Praxis
Praxis is action that is its own point — and, in Marx, the test that theory has to pass.
Full definition of Praxis →:: COMPARE ::
PraxisvsTheory
The short answer
Usually posed as a pair where theory leads and practice follows. Both traditions invert it — Aristotle by making praxis a separate kind of activity with its own end, Marx by making practice the place where theoretical mysteries find their rational solution. The hierarchy everyone assumes is the thing the word was built to challenge.
Side by side
| Aspect | Praxis | Theory |
|---|---|---|
| Comes | First, or alongside | Assumed first |
| For Aristotle | Its own category | Separate |
| For Marx | The criterion | Tested by it |
| Has an external product | No | No |
What each one means
Theory
The contrast above sets out how Theory differs from Praxis on the points that actually matter.