Marxismo Desmascarado

by Ludwig von Mises, Alexandre S. (Translator)

Este volume se compõe de transcrições das conferências de Ludwig von Mises na Biblioteca Pública de São Francisco, em meados de 1952.

Mises, mais do que os muitos críticos do socialismo e do marxismo que haviam surgido desde o começo do século XX – Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk e Paul Leroy-Beaulieu, por exemplo –, conseguiu demonstrar profundamente a inviabilidade inerente ao sistema econômico socialista.

Mas Mises sabia que uma crítica séria ao socialismo deveria lidar com muito mais do que a sua mera inviabilidade econômica; era preciso refutar também os fundamentos filosóficos e políticos das concepções socialistas e marxistas do homem e da sociedade. A isto, precisamente, ele se propõe nestas conferências.

Genres: Economics, Politics, Philosophy, History, Nonfiction, Business, Political Science

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Ludwig Heinrich Edler von Mises (German pronunciation: [ˈluːtvɪç fɔn ˈmiːzəs]; September 29, 1881 – October 10, 1973) was an Austrian economist, historian, philosopher, author, and classical liberal who had a significant influence on the Austrian government's economic policies in the first third of the 20th century, the Austrian School of Economics, and the modern free-market libertarian movement.

Reviews

[Ahmad Ebaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

"على سبيل المثال، في المدرسة يتعلم البعض؛ والبعض لا. هنالك اختلافات بين الرجال"

"الماركسية دون قناع، من الضلال للانحلال"
عن الفلسفة التي دمرت عصرنا، وسممت هممنا؛ فالكثير من الكتب والأفلام الرائجة اليوم، تفسر الأحداث الحالية بالماركسية الاشتراكية التي يعتنقها مؤلفوها.
طبقا لماركس، فالاختلاف الوحيد بين الرجال يرجع للتعليم. فلو تلقى "حمارا" و"دانتي اليجيري" تعليما بنفس الطريقة، فلن يكون هنالك اختلافا بينهما. وهذه الفكرة تخلق ضغطا فكريا على الضعفاء "المقصرين في حق أنفسهم"، وتقودهم الاشتراكية لتوجيه هذا الضغط للنقمة على المجتمع، فلولاه لأصبحوا وأصبحوا!.

الكثير منكم، وإن كان لا يدرك ذلك، يؤمن بالتفسير الماركسي للعالم، وإن أعطاه أسماء أخرى. والبعض يعتنق أفكار ماركس رغم رفضهم المزمع للمذهب الماركسي

هنالك العديد من الانتقادات للاشتراكية، ولكن لم تستطع أيا من هذه الكتابات، أن تصل لما وصلت إليه انتقادات "فون ميزس" ؛ فهي كاشفة للعوار المتأصل في النظام الاشتراكي، وعدم قابليته للتطبيق.
هذه المحاضرات التي ألقاها "فون ميز" لغير المتخصصين بعام "1952"، كاشفة لشخص "ميز" المعلم والمربي، بعيدا عن الكتابة الأكاديمية الرسمية التي اعتدناها منه كعالم اقتصاد وفلسفة متميز.
المحاضرات "مستفزة ومحفزة للعقل"، وذكية في سلاسة الطرح، وتكرار الفكرة دون ملل بصور مختلفة في ظل قصص وظروف مختلفة. كما تظهر بها شخصية "ميز" المتهكمة المتعجرفة

تسع محاضرات، الخمس الأوائل منها عن الفلسفة، لتقويض الأسس الفلسفية "المتناقضة" التي تبنى عليها عقائد الاشتراكية. والأربع الباقية تختص بالاقتصاد الاشتراكي والاجراءات الاقتصادية الضارة التي يدفع بنا لاتخاذها.

*****

"عندما يقول ماركس بأنهم يحملون أفكارا سيئة، فهو يعني أنه لا يحب حامليها"

كل محاضرة تبدأ بحديث جاد مشوق، وتنتهي بانتقادات متهكمة فاضحة، تزيل ما تبقى من رواسب تقديس الأفكار الماركسية. يقوم بتحليل فلسفة ماركس، ثم يرينا العوار في المنطق الطفولي لتعامله مع خصومه.
ماركس قال بأنه يكفي للرد على منتقديه، أن يبين أنهم بورجوازيين. والبرجوازي مُغرض بالطبع، فهي طبقة فاسدة وافكار افرادها مجرد انعكاس لمصالح الطبقة ككل، إذا فتجاهل كل الكتابات البرجوازية هو التصرف السليم
كذلك أنكر على "جون لوك" أفكاره حول أصل الأفكار، بسبب أصول لوك البورجوازية. في حين أن ماركس أثبت أفكار "رينيه ديكارت" البورجوازي عن الحيوانات الميكانيكية، لأن رينيه كان ممثل لطبقته وعصره!..

*****
وعلى الهامش، فماركس في كتابه "بؤس الفلسفة"، انتقد كل من يعزي أية أهمية لتقسيم العمل –كآدم سميث، وكانت حجته أن الآلة هي من يجب أن تحوز كل الأهمية؛ فالآلة عندما ستتطور، ستدر الخير على كل البشر. كما وقد افترض ماركس في فلسفته، بأن التخصص سيختفي، لأن الآلات المتطورة سيكون من الممكن إدارتها بواسطة "عمالة غير ماهرة أو مدربة".

وذلك خير مثال لتنطّع الاشتراكيين، فهنا يحقر "ماركس" قيمة العمل لصالح التقدم التكنولوجي الذي سيغير حياتنا للأفضل، وكأن الآلة هي من ستحمل عبء العمل عن البشرية، و"هتصرف على عيالنا، وهتأكلنا الشهد".
وكأن الآلة هي "فريدريك إنجليز" الخاص بكل فرد، فقد كان "فريدريك" ينفق على صديقه ماركس و "أبحاثه".

وهذه النطاعة تمتد حتى لمطالبتهم الحكومات لتكون مسئولة عن كل مواطن مسئولية تامة. ولا يظن أحدكم أنهم سيكفون عن عويلهم. حتى وإن عينت الحكومة "أمين شرطة" على مؤخرة كل مواطن؛ فلن يكف هؤلاء عن الندب والصراخ حتى نهيل على جيفهم التراب.

((كتبت المراجعة في فبراير 2018))
*****
مراجعة مبدئية لكتاب آخر لفون ميز: السياسة الإقتصادية: آراء لليوم والغد

ولهواة التميز، مراجعة دوبلكس بالإنجليزية في الأسفل، تحوي المزيد من التفاصيل.. قريبا

======================

[Patrick Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

2021-05-02 Finished this yesterday. Some very cool parts to this book:

"I am not in favor of the market economy and against socialism because capitalists are very nice people. Some are; some are not. In that way they are no different from other people. I am for capitalism because it benefits mankind. I am not against socialism because socialists are bad people, but because it brings about a complete decline in everyone’s standard of living and destroys freedom. "

This sums up my attitude ever since I found out how powerfully positive free markets are at helping people out of poverty and to achieve their goals:
"It is wonderful that Dr. Albert Schweitzer [1875–1965] went to the center of Africa to work for the improvement of conditions. But Dr. Schweitzer has had only a very limited effect compared to the effects of capitalism which made possible the modern means of production that provided all the things necessary to maintain a hospital in the middle of Africa. If you want to help the millions in Asia and Africa, then what is needed is capitalistic methods of production and capitalistic ideas." p.100 Actually, Mises was off by orders of magnitude in how much capitalist methods and ideas have actually helped people in the last 30 some years - since it is in the BILLIONS, not millions now, when you consider what has happened in India and China in the last three decades.

"We must realize that every governmental measure that lowers the amount of profit successful enterprises can make or which taxes away their profits is a measure that weakens the influence of the consumers over producers." Sure wish there were more people who realized this and started speaking out about it, in light of the massive tax rate increases being proposed now and too often.

I found the lectures quite interesting and helpful, but not as well organized and logically tight as his books. So I am not sure I would recommend this short book as a great intro to Mises, but rather more for those who already know Mises' work and would like some good extra flavor, and style. But since it is a short book, and the title and various specific chapter/speech topics interest you - go for it.
--------------
2021-04-30 Bought this book shortly after it came out in 2006, but somehow could not make time to read it till now, even though it is rather short. Fascinating. Still have 1 chapter/speech to go. Will wait to review till I finish. But you might like to know that it is composed of 9 lectures that Mises delivered in San Francisco in 1952.

I probably started reading this since I just finished his "Theory and History," which also deals extensively with Marxism. That book is better organized, and much more thorough than this one, but there are some neat nuggets here that were not there, and also some good overlap.

Back soon.

[Haroldo Vital · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am not in favor of the market economy and against socialism because
capitalists are very nice people. Some are; some are not. In that way they are no different from other people. I am for capitalism because it benefits mankind. I am not against socialism because socialists are bad people, but because it brings about a complete decline in everyone’s standard of living and destroys freedom." Ludwig von Mises

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great critique of Marxism. It is the first critique that I have read that had any grasp of Marxism, and so could speak to it without unfounded judgments(I am sure that many would dispute this point). This is an economics lovers must read.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a written account of various lectures Mises has given in critique to the Communist Manifesto. It's a dense read that required me to reread to fully grasp the ideas he was presenting.

[Thales Henrique Oliveira · Rating 3 out of 5]

O conteúdo do livro é bom, mas, infelizmente, a tradução e a edição pecam. Há várias frases sem sentido ou com sentido inverso por causa de falta de palavras ou palavras erradas.

[Camila Rezende · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primeiro livro do clube finalizado!
A leitura não é fácil, mas o conteúdo é fantástico!

[kesseljunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always tough transcribing speeches to have the full effect of the speaker. This made me wish I could watch recordings of these lectures.

An edifying work that some will instinctively dismiss without reading because of the caustic title. But it’s truly a worthwhile read for thoughtful criticism of a caustic philosopher (or fraud depending on your point of view).

Will it sway anyone? Likely not. Did it sway me? That’s not why I was reading it. Should it sway someone? Probably. I’m just judging on the merit of the work itself. It’s worth a spin.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 3 out of 5]

Според древните гърци, измислили философията, тя е дисциплината, която научава човек да мисли. Една безспорно отлична идея. Но забелязали ли сте, как се изучава философия в нашенските (не знам за чуждите, ама предполагам е същото) университети? Всяка книга и учебник по философия е пълна с имена на древни философи – в тия книги не те учат как да мислиш, а … какво са мислили философите в цялата история. Което, успял съм да забележа, е доста безсмислено занимание, щото по-голямата част от тия философи са мислили абсолютни глупости и това особено важи за най-известните от тях като Кант примерно който ми е особено противен…

Този проблем на философията, която няма никакъв практически измерител за качество, поради което в огромната си част не произвежда никакъв резултат, освен още философия, поради което през вековете самата дисциплина се върти в някакви затворени кръгове и философите пишат ли пишат плява и повтарят и обсъждат тотални простотии, е отлично разгледан в книгата на Томас Соуъл Intelectuals and Society.

Марксизмът без маска е нов сбор от няколко лекции на Мизес, този път върху философията на Маркс и отново на сладката цена от 9 лв. за 100 страници (което само по себе си е fail). Фейл обаче са и самите лекции – вместо морално и логически да аргументират защо марксистката философия е философията на заблудата и разрухата, те по гореописаната метода сравняват философията на Маркс с най-различни други прашасали философи, а дори и това правят доста плитко и повърхностно.

[Eduardo Garcia-Gaspar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un pequeño libro de 9 capítulos. Son conferencias de Mises en los EEUU, en los años 50. Fueron tomadas taquigráficamente y publicadas en este volumen. ¡Sensacional resultado!
La lectura es fácil, amena y clara. Tiene un tono menos formal que el de sus libros y en ocasiones parece estar uno escuchándolo y no leyéndolo. Aunque hay algunas partes un tanto densas.
¿Quiere usted saber algo sobre el marxismo? Este es el libro. Lo explica, critica y muestra sus contradicciones. El que esa teoría aún siga teniendo partidarios es un misterio. La obra, tomada en general, es más o menos como el libro que cualquiera debería leer después de «Economía en una lección» de H. Hazlitt.
Explica además, las crisis económicas y sus causas, las tasas de interés, el mercado libre. Un verdadero tesoro y una lectura obligada.

[Mark O'mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. Although Marx is a ridiculously lightweight intellectual and Marxism is such a slight intellectual & historical theory, the critiques of Mises still add something and are worth reading - even after all these years. The explanations and arguments regarding the function and intrinsic value of capitalism are also very worthwhile to read.
The book comprises nine lectures Mises gave in 1952. The fact that they are still so readable, relevant, intellectual rigorous and valuable after seventy years is indicative of why Mises is a must read for anyone interested in economics today.

[Carla P. A. De Marchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

O conteúdo é ótimo, mas a leitura um pouco cansativa.

[Rami Adnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

بلا شك من أهم ما قرأت في علم الاقتصاد و نقد الفكر الماركسي.

[José Díaz-Bahamonde · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROS
The book is the transcription of a series of lectures given by Mises in 1952.
It is a precise and straightforward exposition of a critique of Marxian economics.
But, in addition, the main concepts of Austrian Economics, as trade cycle and capital theory, are presented in a didactic way.
The text is full of ideas and suggestions for further exploration.

CONS
A scholar edition is needed. As paraphrasing is not to quote, the source of some statements need clarification.
As a lecture, Mises deviates from the main point sometimes.

FINAL
A remarkable book. I recommend it.

[Dawn Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I want to stress again that capitalism, modern machine production, and so on, is not something material! The tools and machines are the material results attained by a certain spiritual mentality, by a certain ideology. Capitalism or modern conditions, modern standards of living, are not simply the outcome of technology. They are the outcomes of certain ideas about social organization and about the cooperation of men under the division of labor and private ownership of the means of production."

Such a short collection of words, yet so many highlights and notes made.
Such an old collection of words from such a different time, yet it addresses our current situation with startling accuracy. Truth stands the test of time, and this short book was well worth the time spent reading, re-reading for better understanding, and looking up other texts for context and modern application.

Some excellent companion pieces that demonstrate the veracity of and the current need for Von Mises' capitalist philosophy:

https://greatreset.com/

https://time.com/5936036/secret-2020-...

A couple of other interesting pieces I read/ listened to concurrently:

https://apokerplayer.medium.com/how-s...

https://quillette.com/2021/01/19/podc...

And a couple of worthy late adds that contribute to the understanding of VonMises' words & their timeliness:

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=...

And this brings me full-circle. Capitalism is not just a group of evil fat cats taking care of themselves. It is not even "them" and "us." It is a primary component of conservative thought that values independence, critical thought, and personal responsibility. Capitalism elevates personal dignity where Marxism degrades & infantilizes the masses.

[Giovani Salvador · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the 50s Mises had developed a series of arguments against Marxism, in a moment where several nations were switching to socialism/communism type of government. It's sad that we had to see how Marx's theories destroyed nations along the years and keep doing its work these days. If we had listen to Mises properly....
Mises arguments vary from economic to cultural perspective, passing through all the contradictions that are constantly present in the left rhetoric. An ironic one was that Marx appended his Manifesto to include people like himself and Engels. I initially, the manifesto was intended to include only people from the working class, which Marx nor Engels were included. So they updated the manifesto to allow people like them to fit in the "independent intellectuals" class of communism.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an intro text. If you want to know the strict Austrian/Misesian criticism of Marxism, here it is.

[Daniel Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 9 lectures by Mises. There is some very interesting history about Marx, marxism, socialism, and capitalism.

[Yuvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it. This is my first Mises and certainly won't be the last.

[alexanderalava · Rating 1 out of 5]

Came across this + two other of Von Mises books (moreso collection of essays/lectures). Absolutely incredibly disappointed.

With this one in particular, since I have actually read enough of the material he is referencing and hold an understanding of the ideology, I actually took the time to read the first 5 out of 9 lectures and take extensive notes.

Overall, Von Mises comes off as petulant and intellectually dishonest for a variety of reasons. He outlines misinterpretations of points from Marxist writings, offers (if at all) lazy or fraudulent critiques typically requiring the initial misinterpretation, and does a fabulous effort of consistently coming off as both snarky and hypocritical. It reads like someone who isn't interested in actually intellectually engaging with the material he has set out to 'unmask,' and prefers to pump out a critique which is at best woefully ignorant and at worst blatant dishonesty.

These are some quotes from Von Mises that I find provide insight into his perspective as a thinker:

"It cannot be denied that [Italian] Fascism and similar movements aiming at the establishment of dictatorships are full of the best intentions and that their intervention has for the moment, saved European civilization. The merit that Fascism has thereby won for itself will live on eternally in history."

"Nothing, however, is as ill founded as the assertion of the alleged equality of all members of the human race."

"Man is born an asocial and antisocial being. The newborn child is a savage.
Egoism is his nature. Only the experience of life and the teachings of his parents, his brothers, sisters, playmates, and later of other people FORCE HIM to acknowledge the advantages of social cooperation and accordingly to change his behavior."

I'm not going to go into detail with my notes on this text in particular since they are messy and too long, but I've reached the conclusion that I think it would genuinely be more enlightening to just straight up read Mussolini than the average written work from this guy. Von Mises is so intensely intellectually irresponsible, dishonest, and hypocritical that it is repugnant to read his work. Any person would be a hundred times better off simply reading the actual source material and deriving their own conclusions.

I read a story about Von Mises where at one particular gathering amongst libertarian economists such as himself, one of his key students gave a talk in favor of abandoning the Gold standard. Von Mises was enraged, called his student a Communist, and refused to speak to him for two years. I thought this was became particularly funny after reading this book.

[André · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Marxism Unmasked: From Delusion to Destruction" is a collection of essays by the economist and political theorist Ludwig von Mises. In this book, Mises scrutinizes the intellectual foundations, historical context, and practical implications of Marxism, offering a compelling critique of its core tenets.

Mises begins by dissecting the philosophical underpinnings of Marxism, asserting that it is rooted in a flawed understanding of human nature and economics. He challenges the Marxist notion of historical determinism, arguing that history is shaped by the purposeful actions of individuals rather than predetermined economic forces. Mises contends that the Marxist view of class struggle and the inevitable transition to communism ignores the complexities of human action and the role of entrepreneurship.

One of the central themes of "Marxism Unmasked" is Mises' critique of the labor theory of value, a cornerstone of Marxist economic thought. Mises argues that value is subjective and cannot be determined solely by the amount of labor expended. He highlights the importance of consumer preferences and market dynamics in determining the value of goods and services, a perspective that fundamentally contradicts Marx's labor-centric approach.

The book also explores the historical context in which Marxism gained prominence, particularly in the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution. Mises acknowledges the genuine concerns about labor conditions during this period but disputes the Marxist solution of abolishing private property and instituting a centrally planned economy. He contends that such a system would lead to economic inefficiency, stagnation, and the erosion of individual freedoms.

Mises further critiques the Marxist vision of socialism, arguing that it fails to provide a viable alternative to the market economy. He asserts that without private ownership of the means of production and a price mechanism to allocate resources efficiently, socialist systems are prone to inefficiencies, shortages, and economic distortions.

A notable aspect of Mises' critique is his examination of the socialist calculation problem, which posits that a centrally planned economy lacks the necessary information and incentives to allocate resources efficiently. Mises argues that without market prices reflecting consumer preferences and production costs, planners cannot make rational economic decisions.

In the final chapters of the book, Mises explores the historical outcomes of attempts to implement Marxist ideas in various countries. He points to the economic failures and human suffering in Soviet Russia, Maoist China, and other socialist experiments as evidence of the impracticality and destructiveness of Marxist ideology in practice.

"Marxism Unmasked" serves as a powerful critique of Marxist theory, challenging its foundational principles on economic, philosophical, and historical grounds. Mises advocates for the superiority of the market economy and individual freedom, making a compelling case against the feasibility and desirability of Marxist socialism. The book remains a valuable resource for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the flaws and consequences associated with Marxist ideology.

[LuisJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first thing to know about this book of lectures is that it does not remotely deliver on its promises. I came to this book looking for a decent critical analysis of Marxist thought but it's irredeemably shallow, poorly structured and outdated.

Moreover, the author/speaker comes across as arrogant and incredibly dismissive; often simply claiming that other thinkers were confused, but then utterly failing to give any sort of justification for the claim- or when 'justification' is given it is, typically, simply a statement of the author's own position with no serious attempt to actually engage with the position that he is criticising.

What you won't do is come away from this book with any substantial understanding of Marxism or indeed any other position; and, as a corollary, you won't find anything here that is going to be useful in critically analysing Marx's thought or strands of Marxism. It therefore makes one wonder about the audience that this is aimed at (I will leave the reader to do the trivial legwork on confirming the provenance of this publication).

Yes, early on in the first lecture, he does make some semi-useful points such as the fact that Marx seems hypocritical when dismissing the theories/arguments of others as simply the result of their class-interest but excepts himself from that same criticism.

I had marked around 30 passages for comment/criticism but have decided that the time/effort to write that up isn't worth what I got out of the book. I would argue that there is more value in the introductory chapter by Ebeling than the rest of the lectures put together.


As an aside, a significant practical issue that I had with the book itself (ISBN: 978-1-61016-633-1) was that it contains a table of contexts and also an index which, naturally, refer to page numbers- and yet the pages are not numbered!

This is a polemical work that will convince no one who is not already convinced; it will neither better arm them against Marxist ideas nor enable them to understand them.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Ludwig von Mises was a relentless, reasoned, articulate critic of socialism. von Mises delivered nine lectures exposing Marxism's flaws to an American audience in San Francisco in 1952. All that we've learned about Marxist/socialist economic practices since then has vindicated von Mises criticisms. The lectures were designed to build upon the previous. Great source for anyone seeking to further ones understanding of socialism's destructive impact everywhere it has been imposed.

[Avil Ramírez Mayorga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Las conferencias dictadas por Von Mises en San Francisco en los años 50s recogidas por este libre constituyen una desarticulación punto por punto de las falacias del comunismo, así como las propias y constantes contradicciones de Karl Marx. Asimismo, son un argumento en defensa de la superioridad del libre mercado como mecanismo de desarrollo y prosperidad.

[Alan Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know little about Marxism, so these lectures have been very helpful. I now see that Marx was an idiot.

My whole review is actually in the heading.

Karl Marx was a blithering scrounging wastrel of an idiot. His ideas were completely plonkers.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little book. It's actually a series of lectures. Mises is an incredible teacher with a vast knowledge of history. He turns a lot of ideas on their heads quite unexpectedly. It's great stuff.

[The Laughing Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential read

I should have read this back in highschool, would have saved me 5 years of marxism. Never have I been so wrong about anything else in my life. Had I known what I know today things would have been much different 20 years ago.

[Phillip M Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Brief but concise . Mises is a trusted source for learning about economic liberty and capitalism. Should be required reading in high schools.

[Anderson Paz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma crítica virulenta à lógica marxista.

[Patricia Yumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

O último capítulo foi o melhor!