Founding the Social: The Role of Subjectivity in Lukacs’ Ontology and Ethical Project

György Lukács' "Ontology of Social Being" (1978) aims to develop a comprehensive philosophical system and construct a Marxist ethics grounded in a robust ontological framework. Central to Lukács' theory is the concept of labour as a fundamental phenomenon that models social creation and highlights the importance of intentionality and subjectivity in forming social relations and normative structures. This thesis seeks to analyze the role of intentionality and subjectivity in Lukács' envisioned Marxist ethics. The primary research question is: "What is the role, in Lukács, of intentionality and subjectivity in Marxist ethics?" By examining the works of Hegel, Marx, Hartmann, and Lukács' core texts, I will specify the place of these concepts in his system. Additionally, I will explore Titus Stahl's claim that social normativity originates in labour through a social pragmatist model of linguistic meaning. The secondary question is: "How does a social pragmatist model of linguistic meaning account for the foundation of social normativity in labour?" This research aims to determine if normative rules from labour dynamics can fully encompass moral phenomena, thus properly assessing the role of intentionality and subjectivity in Lukács' Marxist ethics.