AGNES HELLER The Theory of Need in Marx ALLISON & BUSBY, LONDON in association with Spokesman BooksFirst published in Great Britain by Allison & Busby Limited, 6a Noel Street, London WIV 3RB in association with Spokesman Books, Bertrand Russell House, Gamble Street, Nottingham. Copyright © 1974 Agnes Heller and Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore Translation copyright © 1976 Allison & Busby (Original title: Bedeutung und Funktion des Begriffs Bedirfnis im Denken von Karl Marx) Reprinted 1978 ISBN 0 85031 174 8 paperback Set in Lectura and printed by Billing & Sons Limited, Guildford, London and WorcesterCONTENTS Introduction by Ken Coates and Stephen Bodington 7 1 Preliminary observations on Marx's concept of need 23 I The general philosophical concept of needs, and the alienation of needs 40 II The concept of “social need” 67 IV “Radical needs” 74 V_ The “system of needs” and the “society of associated producers” 96 Notes 131 Index 135