Karl Marx e o método a partir dos estudos de Marcello Musto - implicações para a teoria do conhecimento

Abstract

This doctoral thesis presents the results of an investigation whose object of research is the analysis of the character and theoretical-methodological implications of Marx's method for understanding reality, based on the most recent studies and contributions of the Italian thinker Marcello Musto. The guiding question for the development of the investigation was: What is the character and theoretical-methodological implications of Marx's method, considering Musto's contributions? To answer this research question, the following specific questions were established: a) To investigate the main contributions of Marcello Musto to the understanding of the character and theoretical-methodological implications of Marx's method; b) To present the theoretical references and studies in the analysis of what became known as Marx's theory, the so-called materialist conception of history and the method linked to it, elaborated by the Italian author, taking into account the debates held in the field of Marxism; c) Identify the author's main contributions to Marx's transition to materialism, the characteristics of his conception of history and his method of analyzing reality, its theoretical and methodological implications, and the relationship between theory and social practice, according to Marx's conception of method; d) Analyze how the author decisively contributes to the updating of the method and its importance for understanding reality in transformation. As part of the dialectical materialist theoretical-methodological conception employed in this research, we initially sought to appropriate existing sources on the research object, from materials available in books, documents, newspapers, periodicals, and pages on the World Wide Web, particularly referring to the most recent contributions of Musto (2014; 2018; 2022; 2023a; 2023b; 2024a; 2024b; 2024c), complemented by approaches, contributions, observations, and critiques from other authors such as Netto (2020; 2011; 2006), Yamamoto (1994), Carvalho (2008), Novack (2015; 2005), Rosdolsky (2001), Rubin (1987), and Heinrich (2018; 2008), regarding Marx's method. This research is bibliographic in nature, as it seeks to unveil the investigated reality from a dialectical theoretical-methodological perspective, within which Musto generally seeks to situate himself, through methodological procedures such as a bibliographic survey of the researched author and his perspective on Marx's legacy (2017a; 2002; 2017c; 2013; 2011a; 2009a; 1982b; 2009; 1998). Thus, the thesis is structured as follows: 1) the first section contains the introduction; 2) the second section presents the elements that made possible Marx's transition from philosophical idealism to what he called historical materialism; 3) In the third section, the essence and character of the new materialist and dialectical theory, synthetically formulated in an unfinished manner by Marx and Engels in *The German Ideology* (1845-1846), are analyzed; 4) In the fourth section, an investigation is undertaken into the very process of expansion and development of the founders' theory and the method linked to it, in the post-1846 period; 5) In the fifth section, an analysis of the most fundamental elements of Marx's method is presented, based on the contributions of Marcello Musto, complemented by a set of references from the Marxist field; 6) In the sixth section, a reflection is presented on the theoretical and methodological implications of Marx's materialist and dialectical conception, and its consequences for the relationship between theory and social practice. In the final considerations, we point out perspectives opened by Musto's interpretation for research, but also what we consider to be limitations. The research results support the following thesis: Musto's contributions can open new possibilities for a deeper understanding of the method and, therefore, for the development of interpretations, debates, and advances in knowledge of the question of theory and method in Marx.