Untimely Reflections #14: invalid_arg_ - Marxism-Leninism 101

It seems that there is a twofold trend among modern Nietzscheans. On the one hand, we have those influenced by French thinkers such as Deleuze or Foucault, who saw no essential contradiction in adopting some of the ideas of Nietzsche while simultaneously striving for goals which were explicitly or implicitly Marxist oriented. On the other, there are those for whom the mere mention of the name "Marx" is met with revulsion, and for whom there is a serious allergy for anything having to do with talk of revolution, the working class, or seizing the means of production. For my part, I've never really been in either camp. I think the post-modernist and post-structuralist retconning of Nietzsche is just that: interesting as a later development in philosophy, but not an accurate representation of Nietzsche's political thought, which was reactionary and pro-aristocracy. On the other hand, the type of reactionary politics that Nietzsche advocated should not be taken as gospel. All too often, his ideas are transmuted into Randian worship of great individuals, who would solve all of the problems of society if only they were not constrained by government regulations; Nietzsche becomes an excuse for people to look away from the pressing problems of society and culture. Whatever your position on Marxism, I think it is the height of ignorance to hold to a political stance without hearing out the arguments for the opposing position in good faith. In this conversation with invalid_arg_, a Marxist-Leninist streamer, we discuss the philosophical origins of Marxism, the application of Marxism in the Soviet Union, how China looks today in light of Marxist thought, what Marxist-Leninists think about anarchists, and much more. I hope that my audience will set aside any preconceived biases they have to examine ideas which are beyond the pale of liberal-democratic thought, but from the opposite perspective that Nietzsche provides. invalid's Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/invalid_arg_ on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkfULrQdHWMPy1GZjm8oI8g