Zombies di Marx: il ritorno della ragion pratica

by Davide Smith Borrelli, Marella Reitani (Editor)

Step into a provocative journey through the tangled legacies of Marxism, postmodernism, and the rise of deconstructionist thought. In Zombies of The Return of Practical Reason, Davide Smith Borrelli takes a bold stance, exposing the philosophical and cultural shifts that transformed a revolutionary ideal into an "army of walking dead" intellectuals preaching irrationalism.

This book challenges the self-assigned moral authority of academia and its descent into a culture of hysteria, identity politics, and pseudo-scientific dogmas. With biting wit and unwavering honesty, Borrelli critiques the spread of "deconstructed Social Justice," a movement that he argues has replaced rigorous inquiry with moralistic fanfare and nostalgic fantasies of a lost utopia.

Drawing on insights from Derrida’s Spectres of Marx, Marxist theory, and the legacy of Enlightenment rationalism, Borrelli traces the genealogy of today's intellectual activism. From the collapse of Soviet communism to the rise of ethical fanaticism in the West, he examines how academia’s obsession with power and authority has polarized public debate and eroded the value of individual freedom.

Both a polemical critique and a call to action, Zombies of Marx invites readers to rethink the role of intellectuals in society and rediscover the true purpose of not to manipulate, but to illuminate.

For those unafraid to question dogmas—be they Marxist, postmodern, or otherwise—this book is a fearless exploration of the conflicts shaping the modern world.

Dare to challenge the walking dead of ideas.

Genres: Philosophy

287 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2025

About the author

Davide Borrelli is a writer specializing in the critical analysis of ideologies and social structures. With extensive experience and a deep passion for philosophical thought, Davide offers reflections that challenge conventions and stimulate debate.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is monumental in its scope, and fearless in its ambition. The author offers us critical appraisal of societal ways across the millennia. He is extremely well read and erudite which is obvious from the ease with which he juggles every philosopher, politician/societal structure of note, incisively showing to the readers both their strengths and weaknesses.

The relativity of “ truth”, and “academic knowledge”; the danger of “ good intentions” and the destructive power of modern society’s principle “everything goes” are some of many profound concepts that are explored.

Davide boldly states that he disagrees with most of the opinions of the politicians and philosophers he discusses, and, instead, offers us his version of truth that is refreshingly simple.
The best societal order? Democracy! Whilst imperfect, it offers freedom of expression, encourages reflection and allows for feedback between the masses and the ruling powers.

The sole objective toward which humanity must strive? Justice! Whilst non-existent in reality, it must be humanity’s sole aim, says Davide.

The means for achieving the former and the latter?
Adopting liberal perspective in intellectual life- “unbiased discussion is a useful thing and men should be free to question anything if they can support their questioning with solid arguments”.

Is it even feasible, to achieve all the above, with human nature being what it is?
The author believes it is, offering us an example- pioneering Linus technology, that underpins most of internet based businesses:
“The spirit behind the Linux experience is the spirit of trust and collaboration among humans, which is at the heart of liberal thought”.

Lastly, I would like to add that I feel underqualified to read and review this wonderful book; I fear I might have missed out on some of its many layers- simply because my level of political/philosophical erudition is not a match for author’s. Even so, I’ve enjoyed it very much- thanks to the author!