There is some hope that we are approaching a time when the discussions of the intellectual heritage of Karl Marx will no longer be conducted predominantly in terms of the acceptance or rejection of his teachings (especially as a whole), but will rather be imbued with a spirit of historical insight. Not only can many sanctuaries of Marx-worship still be found all over the world, but even new and quite novel sanctuaries are in the process of cropping up. On the other hand, one is still beset with the never-ending trial in which judgement is passed on the pathological effects and the confusion which Karl Marx brought into our world. It is not to be expected that this trend will suddenly come to an end. But a shift in the assessment may well be in the making.