Andy Blunden – författare

Andy Blunden presents an immanent critique of Cultural-Historical Activity Theory, the psychology originating from the great Russian psychologist, Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934). Tracing the roots of this theory from Goethe, Hegel and Marx, Andy Bluden draws out the principles with which Vygotsky developed a theory of the mind, in which he overcame and transcended the problems of mind-body dualism.

Andy Blunden presents an interdisciplinary review of theories of concepts of interest to cognitive psychology, analytic philosophy, linguistics, and the history of science. Problems within these disciplines establishing reductive theories of the conceptual have led some to abandon concepts altogether in favor of interactionist or narrowly pragmatic approaches.

STUDIES IN CRITICAL SOCIAL SCIENCES, VOLUME 66 presents research in such diverse disciplines as education, psychotherapy, social work, literacy and anti-poverty project management, social movement studies and political science. Giving concrete content to the concept of 'project' in each domain of research opens a prospect of a genuinely interdisciplinary human science.

Building on his highly original and always insightful earlier works on collective activity, in Origins of Collective Decision Making Andy Blunden turns his attention to the question of how groups make decisions. Examining three paradigms - Counsel, Majority, and Consensus based methods - Blunden discovers that each has unique ethical foundations, deeply rooted in the historical experiences of specific struggles.

Hegel for Social Movements by Andy Blunden is an introduction to the reading of Hegel intended for those already active in social movements. It introduces Hegel's ideas in a way which will be useful for those fighting for social change, and while some familiarity with philosophy would be an advantage for the reader, the main pre-requisite is a commitment to the practical pursuit of ideal aims. The book covers the whole sweep of Hegel's writing, but focuses particularly on the Logic and Hegel's social theory—the Philosophy of Right. Blunden brings to his exposition an original interpretation of Hegel's Logic as the logic of social change, utilizing his expertise in Vygotsky's cultural psychology and Soviet Activity Theory.

Andy Blunden's Hegel Marx & Vygotsky, Essays in Social Philosophy presents his novel approach to social theory in a series of essays. Blunden aims to use the cultural psychology of Lev Vygotsky and the Soviet Activity Theorists to renew Hegelian Marxism as an interdisciplinary science. This allows psychologists and social theorists to share their insights through concepts equally valid in either domain. The work includes critical reviews of the works of central figures in Soviet psychology and other writers offering fruitful insights. Essays on topics as diverse as vaccine scepticism and the origins of language test out the interdisciplinary power of the theory, as well as key texts on historical analysis, methodology and the nature of the present conjuncture.

Andy Blunden presents an immanent critique of Cultural-Historical Activity Theory, the current of psychology originating from Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934). Tracing the roots of this theory from Goethe, Hegel and Marx, the author draws out the principles with which Vygotsky developed a theory of the mind in which the individual and their social situation form a single Gestalt, transcending the problems of mind-body dualism. Blunden follows the efforts of later members of the School to resolve outstanding problems in Vygotsky’s work. This includes a critical appropriation of Leontyev’s Activity Theory and Michael Cole’s cross-cultural research on the role of context in learning. The outcome is a concept of activity which transcends the division between individual and social domains in human sciences.

Andy Blunden presents a critical review of theories of Concepts in cognitive psychology, analytical philosophy, linguistics, conceptual change theory and other disciplines. The problems in these disciplines has led many to abandon the idea of Concepts altogether, particularly those taking an interactionist approach. Blunden responds with an historical review focussing on the idealist philosophy of Hegel, its reception and transformation in the development of positive science and finally the cultural psychology of Lev Vygotsky. He then proposes an approach to Concepts which draws on Activity Theory. Concepts are equally subjective and objective, units of consciousness and of the cultural formation of which one is a part. This continues the author’s earlier work in An Interdisciplinary Theory of Activity (Brill 2010).

Hegel for Social Movements by Andy Blunden is an introduction to the reading of Hegel intended for those already active in social movements. It introduces Hegel’s ideas in a way which will be useful for those fighting for social change, and while some familiarity with philosophy would be an advantage for the reader, the main pre-requisite is a commitment to the practical pursuit of ideal aims. The book covers the whole sweep of Hegel’s writing, but focuses particularly on the Logic and Hegel’s social theory – the Philosophy of Right. Blunden brings to his exposition an original interpretation of Hegel’s Logic as the logic of social change, utilizing his expertise in Vygotsky’s cultural psychology and Soviet Activity Theory.

Here, Andy Blunden presents the first of two volumes on how Marx used Hegel's Logic in his Capital. In this first volume, Blunden reviews the current literature on the topic with detailed reviews of the contribution of 10 authors, representing the spectrum of approaches. Finding that present-day writers fail to understand the Logic and misrepresent Capital as a work of Logic, Blunden focuses on the passage in the Logic entitled "The Idea of the True," which is ignored by every writer in the present-day debate.

Following the companion volume, The Capital/Logic Debate, Blunden presents a systematic presentation of the Hegelian structure of the three volumes of Capital. It is shown that Capital contains three distinct layers of structure, originating from Marx’s reading of Hegel’s Logic and his Philosophy of Right. Capital reflects Marx’s critique of the Political Economists, his unique appropriation of economic history and an application of the method outlined by Hegel in his Logic and applied to his Encyclopaedia. These insights into Capital are presented here for the first time.

Andy Blunden completes his immanent critique of Activity Theory, begun in 2010 with An Interdisciplinary Theory of Activity.A summary of the ontological foundations of Activity Theory introduces a critical review of the work of activity theorists across the world with a focus of applications in medical and educational contexts, and concludes with a review of the ethics of collaboration. Blunden expands the domain of Activity Theory to address the pressing problems facing humanity today and activities lacking in clear objects, collaboration in voluntary projects and social movements, the life projects of individuals and emerging practices. Blunden brings an understanding of Marxist and Hegelian philosophy to bear on the application of Activity Theory to problems of social change.

The Capital / Logic Debate is the first of two volumes on how Marx used Hegel's Logic in his Capital. Andy Blunden reviews the current literature on the topic with detailed analysis of the contribution of ten authors, representing the spectrum of approaches. Finding that present-day writers fail to understand the Logic and misrepresent Capital as a work of Logic, Blunden focuses on the passage in the Logic entitled "The Idea of the True," which is ignored by every writer in the present-day debate.