can't be off Rick Riordan, he's a bit too old for those! 😄 Or at least to BELIEVE those, I've read them.. Or you know, a conventional Christian upbringing can really make you prejudiced/blinkered in some ways.. 😏 This guy is a fairly militant atheist now, but is also quite heavily into angelology and demonology. (Oh, and Chaos magic.) But is still quite conventional-thinking in some ways I believe.. (Thing IS, I don't tell him what to believe about angels, because they're not my specialist subject! Loki, on the other hand... Is mine, and not his! 🙂) Well I think some therapy via Zoom has calmed him down a bit, is all I can say.. 🤷‍♀️)

[@adamc436]

This was such a cathartic video. I’ve been researching Hegel off and on for more than a decade, along with other German philosophy (meta-philosophy, theory, theology, and psychoanalysis if I’m honest). I’m in groups that are fundamentally at odds, but no less wonderful for exploring ideas in the spirit of curiosity. I came upon James Lindsay last year, and have watched almost his entire catalogue. He seems like a guy who found philosophy 15 minutes ago, and has created a loosely conservative mirror to left-wing intersectionality. He strictly doesn’t let himself out of his ideological silo and calls people who challenge his thesis “wizards,” much like intersectional types use _ism and _phobe. I detected some jabs here. I think that they were fair game. Gothic horror Marx is a fantastic spin.

[@harpernerys7345]

This has made my Mayday. Thank you Dr. Sledge. Venceremos comrades.

[@antiichristie]

I literally didn’t believe your channel was real, that’s how cool your topics of interest are in these videos. I thought you were a nutjob. Instead, I get that good good deeply sourced academic history.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I might still be a nutjob

[@loveless131]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Why not both?

[@Owesomasaurus]

​@@TheEsotericaChannelbut a nut job with citations!

[@chompythebeast]

This is a real _"por que no los dos?"_ momento, and frankly that's what we're here for, comrade

[@fallsprig4581]

"guys i promise i won't get arcane this time" me after 3 drinks:

[@oskar1076]

would love for you to do more on spiritualism, mysticism and esotericism in the political ideologies, especially since the ties within fascism are so well known, it seems prudent to also explore the ties within socialism and anarchism. There are some fascinating niche authors and ideologues out there.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

yep, yearly series now!

[@dbarker7794]

Excellent. Thanks for exploring this angle. Alchemists, magicians, and workers of the world unite!

[@julianblake8385]

Maaan, I got you discover your work because of your recent interview with Alex O'Connor, and what a goldmine I have found! I'm absolutely in love with your channel and the knowledge you share with us. Thank you so much for your work!

[@Petey0707]

I'm a Marxist-Leninist whose as fascinated with scientific socialism as I am western esotericism. While I may disagree with your analysis concerning our history seeing you dive into the more esoteric roots (no pun intended) of our philosophy feels like an early Christmas gift! Thank you!

[@pamwishbow8826]

What a May Day treat!

[@dniexodus2795]

"Mabe it's Mabaline " had me ☠️ . Great job Dr sledge again. Loved it.

[@kimwelch4652]

"The Necromantic Reanimation of Hegelian Philosophy" I'd buy that book.

[@JanGreen-ff7bb]

Yes, its going to the highest Buddha

[@emiyohgracious]

Favorite black metal tape

[@cherniman]

​@@emiyohgracioussounds like a Deathspell Omega album.

[@Billyboy597]

The way you describe "commodity fetish "as a spectral/demonic realm, along with a nod to Edward Bernays and the power of modern advertisers, is so unique and insightful. I hope you can make Marxs and Gothic Horror into a t-shirt.

[@mariawithstories]

Thanks! What a rare gem your humor is. And what a rare treat, no… nourishment your entire channel.

[@xdeser2949]

Oh thank god you went into it. the way people abuse the "opiate of the masses" line is infuriating. Its more sympathetic to religious thought than anyone would at first assume by its use (even its its still a negative impression). But also yeah even as a marxist this video is extremely good.

[@Ph0bbe1]

Although I love your regular videos and the new (esoteric) ground they cover, I think your videos on philosophy are your greatest. I absolutely loved your video on Duns Scotus, which is by far the most comprehensive and best produced introduction to his thought on youtube. I’ll never complain about videos on esoteric subjects alone, but I’d love to see more philosophy (related) videos in the future! Thanks for all the work.

[@Stalennin]

Marx basically pulled a Hegel on Hegel's dialectics. Turning dialectical idealism (thesis) on its head (antithesis) he created (synthesis) dialectical materialism. How very poetic!

[@robertgerrity878]

Just a thought--Karl as foreign correspondent for NY Tribune was an ardent Lincoln supporter. Liberation of humans from their degraded status.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Of course, the first international signed by Marx himself sent a letter congratulating Lincoln on being reelected.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

​@@TheEsotericaChannel both men had photos taken of them before achieving their aforementioned bearded final form! Coincidence? I think NOT! 🧐

[@m_alcoves]

This video is so good to watch/listen that it feels shorter than it is! Looking forward to Eliphas Levi content.

[@krisztoferbodor1451]

I never was interested in esoteric stuff before this channel. I always look at episodes from an anthropological/sociological point of view. I've always appreciated the channel's ability to embed topics and themes in historical, social and material contexts whenever possible. This episode was particularly interesting and made the work you do here even more sympathetic. In addition to workers solidarity, another reason to look forward to May 1st when there will be one such content here. Keep it up!

[@hastur1375]

Justin you rule, I'm beyond grateful you started this channel. Thanks for existing.

[@niccoloaurelius1587]

Not really too related at all - but I've found it interesting to learn that Eliphas Levi was kind of on the Socialism side of things. Perhaps simply due to his heart going out to the oppressed and indigent.

[@matheusSerp]

Sadly yet most occultist nowadays are more inclined to the right. At least where I’m from

[@niccoloaurelius1587]

​@@matheusSerp I would say there are often positive aspects underlying why anyone chooses a particular way of being (for instance, Levi having compassion on those left behind by his society...that's a nice way of viewing his Socialist tendencies). The key is to focus on one's righteousness regarding each individual issue at hand, rather than adhering to a broad category about all issues, in my personal opinion. And life is filled with practical choices where the Ideal isn't exactly to be had, especially with divisive topics like politics.

[@supernimo739gaming7]

Some right and left wingers had a keen interest in the occult

[@raskassputin7408]

​@@matheusSerpthink about that at the time Western Europe began translating occult documents only the political autocracy and rising class of merchants could afford to have such a library or do alchemical experiments. Add on top church dogma has always been more rigidly enforced on lower classes leading to a more general paranoia that it's all satanism. But the rise in the law of attraction, even though it is bastardized and watered down shows there is a hunger for non dogmatic spirituality.

[@cole27456]

@@matheusSerp Often, the sorts of socialism embraced by 19th century occultists were utopian or romantic forms instead of Marxist. & these often existed alongside religious or nationalist sentiments. Socialism was certainly an ideology concerned with the oppressed and working class, but the distinctions between left & right wing ideas within early socialism itself is pretty complicated. You have far-right French political figures declaring themselves socialists in the 19th century & Napoleon III called himself a socialist as emperor too

[@PlanetDeLaTourette]

Das kapital a gothic novel. You can also watch Alien as Marxist critique from the moment a production facility flies over. The opening sequence is wild with those glasses on.

[@VenediVid]

Looking forward to the next year's episode on related topics!!!

[@matheusarruda6462]

Cheers for the vid! Pity you didn't go into Alexandra Kollontai, China Mieville's ("A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto") and Michael Lowy's conceptions of "Gothic Marxism" or "Irrational Marxism" (as Lowy notes in "Walter Benjamin: The Story of a Revolutionary Spell"). Would love to hear something on those!

[@linesofflight2443]

Small correction. "Gothic Marxism" isn't Lowy's conception, but Margaret Cohen coined it in her book "Profane Illumination".

[@Fr.O.G.]

Me sitting down at my computer to get some work done: OH no! New Esoterica video!

[@astreeceladon]

Great insights as always, I recently picked up Magee's book and was delighted to hear it mentioned here, thank you! A video dedicated to Hegel would be amazing.

[@welcometonebalia]

I must admit, when I (tried to) read The Capital, I didn't find it as thrilling as a gothic novel, but maybe I should try again, with a focus on ghouls, vampires, high castles and deep dungeons. (Thank you.)

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

It's will barely help. Kapital is important but still boring AF.

[@welcometonebalia]

@@TheEsotericaChannel I'm afraid it is, yeah. But I've found other books by Marx much more enjoyable, notably The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte...

[@andreasvox8068]

@@TheEsotericaChannel I found the treatise "Lohnarbeit und Kapital" explained the main ideas and is much more succinct.

[@DFWNites]

@@TheEsotericaChannel @welcometonebalia : I let my mind drift freely and had my thumb riffle through Capital, Books I & II, keeping my eyes on the *bottoms* of the pages, looking for interesting footnotes.

[@tategibbs]

As a commie esoterica lover this video made me very happy. You stating that you utilise historical materialism in your videos also explains why your content resonates with me so much. Keep up the good work comrade!

[@realmskip-7903]

More stuff like this please! Eliphas Levi especially needs to be covered more from this kind of angle, and in general!

[@julesdudes853]

So what you're saying is that Marx was describing the world of Vampire: the Masquerade, gothic punk and everything. Got it.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Capitalism: The Masquerade

[@TeamMunky]

This is a topic I never even thought about before, as for most leftists they are strict materialists that would reject spiritual/esoteric forces, instead pointing to material conditions society creates that sculpt the social forces within it

[@matthewhorrigan5848]

Nice dropping this on May Day ;)

[@RobertoElCreeper]

Regarding the occult in Capital, I've always been fond of this weird note in volume 1, chapter 1: "In the German edition, there is the following footnote here: “One may recall that China and the tables began to dance when the rest of the world appeared to be standing still - pour encourager les autres.” The defeat of the 1848-49 revolutions was followed by a period of dismal political reaction in Europe. At that time, spiritualism, especially table-turning, became the rage among the European aristocracy. In 1850-64, China was swept by an anti-feudal liberation movement in the form of a large-scale peasant war, the Taiping Revolt. - Note by editors of MECW. Edit: Also loved the mention of The Society of the Spectacle; besides the expansion of the ideas around commodity fetishism, the chapter on time and history really contributes to the connection with apocalypticism, presenting the temporality of communist society as the dialectical supersession of the "irreversible time of capital" (preserving its irreversible character while negating its exclusion of the free development of humanity from "history", which is then limited to a history of commodity production), which is itself a sort of extension of the "Christian era". In relation to that, it'd be interesting to see something on Benjamin or more specifically his theses on the concept of history, if you wanna keep doing these labour day specials. Keep up the good work!

[@shakie6074]

Man conncecting the Debordian spectacle in was great. But the question remains... if hyper fetishism represents the physical manifestation of a false conscious under capitalism... then any continued psychological operations by state apparatuses are truly evil.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I'd say the state run stuff is pretty tame compared to marketing, especially things like big pharma. Capitalism creates the conditions of isolation and psychological damage and then forces you to pay them to medicate you and a subservience. That's profoundly evil as far as I can see it.

[@shakie6074]

@@TheEsotericaChannel agreed 100%. thinking of it terms of a gothic horror is interesting. have you had a chance to read Flatline Constructs by Mark Fisher? it’s not an easy read by any means bc it’s a compilation of some of his drafts he never completely put together before he passed away... he develops the idea of “gothic materialism” mostly through science fiction / cybernetic cultural examples and it’s well worth the read.

[@BeekuBird]

False consciousness and class consciousness are examples of where Marx didn't shake off Hegelian idealism. It's still Geist.

[@AC-dk4fp]

@@TheEsotericaChannel I don't think statelessness is any sort of Panacea but I'd say Big Pharma is still a tool of the state. Its funded by privatised commons and exists primarily as a military resource first. Drug patents are just a militarily backed strategic reserve. Capitalism is an abstraction used to describe and make sense of the economy so I don't think it creates anything. I need anxiety medication in order to be a viable worker under capitalism but capitalism didn't create the underlying neurology that modern psychology classifies as an anxiety disorder in need of medication, politicians undermined the social safety net in order to force people like me into the work force. "render unto Caesar" it comes down to who's face is on the Coinage and well look its a bunch of Ghosts (still waiting to see a Charles III coin but that won't change too much on that front).

[@linesofflight2443]

​@@shakie6074A compilation of some of his drafts? Buddy, it's literally his doctoral dissertation from 1999. There arere certainly unfinished ones. One of them is the concept of acid communism, but that is something else.

[@wsleppy4699]

It's crazy how far Dr. Sledge's comedic timing has come on this channel lol.

[@twig8523]

Happy May Day 🔥 Happy Beltane

[@MichaelWalker-de8nf]

Dude, you KILLED IT on Alex O'Connor channel ❤🤘🏻

[@MichaelWalker-de8nf]

@@davidhays2846 I don't know what you mean. Nor do I care 😉

[@aerynmusick4548]

This is even better than your normal videos (which are already excellent).

[@borealmarinda4337]

I'm super pumped to hear a future Hegel And Esotericism episode. And as a hobgoblin of communism, thank you for nailing what you do yet again.

[@bigpapacoco]

Hegel’s dialectic and any sort of teleological element in Marxist thought has always felt quasi-religious and esoteric to me, regardless of whether that falls under the umbrella of “esoteric” or philosophical.

[@Morphdog9819]

It's telling that both educated marxists and critics of marxism seem to agree that marxism is religious in some part. I was marxist-leninist for years and I can attest that it is definitely more of a religion masquerading as "a divinely unconcerned dialectic."

[@wellurban]

Definitely! As a teenager I was getting interested in Marx, but when I got to university and actually studied more of his work and his antecedents I recoiled: “what’s all this teleological mystic Geist bollocks about?!” My philosophy has always been generally Enlightenment logical positivist materialism, but lately I’ve been learning much more about the esoteric tradition and I’m at least getting more of an insight into the other side of European philosophy which leans towards Idealism. I’d started to get the impression that there are common threads between the likes of Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Hegel and the Hermetic/gnostic/Platonic/esoteric tradition, and while there are definite overlaps, I think I’ve been oversimplifying things. Thanks to Dr Sledge for picking out the nuances in Hegel’s ideas and what Marx made of those.

[@pedrosampaio7349]

Ever since Rosa Luxemburg, and maybe since later Marx, there has criticism against teleology within marxist debates. This is especially noticeable in Althusser, I've heard.

[@pedrosampaio7349]

​@@wellurbanYou do understand positivism is itself far more teleological than many interpretations of Marxism? If there is teleology in Marxismt today, I believe it is mostly due to Marxists keeping up something like this enlightenment era thinking

[@AC-dk4fp]

@@wellurban Teleology was the language of the 19th century its not a Marx thing. Most OG Darwinians were highly teleological in spite of Darwin arguably being the figure who's thought ultimately killed teleology among the intellectual elite (eg basically nobody. Everyone still interprets biology teleologically even the crazy "Death is curable" Singularitarian nutteres).

[@lentilsoup90]

Not gonna lie, I was really hopeful you’d talk a bit about Walter Benjamin in this! I feel like his materialism and mysticism are just so unique, interesting, perpetually relevant in constantly shifting ways, and just real damn hard to wrap your head around.

[@MrSigmaSharp]

One of you best works. I'm going to share this video everywhere. Thanks professor.

[@farewellmyheart]

I love your videos! Have you ever considered putting the audio up on places like spotify as a podcast? would love to be able to listen whilst i’m out :)

[@conrad2939]

Fascinating video! I would love to see a similar analysis on the intersection of anarchism and esotericism. In recent history, many of the discordians were committed anarchists. For better or worse, they've had an enormous impact on consensus reality and I can't imagine that their being anarchists was particularly unique in occult spaces

[@barlow949]

Dr. Sledge, I cannot express how deeply I appreciate you for making this video. As a leftist, I mean. I appreciate you explaining Marxism through a religious lense and especially what you said about Marxists treating it all as such. I have witnessed the dogmatism so frequently in discussions online and it's exhausting. Certain people really wield Marx and Lenin quotes like scripture and it's so nice seeing such a well educated fellow leftist put it out there like that.

[@moscamuerta]

One of my favorite episodes so far. Thank you a lot for all of your work! It is trully outstanding!

[@Stollkeer]

This is simply gold. As a Marxist, I got so shocked when I read Magee's book and found out how little we actually know about the roots of our systems of thought. I'm so glad to have found your work. it is amazing that historical materialism allows us to make a critique of the method itself! Thank you very much for this marvelous content

[@TheStarryNightLife]

Is all of politics a veiled theology? Fantastic episode. Didn't expect to learn as much as i did

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

So says the political-theology folks.

[@NickolayKhazanov]

I've learned to adjust my expectations and now I learn much as I expected from every one of Dr. Sledge's episodes 😁

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I'm not quite sure what you mean here ;)

[@oneoflokis]

​@@TheEsotericaChannelThere are political-theology folks? Who? 🙂

[@philosophyoferror]

​@@oneoflokisLook up Adam Kotsko's *The Prince of This World* as an illustrative example.

[@arturhashmi6281]

Im not marxist nor meterialist, but I will always enjoy your rare scholarship and I truely value your sceptical worldview, even when my intuition differs with yours or maybe because of that. Thrice great thanks to you Doctor.

[@janeccameron]

You’ve just outdone yourself here. Please keep on this track. Upping my Patreon. ❤

[@MrDalisclock]

Not what I expected but still fascinating. Thank you Dr Sledge

[@DontIgnoreMe]

Great episode! I absolutely would want to see more videos on Marx, Hegel, social theory, and related topics!

[@OscarDiaz-mx8ik]

love this crossover, thank u!

[@mr.le-capibar]

First video I see of you, I just fell in love with your channel. Subscribed!

[@matthewmagda4971]

It's May Day when this was released. I see what you did there 👍

[@kimfreeborn]

I believe that Engels was interested and wrote on the 1536 Munster Rebellion. The Anabaptists as early Communists would have been of interest as a Communist test case. They are also connected to Boehme. I have unfortunately lost the reference to Engel's paper. Of course as an Evangelical movement Munster is also connected to the Evangelical right in America. While Marxism may be a Materialist philosophy the common understanding as far as advocates are concerned or vulgar Communism is well within the Religious domain.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yeah, they were all about that peasant rebellion life.

[@DFWNites]

@@TheEsotericaChannel John von Leiden filled Muenster's amorous Anabaptistes with galvanic waves of *crass* *consciousness* , allowing the merry masses to seize the Means of Seduction.

[@petuliapark]

This is one of your best episodes! More esoteric/socialism talks PLEASE! Coincidently, I just read Occult Features of Anarchism by Erica Lagalisse, where she explores (and I quote) the "relationship between revolutionism, pantheistic occult philosophy, and the clandestine fraternity." I found the book really interesting and would be curious to know your thoughts on it. It might be a useful reference point for a future episode.

[@tommacrossan3522]

Love to see mature nuanced analysis like this, and that I can still follow as a layperson. You do fantastic work.

[@bkjnr2]

This is superb. I love learning with you. All the love and a heart felt thank you.

[@emilycaminiti4696]

I remember you did an episode on the witch hunts, echoing bits of Silva Federici's "Caliban and the Witch" a while back. Talking more about that topic would work well for International Worker's Day as well.

[@moonhand1]

Happy Mayday Justin!

[@TytoAlpha]

Beautifully done-it’s hard to believe, but this channel keeps getting better.

[@Enkinanna]

Great discussion, really interesting angle to approach this topic from And appreciate the sense of humor as always

[@duidin99]

An interesting little intersection of socialism and mysticism here in Ireland is that the Starry Plough flag, used by James Connolly's Irish Citizen Army and probably the most iconic symbol of socialist republicanism ever since, was designed by a guy called George William Russell who was hugely into theosophy and the occult. I've never been able to confirm it, but I've heard it claimed that the flag has some kind of esoteric significance.

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

I feel a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Absolutely fascinating analysis and my new go-to video suggestion when discussing the "Marxism is Gnosticism" etc stuff. I have major reservations with the aims and teleology of Hegel, and I'm doubly disenfranchised by Marx's conclusions, but useful tools are useful tools and even if others have used them to reach conclusions you disagree with you can still appreciate the fruits it can reap elsewhere. That's where I sit in regards to methodology here at ol' Esoterica University, as a useful tool to understand this angle of this field of scholarship it is perfectly suitable and there needn't be any ruffled feathers over its origins. Thanks as always Doc, and remember every video you upload makes that statue we're gonna build of you 1in taller

[@Satarack]

The divide between the National Socialists, who focused more on the esoteric history, and the Hegelians, who focused on the esoteric philosophy, reminds me of the divide between the philosophical Hermetics and the alchemical Hermetics. One group is interested in physical mysticism(the alchemists how to manipulate base matter and the National Socialists how to manipulate race and bloodlines), while the other group is interested in spiritual mysticism (Hermetic philosophy being neo-Platonic with its demiurge and pleroma, and Marxism's focus on awakening in people a social consciousness which might as well be called a spiritual awakening)

[@noheroespublishing1907]

You could probably do a Part 2 of this on the philosophy of Philipp Mainlander, as he synthesized Hegel and Schopenhauer in his masterwork "The Philosophy of Redemption" that has actually just this year been translated into English for the first time. The fact that Mainlander wanted to "reconcile Religion with Science and put Atheism on a scientific foundation."

[@nowhereman6019]

Oh boy, my two favorite things meeting in bizarre ways that i didn't expect!

[@virkots]

Marxism is actually really, really interesting. I think more people would agree if there wasn't such a cultural stigma around it. Everyone can and should read Das Kapital.

[@CALIBA88]

andersrum. das stigma ist da, aus gutem grund und darum wird das langsam ausgeschleppt. kommunismus ist für politik was krebs fürn körper ist.

[@MetroidHybrid]

I have to say, this was FAR more scolastic & even-handed than I expected, considering the topic...

[@gabreielahadei1625]

I did not think i would need this video as much as i did after watching it. Amazing work as always

[@naamaweiss]

No crazy conspiracies? You're no fun

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Sorry not sorry ;)

[@rodrigomachado5291]

Looking forward for the video on Hegel!

[@olixyz1996]

Great episode. There's def a stream there and it's good to see the warm and esoteric stream talked about Several core texts have very spiritual passages Engels dielectic of nature Frierie's pedagogy of the oppressed Also awesome to see diamat used as a core analysis stream. It's very crisp hisoriographically speaking

[@user-ow7vo7uy8b]

Oh fuck a video on Eliphas Levi would rock my world

[@arkhemlol]

Walter Benjamin, as far as I understand, was concerned a lot with the esoterical side of Marx. The notion which you highlighted towards the end of the video "there’s some governing spirit inside the material-dialectic machine" (I’m paraphrasing, so my apologies if it’s not what you meant) is almost direct quote from Benjamin’s famous "On the concept of history". If you make a video about mysticism in Benjamin’s thought, it would be of great interest to me (at least).

[@pilgrimm23]

My compliments Sir: I have always shared your opinion but do not have the scholarship to set it out as a thesis. You do. I respect your work...and truly lust for your library :) Well done.

[@nebula_Mage]

Perfect analysis, I myself have met some people who used historical-dialectical materialism in a similar way to a religious paradigm to interpret the world in a way completely based on belief and fit things into a mythological narrative, and use this narrative to develop more faith and trust. in the paradigm itself, generating an intense cycle of belief in this mythological narrative