Cornelius Castoriadis French philosopher, economist and psychoanalyst Date of Birth: 11.03.1922 Country: France

1. French Intellectual and Sociologist
2. Early Life and Political Activism
3. International Communist Party
4. Critique of the Left
5. Article and Group Dissolution

French Intellectual and Sociologist

Cornelius Castoriadis was a renowned French philosopher, economist, and psychoanalyst of Greek origin. His life and work were marked by a series of transformative experiences and intellectual engagements.

Early Life and Political Activism

Castoriadis was born in 1922 in Istanbul, Turkey. At the age of 15, amidst the authoritarian regime of Ioannis Metaxas in Greece, he joined an underground communist organization. However, his disillusionment with the Communist Party led him to join the ultra-left Trotskyist group led by Spyros Stinos.

International Communist Party

In 1945, Castoriadis affiliated with the Trotskyist group International Communist Party (French section of the Fourth International). Together with Claude Lefort, he founded the ultra-left group "Socialisme ou Barbarie" and published a journal of the same name.

Critique of the Left

During the Cold War, Castoriadis's critique of the official left from a leftist perspective faced marginalization. The polarization of society between the Western and Eastern blocs left little space for nuanced criticism.

Article and Group Dissolution

In 1959, Castoriadis's article "Revolutionary Movement under Modern Capitalism" triggered internal conflict within "Socialisme ou Barbarie." Despite attempts to block its publication, the article was published in 1960. Castoriadis argued that the problems facing the left originated in Marxism itself and that the concept of a revolutionary proletariat was outdated. The ensuing conflict led to the group's dissolution in 1966.