Oxford PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Students and Applicants

Why would I lie about reading stuff on an internet forum? I don't want to argue with you or turn this into anything spiteful, but the absolute foundings of Marx's work lies in his dialectical materialism, which he pretty much stole from Hegel. I don't know how you could read Marx with any solid foundations without understanding his dialectic approach to history. Without that, it's meaningless. It'd just turn into idealist utopic nonsense - exactly the sort of thing Marx was against.


Beautiful! Thanks!

I'm sorry, but I wasn't being terribly serious. I just swear Das Kapital is massive! Three volumes as well! But really well done - thats quite a feat!

Well Marx took Hegel's dialectical idealism but "corrected" his logic as he was "stood on his head".

Sorry do you mean I need a solid foundation in Marx's background? Because my foundations are reasonably strong. Or do you mean people in general must have a strong foundation in Marx's logics background or it will turn to "idealist nonsense", because that doesn't seem correct. If the communist manifesto required background knowledge then surely Marx would have included it in the manifesto? As people would often only read the manifesto and no other Marx - it is a manifesto after all - then presumably it would have to stand up logically on its own without turning to idealist nonsense... no?

I'd like to read the German Ideology... Would you reccomend I read it over the summer?

[edit]

hey guys i just wrote a 1st draft personal statement and i was wondering if a successful ppe-ist at oxford could have a look for me and give me some pointers ?

So I hear it's either Cells or CompSci in Year 1. Which one, and why?

And It's dialectical materialism. Marx was without a doubt a staunch materialist, and hence his split with the Hegelians, his meeting with Engels, and the history behind his works .Like I said, Marx was a staunch critic of idealism.

I'm pretty sure Marx hated the manifesto. It was the poetic, idealist nonsense that he found useless for the natural progression of history to a world ideal. It's the reason Marx said things like "I am not a Marxist". He didn't want Marxism to become some 'ideal' ideology. You can say that the Communist Manifesto is exactly that - a manifesto for the communist party (hence how it's aged badly) - it wasn't meant to be a philosophical outlining of 'Marxism'; whereas Das Kapital (at least the first volume, as that's the only one I've read) is the scientific and economic outline that's mean to give people the 'background knowledge'. I'd call Marx a histographer before a philosopher. His interpretation of world history, combined with Hegel's idea of a 'Geist', inevitably lead towards social cohesion. Marx merely outlined and elaborated on what he thought this ideal would be. I would say that Marxism is not an ideology, or any location on the political compass. It's merely an interpretation of history, and where Marx envisaged human society to end up.

And It's dialectical materialism. Marx was without a doubt a staunch materialist, and hence his split with the Hegelians, his meeting with Engels, and the history behind his works. Like I said, Marx was a staunch critic of idealism.

edit: let's not argue Marxism in this thread. It just looks silly . You can PM me if you want.

Indeed, but what about his dielectric materials? Were they ideal?

It might seem like funny advice coming from a CompSci (who loves the subject) but... don't do CompSci.

People I know in that situation tended to take MMS or Geology. Let me clarify, I don't mean to put anybody off CompSci!....

I was just thinking, I should really buy myself a subscription to The Economist, but I can't really afford it...

Reading The Economist's website is good enough, right? (right!?!)

That also reminded me, how when I dragged a friend to a PPE talk at the York open day, we walked into the room, and there must have been at least 10 people reading the economist, as if to try and score points with the admissions tutors. Me and my friend laughed it off, but I'm still quite worried by it..

i swear you can get 12 issues for a pound or something like that . As it's monthly that should at least maintain you up until your application.

My college has back copies of the economic review which i guess is the next best thing .

It's weekly, and £4 an issue off the shelf!

I got this weeks' copy, as it looked interesting, and there was an offer: "6 issues for £1". I might sign up for that, and see if I can quit out at the last minute, before I get charged standard rate..

I have a subscription to Prospect, which was £16 for 6 months, and managed to convince my library to cancel their subscription to The Spectator, and change it to The New Statesman. They're good reads.

I think i'll probably give it a go, can you change courses in the first few weeks, provided your willing to catch up? The thought of a 1/4 of my first year at uni studying geology, when I want to specialise in physics as soon as possible, seems pointless. Plus it sounds to me as though MMS and geology would involve essays and such? Which is why Compsci appeals to me as the only relevant 4th option to what I want to specialise in. Of course the fact that compscis take the same paper as natscis, puts inexperienced natscis like me at a disadvantage, but i'm probably willing to take the hit to my grades to study something relevant. I'm sure this will all be explained with the DOS when/if I get to cambridge?

This is me just being lazy and getting everyone to suggest colleges I might lik. :P:
So, here's a general preference

a) Close to Bodleian Library
b) Good bar/JCR etc.
c) Not too fussed about food, but preferrably decent kitchen facilities
d) Choir/Drama that's likely to let people join even if theyre not great
e) Where sports is fun and lots of people just enjoy themselves without getting overly competitive
f) Christian chapel/service -- easy access will be nice.
g) I don't mind it big, in size or population so long as there's a friendly atmosphere
h) somewhere kids aren't TOO uptight over academics.. ie people who can take studying seriously, but still have fun.

I know this sounds like a lot, like I'm really picky. But if anyone's got suggestions that fill a least some of the criteria, please let me know.

Thanks