Marx in Darwin's sieve

Abstract

It is not because they have always been the peccadillo of those who, in history, devote themselves to the religion of facts or, on the contrary, profess some kind of dogmatism of meaning, that anecdotes must fall into the simple contempt of those who defend, against one another, a critical and rational conception. And here is one, chewed on for a century. In the autumn of 1880, Marx corresponded with Darwin to present his intention to dedicate himself to the English translation of Capital, then nearing completion, and to request his consent. Darwin, with the impeccable style of extreme courtesy that is his correspondence, would have firmly refused this offer. The letter dated and signed of October 13, 1880, is always cited, in which he writes: “I would prefer that the tome or volume not be dedicated to me (although I would be grateful for honoring me with your intention), as that would imply, in in a way, my agreement with the entire work, which I do not know”.