John Bellamy Foster on Marx's Ecology and Epicurean Materialism

In the initial part of a series focusing on ecology and materialism, John Bellamy Foster elucidates how Marx, drawing inspiration from Epicurus and 19th-century scientists, formulated a cohesive materialist perspective that links society with nature. He reflects on his trilogy—'Marx's Ecology', 'The Return of Nature', and 'Breaking the Bonds of Fate'—and explains how Marx's doctoral work on Epicurus established the groundwork for ecological materialism. Foster underscores Marx's concept of metabolic rift, which illustrates the divide between social and natural metabolism within capitalism. He also points out that contemporary research has validated Marx's reading of Epicurus, especially concerning the notions of 'swerve' and human agency, while addressing three dimensions of materialism: ontological, epistemological, and practical, asserting that ecology necessitates a materialist and realist foundation.