Choi Jang-jip, one of the most well-known progressive political philosophers in Korea, didn’t include Karl Marx in his latest lecture list. Marxism is well-read in Korea’s intellectual community and for those in the progressive camp, it is especially enshrined as the “only knowledge.”
So, Choi’s decision not to include Marxism comes as surprise.
“I intentionally excluded Marxism,” Choi said in an unabashed manner in an interview with the local JoongAng Ilbo newspaper Saturday.
“The problem with Marxism is that there is no role for politics in it. That’s why Marxism failed in reality. Marxism was inadequate to deal with the problem of power because it attached almost unilateral importance to the ideals and mandates to follow, without reflecting political reality,” he said.
Choi said the Korean society is already full of such idealism and sales pitches of “what must be done.”
“What today’s Korean society needs the most is not this kind of idealized mandates, but the ability to carry out good politics grounded in reality,” he said.
“The absence of ‘politics’ in the Korean society is the biggest enemy to democracy,” he argued.
For that matter, Choi said, he thinks what the Korean society needs now is Machiavelli, not Marx.
“Don’t get me wrong. That’s just my diagnosis for the reality of the Korean society,” he said, apparently defending his choice of Machiavelli as a symbol for a political philosopher who is well-connected with reality, who detached himself from the Marxian idealism.
Choi said the Korean society shouldn’t set a too ideal goal, which is unrealizable, but should look for realistic ways for actual political solutions. “For that to be possible, we need the wisdom of reality than anything else.”