What is Practice? Pgs 78-84

Question 1

What does the text affirm about the role of practice compared to theory?

Answer 1

The text affirms the primacy of practice, arguing that practice determines all knowledge and is fundamental to human life.

Question 2

How is practice defined in relation to the material world?

Answer 2

Practice is defined as an “active relationship to the real,” characterized by direct involvement and interaction with the material world.

Question 2

What are the two types of practice according to Aristotle?

Answer 2

The two types of practice are poiesis (production or fabrication) and praxis (self-transformation through action)

Question 3

Why is practice considered fundamentally social?

Answer 3

Even individual practices are social because they operate within a framework of shared techniques, tools, and societal demands.

Question 3

How are social practices conceptualized in the document?

Answer 3

Social practices are seen as complex processes involving interconnected material, ideological, theoretical, and human elements.

Question 4

What caution does the text offer regarding Marx’s base-superstructure model?

Answer 4

The text cautions against rigidly fitting all practices within the model and emphasizes analyzing each practice’s specific relations and autonomy.

Question 4

What does Marx’s topographical model suggest about practice?

Answer 4

Marx’s model positions the practice of production as the “base” that ultimately determines other practices (superstructure) like law and ideologies.

Question 5

How does the text view scientific practice?

Answer 5

While influenced by production, ideology, and class struggle, scientific practice is viewed as distinct, generating objective knowledge and requiring specific analysis.

Question 6

What does the quote “Practice designates people’s active contact with the real and produces results of social utility” imply?

Answer 6

It implies that practice is essential for engaging with the world and creating outcomes that are useful to society.

Question 7

What thesis does Marxist materialist philosophy defend?

Answer 7

It defends the thesis that the practice of production is the practice that ultimately determines all others.

Question 7

What is a crucial point regarding the social aspect of practices?

Answer 7

Individual practices can only be understood as social, highlighting the interconnectedness of personal actions within a social context.

Question 8

Why is the idea of an active relationship with the real significant in practice?

Answer 8

It emphasizes the transformative nature of practice, highlighting human agency in shaping the world, as opposed to passive observation.

Question 8

What are the two senses of the word “practice” according to Aristotle?

Answer 8

Aristotle distinguishes between poiesis (the practice of production) and praxis (the practice of self-transformation). Marx uses both senses in relation to labor processes and revolutionary processes.

Question 9

What does “social practice” refer to, and what are its potential pitfalls?

Answer 9

It refers to interconnected processes shaping social reality. The pitfalls include obscuring the unique characteristics and relative autonomy of individual practices.

Question 9

Why does the author argue that all human beings are theorists?

Answer 9

Because they possess language, enabling them to form representations of reality, make connections, and anticipate events, indicating a capacity for abstraction.

Question 9

How does the author suggest we approach the opposition between theory and practice?

Answer 9

With caution, recognizing their complex interdependency, as even simple practices involve theoretical considerations and theories are grounded in practical activity.

Question 10

What is the central question regarding practices within a social formation?

Answer 10

The central question is which practice is determinant within the totality of practices, impacting how we engage with and understand them.

Question 11

How do idealist and materialist views differ regarding determinant practices?

Answer 11

Idealism sees the determinant practice as the most theoretical ones, while materialism posits the practice of production as the ultimate determinant of all other practices.

Question 12

What is the “paradox” surrounding scientific practice in Marx’s topography?

Answer 12

The paradox is the absence of scientific practice in the topography, raising questions about its alignment with ideology, productive forces, or its distinct nature.

Question 12

Describe Marx’s “topography” for social formations.

Answer 12

Marx’s topography depicts society as a house, with the “base” (production) on the ground floor and the “superstructure” (law, state, ideologies) above, where the base determines the superstructure in the last instance.

Question 13

Why is it important to study scientific practice in its specificity?

Answer 13

To understand its unique characteristics and the complex, historically contingent relationships it has with other practices, including production, ideology, and class struggle.

Question 14

What does “poiesis” mean?

Answer 14

The practice of production or fabrication, transforming raw materials into objects.

Question 15

What is the “base” in Marx’s topography?

Answer 15

The sphere of production, including the relations and forces of production.

Question 16

Define “praxis.”

Answer 16

The practice of self-transformation through action.

Question 17

What is meant by “determinant practice”?

Answer 17

The practice that ultimately shapes and influences other practices within a social formation.

Question 18

Explain “determination in the last instance.”

Answer 18

The concept that the base ultimately determines the superstructure, while the superstructure retains relative autonomy and can exert reciprocal influence.