POL 315
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM
In the historical perspective of Marx people are regarded as both the
producers and the products of society. They make society and
themselves by their own actions. History is therefore the process of
human self-creation. Yet people are also a product of society: they are
shaped by the social relationships and systems of thought that they
create. An understanding of society therefore involves a historical
perspective which examines the process whereby humanity both
produces, and is produced by, social reality.
A society forms a totality and can only be understood as such and the
various parts of society are interconnected and influence each other.
Thus, economic, political, legal and religious institutions can only be
understood in terms of their mutual effect. Economic factors, however,
exert the primary influence and largely shape other aspects of society.
The idea of dialectical change was developed by the German
philosopher Hegel. He applied it to the history of human society, and in
particular to the realm of ideas. He saw historical change as a dialectical
movement of human ideas and thoughts. Hegel believed society is
essentially an expression of these thoughts. Thus, in terms of the
dialectic, conflict between incompatible ideas produces new concepts
that provide the basis for social change.
Marx materialism- a reversal of the dialectical idealism of Hegel
rejected the priority Hegel gave to thoughts and ideas (thesis- antithesissynthesis).
Dialectical materialism presumes the primacy of economic
determinants in history. He argued that the source of change lies in
contradictions - in the economic system in particular, and in society in
general. As a result of the priority he gives to economic factors - to
material life. Marx's view of history is often referred to as dialectical
materialism. Since people's ideas are primarily a reflection of the social
relationships of economic production, they do not provide the main
source of change. It is in contradictions and conflict in the economic
system that the major dynamic for social change lies. Since all parts of
society are interconnected, however, it is only through a process of
interplay between these parts that change occurs.
History begins when humans actually produce their means of
subsistence, when they begin to control nature. At a minimum, this
involves the production of food and shelter. Marx argued: 'The first
historical act is, therefore, the production of material life.' Production is
a social enterprise, since it requires cooperation. People must work
together to produce the goods and services necessary for life. From the
social relationships involved in production develops a 'mode of life'
which can be seen as an expression of these relationships. This mode of
life shapes human nature. The nature of humanity and the nature of
society as a whole, derive primarily from the production of material life.
15