William D. Dennison - Karl Marx (Great Thinkers)

The appearance in this series of William Dennisons volume on Karl Marx, both the man and his thought, is a timely reminder that Marxism remains a vibrant ideological influence in the world. Unshackled from his twentieth-century exploiters and the stark disparities that misshaped popular imagination for most of that century, Marxs ideas are now receiving fresh, rejuvenating attention. In this brief introduction, Dennison usefully distinguishes Marx from Marxism, sketches Marxs turbulent biography, and then traces the contours of his ideas from the vantage point of his post-Hegelian materialistic philosophy of history. The philosophy-of-history approach is well conceived and effectively sets the stage for Dennisons distinct contribution: an extended presuppositional critique of Marxs naturalistic humanism, demonstrating that Cornelius Van Tils ideas are at least as vibrant as Marxs, and the gospel far more compelling.

Bruce P. Baugus , Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson

Marx remains a key figure in the politics, economics, and history of the past two centuries. Christians might see him as dangerous or insightfulor bothbut in any case we ignore him to our own detriment. Bill Dennison presents both the man and his legacy in a way that introduces the basics and gives readers the tools to pursue a fuller view, including a Reformed perspective as a framework for understanding. Readers will benefit from Dennisons clarity and guidance.

Kevin R. den Dulk , Paul B. Henry Chair in Political Science, Calvin College

Christians wanting to know how to think about Karl Marx would do well to read this volume. Directly examining the texts of Marx, Dennison carefully guides his readers through the great thinkers philosophy of history. But this guidance is neither a superficial hatchet job nor a mindless embrace. Instead, scholars and neophytes alike will benefit from Dennisons strategy of critical appreciation: appreciation for Marxs real insightssuch as his analysis of capitalismbut also a critique rooted in the revelation of God in history. What readers will find is an evaluation of Marx as an eschatological thinker done from the perspective of the eschatology revealed in Scripture.

Andrew Kaufmann , Assistant Professor of Political Science, Northwest University

There are few good, concise books on Karl Marx, his philosophy, and his worldview. There are still fewer written from a biblical, Reformed perspective. This solid treatment by Bill Dennison fills an important niche. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a scholar whom they can trust to offer a terse summation of Marx and how Marxs ideas should be viewed in the light of a Christian Reformed worldview. Here we see Marx examined, at last, from the vantage of innocence, sin, grace, and Gods plan versus Marxs plan. Alas, this should be how Marx is always viewed. But it has taken Bill Dennison to finally do the job. For that, we owe him a debt of gratitude.

Paul G. Kengor , Professor of Political Science and Executive Director, Center for Vision & Values, Grove City College

Karl Marx is a difficult and complex thinker, giving rise to numerous controversies and schools of thought about what he actually meant. In this fine book, William Dennison displays a command of both Marxs own writings and the various disputes among Marxist schools of thought. Dennison uses Marxs philosophy of history both as a useful entry point to his thought and as a locus for an illuminating contrast with a Reformed philosophy of events that proclaims Gods providential activity in history.

Daniel Edward Young , Professor of Political Science, Northwestern College

Praise for the Great Thinkers Series

After a long eclipse, intellectual history is back. We are becoming aware, once again, that ideas have consequences. The importance of P&R Publishings leadership in this trend cannot be overstated. The series Great Thinkers: Critical Studies of Minds That Shape Us is a tool that I wish I had possessed when I was in college and early in my ministry. The scholars examined in this well-chosen group have shaped our minds and habits more than we know. Though succinct, each volume is rich, and displays a balance between what Christians ought to value and what they ought to reject. This is one of the happiest publishing events in a long time.

William Edgar , Professor of Apologetics, Westminster Theological Seminary

When I was beginning my studies of theology and philosophy during the 1950s and 60s, I profited enormously from P&Rs Modern Thinkers Series. Here were relatively short books on important philosophers and theologians such as Nietzsche, Dewey, Van Til, Barth, and Bultmann, by scholars of Reformed conviction such as Clark, Van Riessen, Ridderbos, Polman, and Zuidema. These books did not merely summarize the work of these thinkers; they were serious critical interactions. Today, P&R is resuming and updating the series, now called Great Thinkers. The new books, on people such as Aquinas, Hume, Nietzsche, Derrida, and Foucault, are written by scholars who are experts on these writers. As before, these books are shortaround 100 pages. They set forth accurately the views of the thinkers under consideration, and they enter into constructive dialogue, governed by biblical and Reformed convictions. I look forward to the release of all the books being planned and to the good influence they will have on the next generation of philosophers and theologians.

John M. Frame , Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy Emeritus, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

GREAT THINKERS

A Series

Series Editor

Nathan D. Shannon

A VAILABLE IN THE G REAT T HINKERS S ERIES

Thomas Aquinas , by K. Scott Oliphint

Jacques Derrida , by Christopher Watkin

Karl Marx , by William D. Dennison

F ORTHCOMING

Francis Bacon , by David C. Innes

Karl Barth , by Lane G. Tipton

Richard Dawkins , by Ransom H. Poythress

Michel Foucault , by Christopher Watkin

G. W. F. Hegel , by Shao Kai Tseng

David Hume , by James N. Anderson

Friedrich Nietzsche , by Carl R. Trueman

Karl Rahner , by Camden M. Bucey

2017 by William D. Dennison

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwiseexcept for brief quotations for the purpose of review or comment, without the prior permission of the publisher, P&R Publishing Company, P.O. Box 817, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 088650817.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible ( The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-62995-150-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-62995-151-5 (ePub)
ISBN: 978-1-62995-152-2 (Mobi)

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Dennison, William D., 1949- author.

Title: Karl Marx / William D. Dennison.

Description: Phillipsburg : P&R Publishing, 2017. | Series: Great thinkers | Includes bibliographical references and index.