Abstract
Marx's phrase `opium of the people' is one of the most frequently quoted lines he ever wrote; perhaps because of that, it has been just as frequently misunderstood. By returning to the various meanings of opium in the mid-19th century, I revisit Marx's analysis, offering a way of reading the metaphor that is more consistent with Marx's dialectical method. The paper provides a revised analysis of Marx's “Towards a Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right: Introduction”, as well as suggestions about how this new more open-ended reading can contribute to Marxian analyses of religious beliefs and practices in late capitalism.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 15-38 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | Critical Sociology |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2005 |
Keywords
- Marx
- religion
- opium