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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 18h

New on our site: "Beneath Class and Consciousness," an essay from X. Rivera Maya and Richard Hunsinger. The authors provide a critique of the theory of the party in Phil A. Neel's work and defend an alternative conception of the party. ctwgwebsite.github.io/blog/2026/Pa...

Image: La città che sale by Umberto Boccioni (1911), an Italian Futurist painting of men in a city street struggling to restrain horses

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

EP28: in this episode, we discuss Pietro Daniel Omodeo’s Political Epistemology. We examine Omodeo’s enlarged conception of ideology, what political epistemology even is, and how action, understood as the unity of praxis and poiesis mediates history. buff.ly/KTS4I95

An American artist's (mistaken) drawing of how the Digesting Duck may have worked. See the Wikipedia page on this.

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Anatarah عنترة @damashummus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

ICYMI: the time will be at 1 PM EST. Please join us if you can!

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James Crane @jamescrane.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

join us this upcoming Saturday at 1pm Eastern US time / 5pm GMT — we’ll be talking Margin Notes 2: Excavations, from young Lukács & Julius Schaxel’s dialectical biology to Adorno-Horkheimer’s “dialectical logic” & more!

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Critics & theorists! We invite you to our discussion of “Excavations,” Vol. 2 of our Margin Notes: A Journal of Critical Theory, on Sept 19 (time TBD). This event will be held on Zoom and recorded for our Patreon. It will feature a brief presentation + Q&A. buff.ly/VeXcPPU

Margin Notes: A Journal of Critical Theory. Volume Two: Excavations by the Critical Theory Working Group.

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

For EP27 we are joined by @germainequeer.bsky.social to discuss her forthcoming piece 'Charaktermasken: Value, Relation and Performance in Marx's Critique of Political Economy.' The Q: how can we rethink the relation between personification & reification? buff.ly/SPWZrH4

Nora choose this image. I suck at description. — Anatarah

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Nick @dfmanufracture.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

This Schaxel translation (and the intro written by @damashummus.bsky.social ) absolutely rips. Absolute must-read essay on the mystification of "the individual" in the field of biology, a lesson with philosophical and political dimensions that remain more important than ever.

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James Crane @jamescrane.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

We got it all: communist phronesis of self-critique for revolutionaries in defeat, nested dialectical-biological dissolutions of the individual, setting up a speculative deduction of homosexuality, dialectical-logical vanishing acts, & our forays in materialist history of philosophy! tap in freaks

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Anatarah عنترة @damashummus.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

You can learn about the origin of dialectical biology in this issue of MN! There is still a lot to be said about a real Marxist philosophy of science, but I’m hoping we do so with people from within the tradition, who have been seldom translated!

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

1920 "Self-Criticism" essay serves as an appendix to Morain's text. Finally, the volume's editorial introduction explains its thematic through-line: excavation. "Better science than graverobbing, but better graverobbing than idle piety." End/🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

J. E. Morain has contributed the essay "Lukács in Context," which, as the title suggests, stages a painstaking reconstruction of the political world surrounding Georg Lukács in the years following the Hungarian Revolution of 1919. A translation of Lukács's... 8/🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The fragments written collectively by CTWG, entitled "Shards of Spirits," serve as the volume's centerpiece. These short essays discuss diverse thinkers from world history, from the Akkadian priestess Enheduanna and Confucius, to Iraqi polymath Al-Jahiz and Machiavelli. 7/🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

HJ Krahl's fragmentary text "Ontology and Eros" is translated and introduced by JE Morain. The schematic essay investigates the intertwinement of sexuality and metaphysics in the history of western philosophy and religion, while Morain's intro uncovers its political subtext. 6/🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

but the introduction was penned by CTWG's resident biologist, Anatarah bin Al-Kaf. A brief biographical sketch of Schaxel's fascinating life is complemented by an analysis of his core argument in the text and the particularities of his conceptual vocabulary. 5/🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

of the texts by Christ and Genel. The introduction summarizes the background and context of these texts, dispelling many myths that have been woven by previous commentators in the process. Julius Schaxel's essay "The Biological Individual" was translated by Crane...4/🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The TRs of Horkheimer and Adorno's texts on dialectical logic were the product of a longterm translation project by JE Morain and James Crane that referenced Horkheimer's collected works, variants from Horkheimer's archive, and the existing French translations of some..3/🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

This volume is the product of nearly 2 years of hard work from CTWG. This thread will introduce all the texts, starting with the translations. All of the TRs are paired with intros, making the content accessible even to those unfamiliar with authors like Krahl and Schaxel...2/🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

MARGIN NOTES 2 IS OUT! Featuring original contributions from J. E. Morain and CTWG alongside translations of texts by Georg Lukács, Hans-Jürgen Krahl, Julius Schaxel, Max Horkheimer, and Theodor Adorno—all appearing here in English for the first time! ctwgwebsite.github.io/projects/3_p... 👇🧵

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

It's the Countdown: For Margin Notes vol. 2, James Crane has collected and translated a series of texts by Horkheimer and Adorno related to the former’s unrealised project to write a book on dialectical logic.

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

MN vol 2 "Excavations" will be with you very soon. Watch this space! 👀 👀

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

New episode of the Critique of the Podcast Form. Episode 26: MUG Moment (ft. Ben L.) In it, important questions will be asked, most prominently, what the hell is neo-Kautskyism? www.patreon.com/crittheorywo...

A screenshot of a Bill Maher episode, where he talks about MUG

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Soon! Here is an excerpt from our editorial for Margin Notes Vol 2, titled "Excavations": "A volume of gravedigging, on the hope that the dead still breathe and yearn to be reborn to the surface through the shovels of digger-midwives."

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Coming very soon: "Fragments for A Dialectical Logic" with the second volume of 2 of Margin Notes!

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Helen @wokesteppenomad.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The cat's out of the bag: Margin Notes 2 will be releasing soon. Much like the first volume, you will be able to read the entirety of the issue for free on our website: ctwgwebsite.github.io

ctwgwebsite.github.io

CTWG

A website for collective self-clarification without consolation

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James Crane @jamescrane.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

“Excavations” will also ft. original translations of + intro essays to Hans-Jürgen Krahl’s Ontology & Eros fragment, Lukács’ Selbstkritik (1919), & Julius Schaxel’s “Biological Individual” (1930). You’ll be able to read / download the whole vol for free on our blog! Stay tuned! ctwgwebsite.github.io

ctwgwebsite.github.io

CTWG

A website for collective self-clarification without consolation

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km cascia @kmcascia.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

issue 1 was a banger. chuffed for numero two. brainy marxists should be all over the work this group is doing

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James Crane @jamescrane.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

CTWG is prepping to release Vol 2 of our journal, Margin Notes, later this month — ft. a lot of new translations, incl. Horkheimer’s “Fragments for A Dialectical Logic (1938-1949)” + a long intro essay by yours truly on Horkheimer+Adorno’s idea for the project!

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Together, they answer a burning question of our movement: are trans women bourgeois?

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Nora, Imogen, and Helen are joined by friend of the pod Ashley to discuss two articles from the new volume of Mediations: Emma Heaney's "On the Cisness of the Bourgeoisie" and Amy De'Ath's "Two Substantialisms: On Value and Sexual Difference."

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

EP 25: Cisification of the Bourgeoisie www.patreon.com/crittheorywo...

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Today we commemorate the victims of the Strage di Bologna, a grotesque act of neofascist violence committed against the citizens of Bologna on this date in 1980.

Photo of Stazione di Bologna Centrale shortly after the bombing.

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

EP24 Schelling’s Clara: Conversations on the Absolute. Crane, Imogen, & Nora talk Schelling’s Clara dialogue (ca. 1810) as a work on/of mourning, discussing the resurrection/transmigration of souls, nature-spirit dialectics, & the humanity of beavers!

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Episode 24: Schelling’s Clara: Conversations on the Absolute. | Critical Theory Working Group

For episode 24 and part 2 in our Schelling series, James is joined by Imogen and Nora to discuss one of Schelling's unfinished works: Clara,

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

EP23: Schelling’s Early Philosophy of Nature. Crane, Anatarah, & J.E. tackle Schelling’s programmatic intros to the 1790s Naturphilosophie, concepts like force & organism, & ask: what does the project have to offer critical theory of nature & natural science today? www.patreon.com/crittheorywo...

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James Crane @jamescrane.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

New pod ep on "The Logic of Gender" from Endnotes 3! Tap in!

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James Crane @jamescrane.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

celebrity guest appearance at the @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social editorial meeting today

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Helen @wokesteppenomad.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

They didn't let me call this one the Woke DEI Pronouns Blue Hair Septum Piercing Episode :/

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Imogen, Helen, and Nora kvetch about "The Logic of Gender" from Endnotes 3. Topics include whether capital is a totality (it is), whether Butler reduces gender to the value-form (they don't), and whether this article gets into enough detail regarding the history of the family (absolutely not).

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James Crane @jamescrane.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

EP21: A Critical Theory of Christianity? Julian & I talk Horkheimer’s 1940s close engagement with Neo-Thomism & church history given his anti-fascist 30s polemics & neo-con 60s retreat, asking: what might a critical theory of religion look like today? www.patreon.com/crittheorywo...

patreon.com

Episode 21: A Critical Theory of Christianity? (Ft. Julian Assele) | Critical Theory Working Group

Episode 21: A Critical Theory of Christianity? (Ft. Julian Assele) by Critical Theory Working Group on Patreon. Join Critical Theory Working Group's community for exclusive content and updates.

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

in volume two of our journal Margin Notes, estimated to release some time next month. In this fragmentary essay, Krahl ironically analyzes the relationship between sexuality and metaphysics in classical Greek philosophy and its legacy 2/2. The link to our website is in our bio!

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Happy Pride Month! Today we remember Hans-Jürgen Krahl, the openly gay critical theorist and leader of the New Left student movement in Germany who tragically died in 1970 at just 27 by a car accident. A translation of his text "Ontology and Eros" will appear [...] 1/2

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

EP20: Inside the Manesar Labor Movement Mac & Re are joined by Shreya from the Center for Struggling Trade Unions (CSTU) to discuss the recent wave of workers strikes & history of mobilization in North India, raising questions for labor organizing today! www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: On WEDNESDAY (5/20) at 7:30 PM Eastern US Time we will be hosting a meeting in our Discord server to present and discuss a newly translated text by Georg Lukács. Please visit our Patreon for the (free) invite link to the Discord and additional info www.patreon.com/posts/158506...

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Critical Theory Working Group @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

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Anatarah عنترة @damashummus.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Hey all, my friends and I, dubbed by Crane as the “critical science studies crew,” return once more, but this time to talk about Peter Damerow; cognitive structures; and how you should learn everything. Reflective abstractions > real abstractions. www.patreon.com/posts/158226...

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Episode 19: Peter Damerow and the Ontogeny of Thinking | Critical Theory Working Group

Episode 19: Peter Damerow and the Ontogeny of Thinking by Critical Theory Working Group on Patreon. Join Critical Theory Working Group's community for exclusive content and updates.

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