Dialectical Materialism: An Introduction by Maurice Cornforth

8/10/2019 Dialectical Materialism: An Introduction by Maurice Cornforth

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Dialectical Materialism: An Introduction

Volume One of the 3-volumeMaterialism and the Dialectical Method (By Maurice Cornforth 1960)

Foreword The pre ent volume !eal "ith the #a ic i!ea of Mar$i t materiali m an! the !ialectical metho!% & fe" minorrevi ion have #een ma!e in the te$t for the econ! e!ition' an! t"o ne" chapter have #een a!!e! (Chapter

ine an! Ten) in place of Chapter ine of the fir t e!ition% have trie! to confine my elf to a trai*htfor"ar! e$po ition of the lea!in* i!ea of !ialectical materiali m' o far a

my elf have uccee!e! in un!er tan!in* them' "ithout #ur!enin* the e$po ition "ith !i*re ion into moretechnical +ue tion of philo ophy' or "ith !i cu ion a#out an! polemic a*ain t any of the more a# tru ephilo ophical theorie ' pa t an! pre ent' or "ith much of the ar*umentation a#out particular point "hich mi*ht #enece ary to !efen! them a*ain t philo ophical opponent %

have !one my #e t to limit the u e of technical term to the minimum' an! to *ive an e$planation of the meanin* ofall uch term a an! "hen they occur%

Maurice Cornforth' ,on!on%

PART ONE: MATERIALISM 1 Part! Philoso"h! Part! Philoso"h! and #lass Philoso"h!

very philo ophy e$pre e a cla outloo.% But in contra t to the e$ploitin* cla e ' "hich have al"ay ou*htto uphol! an! /u tify their cla po ition #y variou !i *ui e an! fal ification ' the "or.in* cla ' from it very clapo ition an! aim ' i concerne! to .no" an! un!er tan! thin* /u t a they are' "ithout !i *ui e or fal ification%

The party of the "or.in* cla nee! a philo ophy "hich e$pre e a revolutionary cla outloo.% The alternativei to em#race i!ea ho tile to the "or.in* cla an! to ociali m%

Thi !etermine the materiali t character of our philo ophy%

ialectical materiali m ha #een !efine! #y talin a 2 The "orl! outloo. of the Mar$i t-,enini t 4arty%5 781

Thi !efinition mu t appear a tran*e one' #oth to many politician an! to many philo opher % But "e "ill not #e*in toun!er tan! !ialectical materiali m unle "e can *ra p the thou*ht "hich lie #ehin! thi !efinition%

,et u a .' fir t of all' "hat conception of philo ophy lie #ehin! the i!ea e$pre e! in thi !efinition of party or ince aparty i al"ay the political repre entative of a cla cla philo ophy%

By philo ophy i u ually meant our mo t *eneral account of the nature of the "orl! an! of man.in!: place an! !e tiny in it our "orl! outloo.%

That #ein* un!er too!' it i evi!ent that every#o!y ha ome .in! of philo ophy' even thou*h he ha never learne! to

!i cu it% very#o!y i influence! #y philo ophical vie" ' even thou*h he ha not thou*ht them out for him elf an! cannotformulate them%

ome people' for e$ample' thin. that thi "orl! i nothin* #ut a vale of tear an! that our life in it i the preparation for a#etter life in another an! #etter "orl!% They accor!in*ly #elieve that "e houl! uffer "hatever #efall u "ith fortitu!e' not

tru**lin* a*ain t it' #ut tryin* to !o "hatever *oo! "e can to our fello" creature % Thi i one .in! of philo ophy' one .in!of "orl! outloo.%

Other people thin. that the "orl! i a place to *ro" rich in' an! that each houl! loo. out for him elf% Thi i another .in! ofphilo ophy%

But *rante! that our philo ophy i our "orl! outloo.' the ta . ari e of "or.in* out thi "orl! outloo. y tematically an! in!etail' turnin* it into a "ell-formulate! an! coherent theory' turnin* va*uely hel! popular #elief an! attitu!e into more or


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le y tematic !octrine % Thi i "hat the philo opher !o%

By the time the philo opher have "or.e! out their theorie ' they have often pro!uce! omethin* very complicate!' verya# tract an! very har! to un!er tan!% But even thou*h only a comparatively fe" people may rea! an! !i*e t the actualpro!uction of philo opher ' the e pro!uction may an! !o have a very "i!e influence% ;or the fact that philo opher have

y tematie can only conclu!e from thi that the "or.in* cla ' if to!ay it inten! to ta.e over lea!er hip of ociety' nee! to e$preit o"n cla outloo. in philo ophical form' an! to oppo e thi philo ophy to the philo ophie "hich e$pre the outloo. an!!efen! the intere t of the e$ploiter %

@The ervice ren!ere! #y Mar$ an! n*el to the "or.in* cla may #e e$pre e! in a fe" "or! thu 2 they tau*ht the"or.in* cla to .no" it elf an! #e con ciou of it elf' an! they u# titute! cience for !ream ' "rote ,enin%

@ t i the *reat an! hi toric merit of Mar$ an! n*el that they prove! #y cientific analy i the inevita#ility of the collap e ofcapitali m an! it tran ition to communi m' un!er "hich there"ill #e no more e$ploitation of man #y man % % % that theyin!icate! to the proletarian of all countrie their role' their ta .' their mi ion' namely' to #e the fir t to rally aroun!them elve in thi tru**le all the toiler an! e$ploite!%5

Teachin* the "or.in* cla to .no" it elf an! #e con ciou of it elf' an! to rally aroun! it elf all the toiler an! e$ploite!'Mar$ an! n*el foun!e! an! e ta#li he! the revolutionarytheory of "or.in*-cla tru**le' "hich illumine the roa! #y"hich the "or.in* cla can thro" off capitali t e$ploitation' can ta.e the lea!er hip of all the ma e of the people' an! O:free the "hole of ociety once an! for all of all oppre ion an! e$ploitation of man #y man%

Mar$ an! n*el "rote in the perio! "hen capitali m "a till in the a cen!ant an! "hen the force of the "or.in* cla"ere fir t #ein* rallie! an! or*ani


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Mar$ an! n*el tau*ht that'"ithout it o"n party' the "or.in* cla certainly coul! not "in victory over capitali m' coul! notlea! the "hole of ociety for"ar! to the a#olition of capitali m an! the e ta#li hment of ociali m% The "or.in* cla mu thave it o"n party' in!epen!ent of all #our*eoi partie % ;urther !evelopin* the Mar$i t teachin* a#out the party' ,enin

ho"e! that the party mu t act a the van*uar! of it cla ' the mo t con ciou ection of it cla ' an! that it i thein trument for "innin* an! "iel!in* political po"er%

To fulfill uch a role' the party mu t evi!ently have .no"le!*e' un!er tan!in* an! vi ionA in other "or! ' it mu t #e e+uippe!"ith revolutionary theory' on "hich it policie are #a e! an! #y "hich it activitie are *ui!e!%

Thi theory i the theory of Mar$i m-,enini m% &n! it i not /u t an economic theory' nor yet e$clu ively a political theory' #uta "orl! outloo. a philo ophy% conomic an! political vie" are not an! never can #e in!epen!ent of a *eneral "orl!outloo.% pecific economic an! political vie" e$pre the "orl! outloo. of tho e "ho hol! uch vie" ' an! conver ely'philo ophical vie" fin! e$pre ion in vie" on economic an! politic %

eco*ni


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$cept for the "or.in* cla ' all other cla e "hich have a pire! to ta.e the lea!er hip of ociety have #een e$ploitin*cla e % But every e$ploitin* cla ' "hatever it achievement ' ha al"ay to fin! ome "ay of !i *ui in* it real po itionan! aim ' #oth from it elf an! from the e$ploite!' an! of ma.in* out that it rule i /u t an! permanent% ;or uch a cla cannever reco*ni


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to impo e it rule an! it i!ea upon the ma e of the people' in or!er to .eep them in u#/ectionA #ut it i a philo ophy"hich erve the common people in their tru**le to thro" off all 8e$ploitation an! to #uil! a cla le ociety%

Mar$i m-,enini m i a philo ophy "hich ee. to un!er tan! the "orl! in or!er to chan*e it% The philo opher have onlyinterprete! the "orl! in variou "ay ' "rote Mar$% The point' ho"ever' i to chan*e it%5 1381 Therefore' if "e coul! ay ofpa t philo ophy that it ha #een an attempt to un!er tan! the "orl! an! man: place an! !e tiny in it an attemptnece arily con!itione! #y the cla outloo.' pre/u!ice an! illu ion of the variou e$ploitin* cla philo opher "e haveto ay of Mar$i t-,enini t philo ophy that it i an attempt to un!er tan! the "orl! in or!er to chan*e the "orl! an! to hapean! reali


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% Materialism and Idealism Materialism and Idealism&O""osed 'a!s o( Inter"retin) E$er! *uestion

Materiali m i oppo e! to i!eali m ince' "hile i!eali m hol! that the piritual or i!eal i prior to the material' materiali mhol! that matter i prior% Thi !ifference manife t it elf in oppo e! "ay of interpretin* an! un!er tan!in* every +ue tion'an! o in oppo e! attitu!e in practice%

>hile i!eali m ta.e many u#tle form in the "ritin* of philo opher ' it i at #ottom a continuation of #elief in theupernatural% t involve #elief in t"o "orl! ' in the i!eal or upernatural "orl! over a*ain t the real material "orl!%

n e ence i!eali m i a% con ervative' reactionary forceA an! it reactionary influence i !emon trate! in practice%Mar$i m a!opt a con i tent tan!point of militant materiali m%

Our philo ophy i calle! ialectical Materiali m' ai! talin' #ecau e it approach to the phenomena 1781 of nature' itmetho! of tu!yin* an! apprehen!in* them' i !ialectical' "hile it interpretation of the phenomena of nature' it conceptionof the e phenomena' it theory' i materiali tic%5 178E

Materiali m i not a !o*matic y tem% t i rather a "ay of interpretin*' conceivin* of' e$plainin* every +ue tion%

The materiali t "ay of interpretin* event ' of conceivin* of thin* an! their interconnection ' i oppo e! to the i!eali t "ayof interpretin* an! conceivin* of them% Materiali m i oppo e! to i!eali m% >ith every +ue tion' there are materiali t an!i!eali t "ay of interpretin* it' materiali t an! i!eali t "ay of tryin* to un!er tan! it%

Thu materiali m an! i!eali m are not t"o oppo e! a# tract theorie a#out the nature of the "orl!' of mall concern toor!inary practical fol.% They are oppo e! "ay of interpretin* an! un!er tan!in* every +ue tion' an!' con e+uently' theye$pre 16 oppo ite approache in practice an! lea! to very !ifferent conclu ion in term of practical activity%

or are they' a ome u e the term ' oppo ite moral attitu!e the one hi*h-min!e!' the other #a e an! elf- ee.in*% f "eu e the term li.e thi ' "e "ill never un!er tan! the oppo ition #et"een capitali t an! materiali t conception %

;or thi "ay of pea.in* i ' a n*el ai!' nothin* #ut an unpar!ona#le conce ion to the tra!itional phili tine pre/u!icea*ain t the "or! materiali m re ultin* from the lon*continue! !efamation #y the prie t % By the "or! materiali m thephili tine un!er tan! *luttony' !run.enne ' lu t of the eye' lu t of the fle h' arro*ance' cupi!ity' mi erline ' profit-huntin*an! toc.-e$chan*e "in!lin* in hort' all the filthy vice in "hich he him elf in!ul*e in private% By the "or! i!eali m heun!er tan! the #elief in virtue' univer al philanthropy an! in a *eneral "ay a :#etter "orl!:' of "hich he #oa t #efore

other %5 1681

Before tryin* to !efine materiali m an! i!eali m in *eneral term ' let u con i!er ho" the e t"o "ay of un!er tan!in*thin* are e$pre e! in relation to certain imple an! familiar +ue tion % Thi "ill help u to *ra p the i*nificance of the!i tinction #et"een a materiali t an! an i!eali t interpretation%

;ir t let u con i!er a very familiar natural phenomenon a thun!er torm% >hat cau e thun!er torm ?

&n i!eali t "ay of an "erin* thi +ue tion i to ay that thun!er torm are !ue to the an*er of Do!% Bein* an*ry' hearran*e for li*htnin* an! thun!er#olt to !e cen! upon man.in!%

The materiali t "ay of un!er tan!in* thun!er torm i oppo e! to thi % The materiali t "ill try to e$plain an! un!er tan!thun!er torm a #ein* olely !ue to "hat "e call natural force % ;or e$ample' ancient materiali t u**e te! that far fromthun!er torm #ein* !ue to the an*er of the *o! ' they "ere cau e! #y material particle in the clou! #an*in* a*ain t oneanother% That thi particular e$planation "a "ron*' i not the point2 the point i that it "a an attempt at materiali t aoppo e! to i!eali t e$planation% o"a!ay a *reat !eal more i .no"n a#out thun!er torm ari in* from the cientificinve ti*ation of the natural force involve!% Ino"le!*e remain very incomplete' #ut at all event enou*h i .no"n to ma.eit +uite clear that the e$planation mu t #e on materiali t line ' o that the i!eali t e$planation ha #ecome thorou*hly!i cre!ite!%

t "ill #e een that "hile the i!eali t e$planation trie to relate the phenomenon to #e e$plaine! to ome piritual cau e inthi ca e the an*er of Do! the materiali t e$planation relate it to material cau e %

n thi e$ample' mo t e!ucate! people to!ay "oul! a*ree in acceptin* the materiali t interpretation% Thi i #ecau e they*enerally accept the cientific e$planation of natural phenomena' an! every a!vance of natural cience i an a!vance in themateriali t un!er tan!in* of nature%


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,et u ta.e a econ! e$ample' thi time one ari in* out of ocial life% ;or in tance2 >hy are there rich an! poor? Thi i a+ue tion "hich many people a .' e pecially poor people%

The mo t trai*htfor"ar! i!eali t an "er to thi +ue tion i to ay imply t i #ecau e Do! ma!e them o% t i the "ill ofDo! that ome houl! #e rich an! other poor%

But other le trai*htfor"ar! i!eali t e$planation are more in vo*ue% ;or e$ample2 it i #ecau e ome men are careful an!far i*hte!' an! the e hu #an! their re ource an! *ro" rich' "hile other are thriftle an! tupi!' an! the e remain poor%Tho e "ho favor thi type of e$planation ay that it i all !ue to eternal human nature% The nature of man an! of ociety i

uch that the !i tinction of rich an! poor nece arily ari e %

Ju t a in the ca e of the thun!er torm' o in the ca e of the rich an! poor' the i!eali t ee. for ome piritual cau e ifnot in the "ill of Do!' the !ivine min!' then in certain innate characteri tic of the human min!%

The materiali t' on the other han!' ee. the rea on in the material' economic con!ition of ocial life% f ociety i !ivi!e!into rich an! poor' it i #ecau e the pro!uction of the material mean of life i o or!ere! that ome have po e ion of thelan! an! other mean of pro!uction "hile the re t have to "or. for them% =o"ever har! they may "or. an! ho"ever muchthey may crape an! ave' the non-po e or "ill remain poor' "hile the po e or *ro" rich on the fruit of their la#or%

On uch +ue tion ' therefore' the !ifference #et"een a materiali t an! an i!eali t conception can #e very important% &n! the!ifference i important not merely in a theoretical #ut in a practical en e

& materiali t conception of thun!er torm ' for e$ample' help u to ta.e precaution a*ain t them' uch a fittin* #uil!in*"ith li*htnin* con!uctor % But if our e$planation of 1K thun!er torm i i!eali t' all "e can !o i to "atch an! pray% f "eaccept an i!eali t account of the e$i tence of rich an! poor' all "e can !o i to accept the e$i tin* tate of affair re/oicin*in our uperior tatu an! #e to"in* a little charity if "e are rich' an! cur in* our fate if "e are poor% But arme! "ith amateriali t un!er tan!in* of ociety "e can #e*in to ee the "ay to chan*e ociety%

t i clear therefore' that "hile ome may have a ve te! intere t in i!eali m' it i in the intere t of the *reat ma/ority to learnto thin. an! to un!er tan! thin* in the materiali t "ay%

=o"' then' can "e !efine materiali m an! i!eali m' an! the !ifference #et"een them' in *eneral term ' o a to !efine thee ence of the +ue tion? Thi "a !one #y n*el %

@The *reat #a ic +ue tion of all philo ophy' e pecially of mo!ern philo ophy' i that concernin* the relation of thin.in* an!

#ein*% % % % The an "er "hich the philo opher have *iven to thi +ue tion plit them into t"o *reat camp % Tho e "hoa erte! the primacy of pirit to nature an! therefore in the la t in tance a ume! "orl! creation in ome form oranother % % % compri e! the camp of i!eali m% The other ' "ho re*ar!e! nature a primary' #elon* to the variou chool ofmateriali m%5 1K81

!eali m i the "ay of interpretin* thin* "hich re*ar! the piritual a prior to the material' "herea materiali m re*ar! thematerial a prior% !eali m uppo e that everythin* material i !epen!ent on an! !etermine! #y omethin* piritual'"herea materiali m reco*nie can certainly not re*ar! uch


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conception a #ein* the pro!uct ' a reli*ion it elf tell u ' of !ivine revelation' or a ari in* from any other upernaturalcau e' if "e fin! that they them elve have a natural ori*in% &n! uch an ori*in can in fact #e trace!%

Conception of the upernatural' an! reli*iou i!ea in *eneral' o"e their ori*in fir t of all to the helple ne an! i*noranceof men in face of the force of nature% ;orce "hich men cannot un!er tan! are per onifie! they are repre ente! amanife tation of the activity of pirit %

;or e$ample' uch alarmin* event a thun!er torm "ere' a "e have een' e$plaine! fanta tically a !ue to the an*er of*o! % &*ain' uch important phenomena a the *ro"th of crop "ere put !o"n to the activity of a pirit2 it "a #elieve! thatit "a the corn pirit that ma!e the corn *ro"%

;rom the mo t primitive time men per onifie! natural force in thi "ay% >ith the #irth of cla ociety' "hen men "ereimpelle! to act #y ocial relation "hich !ominate! them an! "hich they !i! not un!er tan!' they further invente!

upernatural a*encie !ou#lin*' a it "ere' the tate of ociety% The *o! "ere invente! uperior to man.in!' /u t a the.in* an! lor! mere uperior to the common people%

&ll reli*ion' an! all i!eali m' ha at it heart thi .in! of !ou#lin* of the "orl!% t i i!eali tic' an! invent a !ominatin* i!ealor upernatural "orl! over a*ain t the real material "orl!%

Very characteri tic of i!eali m are uch antithe e a 2 oul an! #o!yA *o! an! manA the heavenly .in*!om an! the earthly.in*!omA the form an! i!ea of thin* ' *ra pe! #y the intellect' an! the "orl! of material reality' percepti#le #y the en e %

Thi @!ou#lin*5 of the "orl! i carrie! to it furthe t limit in u#/ective i!eali m' "hich en! #y re*ar!in* the material "orl!a a mere illu ion an! a ert that only the non-material "orl! i real% The !uali tic character of all i!eali m i mo t mar.e!in u#/ective i!eali m' "hich po it a complete antithe i #et"een the mechani tic y tem of the illu ory material "orl! an!the @free!om5 of the hi*her' non-material reality% Thi antithe i ' !i *ui e! a it often i #ehin! alle*e!ly @ cientific5 an!@empirici t5 theorihen capitali m "a tilla pro*re ive force' #our*eoi thin.er u e! to #elieve that "e coul! .no" more an! more a#out the real "orl!' an! ocontrol natural force an! improve the lot of man.in! in!efinitely% o" they are ayin* that the real "orl! i un.no"a#le' thearena of my teriou force "hich pa our comprehen ion% t i not !ifficult to ee that the fa hion for uch !octrine i /u t a

ymptom of the !ecay of capitali m%

>e have een that' at #ottom' i!eali m al"ay #elieve in t"o "orl! ' the i!eal an! the material' an! it place the i!eal priorto an! a#ove the material% Materiali m' on the other han!' .no" one "orl! only' the material "orl!' an! refu e to invent a

econ!' ima*inary' uperior i!eal "orl!%

Materiali m an! i!eali m are irreconcila#ly oppo e!% But thi !oe not top many philo opher from tryin* to reconcile an!com#ine them% n philo ophy there are al o variou attempte! compromi e #et"een i!eali m an! materiali m%

One uch attempte! compromi e i often .no"n a !uali m% uch a compromi e philo ophy a ert the e$i tence of thepiritual a eparate an! !i tinct from the material #ut it trie to place the t"o on a level% Thu it treat the "orl! of non-


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livin* matter in a thorou*hly materiali t "ay2 thi ' it ay ' i the phere of activity of natural force ' an! piritual factor !o notenter into it an! have nothin* to !o "ith it in any "ay% But "hen it come to min! an! ociety' here' ay thi philo ophy' ithe phere of activity of pirit% =ere' it maintain ' "e mu t ee. e$planation in i!eali t an! not in materiali t term %

uch a compromi e #et"een materiali m an! i!eali m' therefore' amount to thi that "ith re*ar! to all the mo t important+ue tion concernin* men' ociety an! hi tory "e are to continue to a!opt i!eali t conception an! to oppo e materiali m%

&nother compromi e philo ophy i .no"n a reali m% n it mo!ern form' thi philo ophy ha ari en in oppo ition tou#/ective i!eali m%

The @reali t5 philo opher ay that the e$ternal material "orl! really e$i t in!epen!ent of our perception an! i in ome "ayreflecte! #y our perception % n thi the @reali t 5 a*ree "ith the materiali t in oppo ition to u#/ective i!eali mA in!ee!' youcannot #e a materiali t unle you are a thorou*h-*oin* reali t on the +ue tion of the real e$i tence of the material "orl!%

But merely to a ert that the e$ternal "orl! e$i t in!epen!ent of our perceivin* it' i not to #e a materiali t% ;or e$ample'the *reat Catholic philo opher of the mi!!le a*e ' Thoma &+uina ' "a in thi en e a reali t% &n! to thi !ay mo tCatholic theolo*ian re*ar! it a a here y to #e anythin* #ut a @reali t5 in philo ophy% But at the ame time they a ert thatthe material "orl!' "hich really e$i t ' "a create! #y Do!' an! i u taine! an! rule! all the time #y the po"er of Do!' #y a

piritual po"er% o' far from #ein* materiali t ' they are i!eali t %

& for mo!ern reali m' it conce!e to materiali m the #are e$i tence of matter an!' for the re t' i rea!y to conce!eeverythin* to i!eali m%

Moreover' the "or! @reali m5 i much a#u e! #y philo opher % o lon* a you #elieve that omethin* or other i real' youmay call your elf a reali t% ome philo opher thin. that not only i the "orl! of material thin* real' #ut that there i al o'out i!e pace an! time' a real "orl! of univer al ' of the a# tract e ence of thin* 2 o the e call them elve reali t %Other ay that' althou*h nothin* e$i t #ut the perception in our min! ' neverthele the e perception are real2 o the ecall them elve @reali t 5 too% &ll of "hich *oe to ho" that ome philo opher are very tric.y in their u e of "or! %

- Mechanistic Materialism The #han)in) 'orld and .ow to /nderstand It

The type of materiali m pro!uce! in the pa t #y the revolutionary #our*eoi ie "a mechani tic materiali m% Thi too.over the ancient materiali t conception that the "orl! con i te! of unchan*in* material particle (atom )' "ho e interactionpro!uce! all the phenomena of nature' an! further trove to un!er tan! the "or.in* of nature on the mo!el of the "or.in*

of a machine%

t "a in it time a pro*re ive an! revolutionary !octrine% But it ha three *rave "ea.ne e % (1) t re+uire theconception of a upreme Bein* "ho tarte! the "orl! upA (E) it ee. to re!uce all proce e to the ame cycle of :mechani tic interaction an! o cannot account for !evelopment' for the emer*ence of ne" +ualitie ' ne" type ofproce e in natureA (3) it cannot account for ocial !evelopment' can *ive no account of human ocial activity an! lea! toan a# tract conception of human nature%

Before Mar$' materiali m "a pre!ominantly mechani tic%

>e often hear people complain that the materiali t ee. to re!uce everythin* in the "orl!' inclu!in* life an! min!' to ay tem of oulle mechani m' to a mere mechanical interaction of #o!ie % Thi refer to mechani tic materiali m% Mar$i t

materiali m i ' ho"ever' not mechani tic #ut !ialectical% To un!er tan! "hat thi mean "e nee! fir t to un!er tan!omethin* a#out mechani tic materiali m it elf%

>e can approach thi pro#lem #y a .in* ho" materiali t have ou*ht to un!er tan! the variou proce e of chan*e"hich are o# erve! every"here in the "orl!%

The "orl! i full of chan*e% i*ht follo" !ay an! !ay ni*htA the ea on uccee! each otherA people are #orn' *ro" ol! an!!ie% very philo ophy reco*ni


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the la" of the material "orl!%

But materiali m trace #ac. all chan*e to material cau e % n other "or! ' it ee. to e$plain "hat happen in the material"orl! from the material "orl! it elf%

But "hile the occurrence of chan*e ha #een reco*ni


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>hat pu he! that theory for"ar! "a ' o n*el "rite ' the po"erful an! ever more rapi!ly onru hin* pro*re of ciencean! in!u try% But it remaine! pre!ominantly mechanical' #ecau e only the mechanical cience ha! attaine! any hi*h!e*ree of !evelopment% t pecific' #ut at that time inevita#le limitation "a it e$clu ive application of the tan!ar! ofmechanic %5 3181

The mechani tic "ay of un!er tan!in* nature !i! not ari e' ho"ever' imply from the fact that at that time it "a only themechanical cience "hich ha! ma!e any *reat pro*re % t "a !eeply roote! in the cla outloo. of the mo t pro*re ive#our*eoi philo opher ' an! thi le! to their turnin* e$clu ively to the mechanical cience for their in piration%

Ju t a the #our*eoi ie' overthro"in* feu!al ociety' too! for in!ivi!ual li#erty' e+uality an! the !evelopment of a freemar.et' o the mo t pro*re ive philo opher of the #our*eoi ie the materiali t overthro"in* the feu!al i!ea 'proclaime! that the "orl! con i te! of eparate material particle interactin* "ith one another in accor!ance "ith the la" ofmechanic %

Thi theory of nature reflecte! #our*eoi ocial relation no le than the theorie it replace! ha! reflecte! feu!al ocialrelation % But /u t a the ne" #our*eoi ocial relation #ro.e the feu!al fetter an! ena#le! a *reat ne" !evelopment of theforce of pro!uction to #e*in' o the corre pon!in* #our*eoi theory of nature #ro.e !o"n the #arrier "hich feu!al i!eaha! place! in the "ay of cientific re earch an! ena#le! a *reat ne" !evelopment of cientific re earch to #e*in%

The philo ophical outloo. eeme! to fin! it confirmation in cience' an! cience provi!e! material for the !evelopmentan! "or.in* out in !etail of the philo ophical outloo.%

The 'orld and the Machine

The "orl! o thou*ht the mechani tic materiali t con i t of nothin* #ut particle of matter in interaction% ach particleha an e$i tence eparate an! !i tinct from every otherA in their totality they form the "orl!A the totality of their interactionform the totality of everythin* that happen in the "orl!A an! the e interaction are of the mechanical type' that i to ay'they con i t imply of the e$ternal influence of one particle upon another%

uch a theory i e+uivalent to re*ar!in* the "hole "orl! a nothin* #ut a comple$ piece of machinery' a mechani m%

;rom thi tan!point' the +ue tion al"ay po e! a#out any part of nature i the +ue tion "e a . a#out a machine2 "hat i itmechani m' ho" !oe it "or.?

Thi "a e$emplifie! in e"ton: account of the olar y tem% e"ton a!opte! the ame *eneral vie" a the Dree.

materiali t' picuru ' ina much a he thou*ht that the material "orl! con i te! of particle movin* a#out in empty pace%But face! "ith any particular natural phenomenon' uch a the movement of the un an! planet ' picuru "a not in thelea t concerne! to *ive any e$act account of it% >ith re*ar! to the apparent movement of the un acro the heaven fromea t to "e t' for e$ample' picuru ai! that the important thin* "a to un!er tan! that the un "a not a *o! #ut "a

imply a collection of atom 2 no account of the actual machinery of it motion "a nece ary% 4erhap ' he ai!' the un*oe roun! an! roun! the earthA #ut perhap it !i inte*rate an! it atom eparate every ni*ht' o that it i a ne" un"hich "e ee the ne$t mornin*2 to him uch +ue tion "ere imply unimportant% e"ton' on the other han!' "a concerne!to ho" e$actly ho" the olar y tem "or.e!' to !emon trate the mechanic of it' in term of *ravity an! mechanical force %

But /u t a picuru "a not intere te! in ho" the olar y tem "or.e!' o e"ton "a not intere te! in ho" it ori*inate!an! !evelope!% =e too. it for *rante! a a ta#le piece of machinery create!' pre uma#ly' #y Do!% ot ho" it ori*inate!'not ho" it !evelope!' #ut ho" it "or.e!' "a the +ue tion "hich he !ealt "ith%

The ame mechani tic approach "a manife te! in =arvey: !i covery of the circulation of the #loo!% The e ence of hi!i covery "a that he !emon trate! the mechani m of circulation' re*ar!in* the heart a a pump' "hich pump the #loo!out alon* the arterie o that it flo" #ac. throu*h the vein ' the "hole y tem #ein* re*ulate! #y a erie of valve %

To un!er tan! the mechani tic outloo. #etter' let u a .2 "hat i a mechani m? "hat i characteri tic of a mechani m?

(a) & mechani m con i t of permanent part ' "hich fit to*ether%

(6) t re+uire a motive force to et it *oin*%

(c) Once et *oin*' the part interact an! re ult are pro!uce! accor!in* to la" "hich can #e e$actly tate!%

Con i!er' for e$ample' uch a mechani m a a "atch' (a) t con i t of a num#er of !ifferent part co* ' lever an! o on


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fitte! neatly to*ether% (6) t ha to #e "oun! up% (c) Then' a the prin* uncoil ' the part interact accor!in* to la" e$actly.no"n to "atchma.er ' re ultin* in the re*ular movement of the han! on the !ial%

;urther' to .no" ho" a mechani m' uch a a "atch' "or. ' you mu t ta.e it to #it ' fin! out "hat it part are' ho" they fitto*ether an! ho"' #y their interaction ' once the mechani m i et in motion #y the application of the re+uire! motive force'they pro!uce the total motion characteri tic of the mechani m in "or.in* or!er%

Thi i /u t ho" the mechani tic materiali t re*ar!e! nature% They ou*ht to ta.e nature to #it ' to fin! it ultimatecomponent part ' ho" they fitte! to*ether an! ho" their interaction pro!uce! all the chan*e "e perceive' all thephenomena of the "orl!% &n! moreover' fin!in* out ho" the mechani m "or.e!' they ou*ht to fin! out ho" to repair it' ho"to improve it' ho" to chan*e it an! to ma.e it pro!uce ne" re ult corre pon!in* to the re+uirement of man%

Mechani tic materiali m "a an important mile tone in our un!er tan!in* of nature% &n! it "a a *reat pro*re ive tep of#our*eoi thin.er ' a #lo" a*ain t i!eali m%

The mechani t "ere thorou*h-*oin* in their materiali m% ;or they "a*e! a pro*re ive fi*ht a*ain t i!eali m an! 3Hclericali m #y tryin* to e$ten! to the realm of min! an! ociety the ame mechani tic conception "hich "ere u e! in the

cientific inve ti*ation of nature% They ou*ht to inclu!e man an! all hi piritual activitie in the mechani tic y tem of thenatural "orl!% The mo t ra!ical mechani t re*ar!e! not merely phy ical proce e ' an! not merely plant an! animal life'#ut man him elf a a machine% &lrea!y in the eventeenth century the *reat ;rench philo opher e carte ha! ai! that allanimal "ere complicate! machine automata2 #ut man "a !ifferent' ince he ha! a oul% But in the ei*hteenth century afollo"er of e carte ' the phy ician ,aMettrie' "rote a #oo. "ith the provocative title Man a Machine% Men' too' "eremachine ' he ai!' thou*h very complicate! one %

Thi !octrine "a loo.e! upon a e$ceptionally hoc.in*' an! a a terri#le in ult to human nature' not to mention Do!% et it"a in it time a pro*re ive vie" of man% The vie" that men are machine "a an a!vance in the un!er tan!in* of humannature a compare! "ith the vie" that they are "retche! piece of clay inha#ite! #y immortal oul % &n! it "a 'comparatively pea.in*' a more humane vie"%

;or e$ample' the *reat n*li h materiali t an! Ltopian ociali t o#ert O"en tol! the piou in!u triali t of hi time2

@ $perience ha ho"n you the !ifference of the re ult #et"een mechani m "hich i neat' clean' "ell-arran*e! an! al"ayin a hi*h tate of repair' an! that "hich i allo"e! to #e !irty' in !i or!er' an! "hich therefore #ecome much out ofrepair% % % % f' then' !ue care a to the tate of your inanimate machine can pro!uce uch #eneficial re ult ' "hat may not#e e$pecte! if you !evote e+ual attention to your vital machine ' "hich are far more "on!erfully con tructe!?5 3H81

Thi humanitariani m "a ' ho"ever' at the #e t #our*eoi humanitariani m% ,i.e all mechani tic materiali m' it "a roote!in the cla outloo. of the #our*eoi ie% The vie" that man i a machine i roote! in the vie" that in pro!uction man i a mereappen!a*e of the machine% &n! if on the one han! thi implie that the human machine ou*ht to #e "ell ten!e! an! .ept in*oo! con!ition' on the other han! it e+ually implie that no more houl! #e e$pen!e! for thi purpo e than i trictlynece ary to .eep the human machine in #are "or.in* or!er%


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The 'ea0ness and Limitations o( Mechanistic Materialism Mechani tic materiali m ha! *rave "ea.ne e %

(1) t coul! not u tain the materiali t tan!point con i tently an! all the "ay%

;or if the "orl! i li.e a machine' "ho ma!e it' "ho tarte! it up? There "a nece ary' in any y tem of mechani ticmateriali m' a upreme Bein*' out i!e the material "orl! even if he no lon*er continuou ly interfere! in the "orl! an!.ept thin* movin*' #ut !i! no more than tart thin* up an! then "atch "hat happene!%

uch a upreme Bein* "a po tulate! #y nearly all the mechani tic materiali t A for e$ample' #y Voltaire an! Tom 4aine%But thi open the !oor to i!eali m%

(E) Mechani tic materiali m ee chan*e every"here% et #ecau e it al"ay trie to re!uce all phenomena to the amey tem of mechanical interaction ' it ee thi chan*e a nothin* #ut the eternal repetition of the ame .in! of mechanical

proce e ' an eternal cycle of the ame chan*e %

Thi limitation i in epara#le from the vie" of the "orl! a a machine% ;or /u t a a machine ha to #e tarte! up' o it cannever !o anythin* e$cept "hat it "a ma!e to !o% t cannot chan*e it elf or pro!uce anythin* ra!ically ne"% Mechani tictheory' therefore' al"ay #rea. !o"n "hen it i a +ue tion of accountin* for the emer*ence of ne" +uality% t ee chan*eevery"here #ut nothin* ne"' no !evelopment%

The variou proce e of nature chemical proce e an! the proce e of livin* matter' for e$ample cannot in fact #e allre!uce! to one an! the ame .in! of mechanical interaction of material particle %

Chemical interaction !iffer from mechanical interaction ina much a the chan*e "hich ta.e place a a re ult of chemicalinteraction involve a chan*e of +uality% ;or e$ample' if "e con i!er the mechanical interaction of t"o particle "hich colli!e'then their +ualitative characteri tic are irrelevant an! the re ult i e$pre e! a a chan*e in the +uantity an! !irection ofmotion of each% But if t"o chemical u# tance come to*ether an! com#ine chemically' then there re ult a ne" u# tance+ualitatively !ifferent from either% imilarly' from the point of vie" of mechanic heat i nothin* #ut an increa e in the+uantity of 36 motion of the particle of matter% But in chemi try' the application of heat lea! to +ualitative chan*e %

or !o the proce e of nature con i t in the repetition of the ame cycle of mechanical interaction ' #ut in nature there icontinual !evelopment an! evolution' pro!ucin* ever ne" form of the e$i tence or' "hat i the ame thin*' motion ofmatter% =ence the more "i!ely an! con i tently the mechani tic cate*orie are applie! in the interpretation of nature' themore i their e ential limitation e$po e!%

(3) till le can mechani tic materiali m e$plain ocial !evelopment%

Mechani tic materiali m e$pre e the ra!ical #our*eoi conception of ociety a con i tin* of ocial atom ' interactin*to*ether% The real economic an! ocial cau e of the !evelopment of ociety cannot #e !i covere! from thi point of vie"%

&n! o *reat ocial chan*e eem to prin* from +uite acci!ental cau e % =uman activity it elf appear to #e either themechanical re ult of e$ternal cau e ' or el e it i treate! an! here mechani tic materiali m collap e into i!eali m apurely pontaneou an! uncau e!%

n a "or!' mechani tic materiali m cannot *ive an account of men: ocial activity%

Mechanistic Materialism and /to"ian Socialism

The mechani tic vie" treate! men +uite a# tractly' each man #ein* re*ar!e! a a ocial atom en!o"e! #y nature "ithcertain inherent propertie ' attri#ute an! ri*ht %

Thi "a e$pre e! in the #our*eoi conception of the ri*ht of man' an! in the #our*eoi revolutionary lo*an2 &ll menare e+ual%5

But the conception of human ri*ht cannot #e !e!uce! from the a# tract nature of man' #ut i !etermine! #y the ta*e ofociety in "hich men are livin*% or are men "hat they are #y nature' #ut they #ecome "hat they are' an! chan*e' a a

re ult of their ocial activity% or are all men #y nature e+ual% n oppo ition to the #our*eoi conception of a# tract e+uality'"hich amounte! to mere formal e+uality of ri*ht a citi


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&ccor!in* to mechani m' if you coul! tate the po ition' ma H0 an! velocity of every particle at a *iven in tant of time'then you "oul! have ai! everythin* that coul! #e ai! a#out the "orl! at that time' an! coul!' #y applyin* the la" ofmechanic ' pre!ict everythin* that "a *oin* to happen after"ar! %

Thi i the fir t !o*matic a umption of mechani m% But "e nee! to re/ect it% ;or the "orl! !oe not con i t of thin* #ut ofproce e ' in "hich thin* come into #ein* an! pa a"ay%

@The "orl! i not to #e comprehen!e! a a comple$ of rea!y-ma!e thin* ' "rote n*el ' #ut a a comple$ of proce e 'in "hich thin* apparently ta#le' no le than their min!-ima*e in our hea! ' the concept ' *o throu*h an uninterrupte!chan*e of comin* into #ein* an! pa in* a"ay%5 H081

Thi ' in!ee!' i "hat cience in it late t !evelopment teache u % Thu the atom' once thou*ht to #e eternal an!in!ivi i#le' ha #een !i olve! into electron ' proton an! neutron A an! the e them elve are not fun!amental particle inany a# olute en e' i%e% they are not eternal an! in!e tructi#le' any more than the atomA #ut cience more an! more ho"that they' too' come into #ein*' pa a"ay an! *o throu*h many tran formation %

>hat i fun!amental i not the thin*' the particle' #ut the unen!in* proce e of nature' in "hich thin* *o throu*h anuninterrupte! chan*e of comin* into #ein* an! pa in* a"ay% &n! nature: proce i ' moreover' infinite2 there "ill al"ay#e fre h a pect to #e reveale!' an! it cannot #e re!uce! to any ultimate con tituent % The electron i a ine$hau ti#le athe atom' nature i infinite' "rote ,enin% H08E

Ju t o in con i!erin* ociety' "e cannot un!er tan! a *iven ociety imply in term of ome et of in titution in an!throu*h "hich in!ivi!ual men an! "omen are or*ania the "orl! create! #y a upreme Bein*? >hat "a the ori*in of matter? >hat "a the ori*in of motion? >hat "a thevery #e*innin* of everythin*? >hat "a the fir t cau e? The e are the ort of +ue tion "hich pu


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o' the "orl! "a not create! #y a upreme Bein*% &ny particular or*ani


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from non-livin* to livin* matter ta.e place%

Thu the mechani tic pro*ram of re!ucin* all the motion of matter to imple' mechanical motion mu t #e re/ecte!% >e nee!rather to tu!y all the infinitely variou form of motion of matter' in their tran formation one into another' an! a they ari eone from another' the comple$ from the imple' the hi*her from the lo"er%

n the ca e of ociety' no one ha yet trie! to ho" ho" ocial chan*e can #e e$plaine! #y the mechanical interaction ofthe atom compo in* the #o!ie of the variou mem#er of ociety thou*h to !o o "oul! #e the lo*ical culmination of themechani tic pro*ram% But the ne$t #e t thin* i attempte! #y the mechani tic theory .no"n a economic !etermini m%

&ccor!in* to thi theory' the "hole motion of ociety i to #e e$plaine! #y the economic chan*e ta.in* place in ociety' allthe !eterminant of ocial chan*e have #een e$hau te! "hen the economic proce ha #een !e cri#e!% Thi i ane$ample of the mechani tic pro*ram of re!ucin* a comple$ motion to a imple form -the proce of ocial chan*e'inclu!in* all the political' cultural an! i!eolo*ical !evelopment ' to a imple economic proce % But the ta . of e$plainin*

ocial !evelopment cannot #e fulfille! #y tryin* to re!uce the "hole !evelopment to an economic proce % The ta . i ratherto ho" ho"' on the #a i of the economic proce ' all the variou form of ocial activity ari e an! play their part in thecomple$ movement of ociety%

Thin)s and Their Interconnection (H) The la t !o*matic a umption of mechani m to #e mentione! i that each of the thin* or particle ' "ho e interactionare ai! to ma.e up the totality of event in the univer e' ha it o"n fi$e! nature +uite in!epen!ent of everythin* el e% nother "or! ' each thin* can #e con i!ere! a e$i tin* in eparation from other thin* ' a an in!epen!ent unit%

4rocee!in* on thi a umption it follo" that all relation #et"een thin* are merely e$ternal relation % That i to ay' thin*enter into variou relation hip one "ith another' #ut the e relation hip are acci!ental an! ma.e no !ifference to the natureof the thin* relate!%

&n! re*ar!in* each thin* a a eparate unit enterin* into e$ternal relation "ith other thin* ' it further follo" thatmechani m re*ar! the "hole a no more than the um of it eparate part % &ccor!in* to thi vie"' the propertie an! la"of !evelopment of the "hole are uni+uely !etermine! #y the propertie of all it part %

ot one of the e a umption i correct% othin* e$i t or can e$i t in plen!i! i olation' eparate from it con!ition ofe$i tence' in!epen!ent of it relation hip "ith other thin* % Thin* come into #ein*' e$i t an! cea e to e$i t' not eachin!epen!ent of all other thin* ' #ut each in it relation hip "ith other thin* % The very nature of a thin* i mo!ifie! an!tran forme! #y it relation hip "ith other thin* % >hen thin* enter into uch relation hip that they #ecome part of a"hole' the "hole cannot #e re*ar!e! a nothin* more than the um total of the part % True' the "hole i nothin* apart from

an! in!epen!ent of it part % But the mutual relation "hich the part enter into in con titutin* the "hole mo!ify their o"npropertie ' o that "hile it may #e ai! that the "hole i !etermine! #y the part it may e+ually #e ai! that the part are!etermine! #y the "hole%

Once a*ain' the !evelopment of cience it elf ho" the ina!mi i#ility of the ol! mechani tic a umption % The ea umption have force only in the very limite! phere of the tu!y of the mechanical interaction of !i crete particle % nphy ic they "ere alrea!y hattere! "ith the !evelopment of the tu!y of the electro-ma*netic fiel!% till le are theya!mi i#le in #iolo*y' in the tu!y of livin* matter% &n! till le are they a!mi i#le in the tu!y of men an! ociety% >ecannot un!er tan!

ocial proce e ' a mechani t al"ay try to !o' a re ultin* imply from a et of fi$e! characteri tic of human nature%;or human nature i al"ay con!itione! #y an! in variou re pect chan*e "ith chan*e in men: ocial relation %

The #orrection o( Mechanistic Materialism

>hen "e #rin* into the open an! re/ect the e a umption of mechani tic materiali m' then "e #e*in to ee the nee! for amateriali t !octrine of a !ifferent' of a ne" type a materiali m "hich overcome the "ea.ne e an! narro"' !o*matica umption of mechani m%

Thi i !ialectical materiali m%

ialectical materiali m un!er tan! the "orl!' not a a comple$ of rea!y-ma!e thin* ' #ut a a comple$ of proce e ' in"hich all thin* *o throu*h an uninterrupte! chan*e of comin* into #ein* an! pa in* a"ay%

ialectical materiali m con i!er that matter i al"ay in motion' that motion i the mo!e of e$i tence of matter' o thatthere can no more #e matter "ithout motion than motion "ithout matter% Motion !oe not have to #e impre e! upon matter


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Once forme!' the "hole tellar y tem' "ith all the tar in it' *oe throu*h an evolutionary proce ' ta*e #y ta*e%

ome tar ' li.e our un' ac+uire planet a olar y tem% Thu the earth "a #orn% & it urface coole!' o chemicalcompoun! "ere forme!' impo i#le in the hi*h temperature of the tar %

Thu matter #e*an to manife t ne" propertie ' non-e$i tent #efore the propertie of chemical com#ination%

Then or*anic compoun! "ere forme! out of the comple$ lin.in* of car#on atom % &n! from or*anic matter the fir t #o!iearo e "hich #e*an to manife t the propertie of life' of livin* matter% till ne" propertie of matter emer*e! the propertieof livin* matter%

,ivin* or*ani m "ent throu*h a lon* evolution' lea!in* H9 eventually to man% >ith man' human ociety "a #orn% &n! tillne" proce e ' "ith ne" la" ' aro e the la" of ociety' an! the la" of thou*ht%

>hat come ne$t?

Capitali t cience can *o no further% =ere it en! ' ince capitali t cience cannot contemplate the en!in* of capitali m% Butociali t cience ho" that man him elf i a#out to em#ar. on a ne" pha e of evolution communi t ociety' in "hich the

"hole ocial proce "ill #e #rou*ht un!er hi o"n con ciou ' planne! !irection%

&ll thi i the evolutionary hi tory of the material univer e%

&part from the la t point' it may #e ai! thi i all common .no"le!*e% Bour*eoi thin.er .no" thi a "ell a Mar$i t 'thou*h they often for*et it% But Mar$i m !oe not only tre the fact that everythin* in the "orl! *oe throu*h a proce of!evelopment% >hat Mar$i m foun! out "a ho" to un!er tan! an! e$plain thi !evelopment in a materiali t "ay%

The !i covery of Mar$i m "a the !i covery of the la" of materiali t !ialectic % &n! thi i "hy Mar$i m alone i a#le to*ive a fully cientific account of !evelopment an! to point out the future path%

Thi i the meanin* of Mar$: *reat !i covery ho" to un!er tan! chan*e an! !evelopment in a materiali t "ay' an!therefore ho" to #ecome ma ter of the future%

Idealist #once"tions o( #han)e and De$elo"ment

=o" !i! #our*eoi thin.er try to account for the univer al chan*e an! !evelopment "hich they !i covere!?

,et u con i!er "hat ome of them have ha! to ay over a perio! of more than a century%

=e*el ai! that the "hole proce of !evelopment ta.in* place in hi tory "a !ue to the olute !ea reali


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uch re ervation !o not materially alter the nature of the theorie in +ue tion% ;or the fact remain that to ay that matter"a create!' to ay that @mutation 5 occur pontaneou ly' i to ay that omethin* happen for no rea on' "ithout any!i covera#le cau e% uch tatement !o not !e erve to #e calle! even provi ional cientific hypothe e #ut are implyi!eali t invention ' fanta ie % cience may not yet .no" "hy omethin* happen ' #ut to ay that it happen for no rea on ito a#an!on cience%

& econ! !efect in the evolutionary i!ea of mo t #our*eoi thin.er i that they re*ar! the proce of evolution a amooth' continuou an! un#ro.en proce % They ee the proce of tran ition from one evolutionary ta*e to another a

ta.in* place throu*h a erie of *ra!ation ' "ithout conflict an! "ithout any #rea. in continuity%

But continuity i not the la" of !evelopment% On the contrary' perio! of mooth' continuou evolutionary !evelopment areinterrupte! #y u!!en an! a#rupt chan*e % The emer*ence of the ne" ta*e in !evelopment ta.e place' "hen thecon!ition for it have mature!' #y a #rea. in continuity' #y the leap from one tate to another%

=e*el "a the fir t to point thi out%

>ith every perio! of tran ition' he o# erve!2

@ t i a in the ca e of the #irth of a chil!A after a lon* perio! of nutrition in ilence' the continuity of the *ra!ual *ro"th ini


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From .e)el to Mar3

>here contra!iction i at "or.' there i the force of !evelopment%

Thi profoun! conception "a fir t put for"ar! #y =e*el% But he "or.e! it out in an i!eali t "ay% &ccor!in* to =e*el' the"hole proce in the material "orl!' in pace an! time' i nothin* #ut the reali


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materiali m of the pa t%

t li.e"i e pelle! the en! of all @ y tem 5 of philo ophy%

t ma!e philo ophy into a revolutionary "eapon of the "or.in* people' an in trument' a metho! for un!er tan!in* the "orl!o a to chan*e it%

ummin* up the e ential i!ea of materiali t !ialectic talin "rote2

@,ife al"ay contain the ne" an! the ol!' the *ro"in* an! the !yin*' the revolutionary an! the counter-revolutionary%

@That in life "hich i #orn an! *ro" !ay after !ay i invinci#le' it pro*re cannot #e chec.e!% That i to ay' if' fore$ample' the proletariat a a cla i #orn an! *ro" !ay after !ay' no matter ho" "ea. it may #e to!ay' in the lon* run itmu t con+uer% >hy? Becau e it i *ro"in*' *ainin* tren*th an! marchin* for"ar!% On the other han!' that in life "hich*ro" ol! an! i a!vancin* to it *rave' mu t inevita#ly u tain !efeat' even if to!ay it repre ent a titanic force% That i to

ay' if' for e$ample' the *roun! i *ra!ually lippin* further an! further 77 #ac. from un!er the feet of the #our*eoi ie' an!the latter i lippin* further an! further #ac. every !ay' no matter ho" tron* it may #e to!ay' it mu t' in the lon* run' u tain!efeat%5 7781

Thu the materiali t !ialectic of Mar$ ho" u the "ay 5ir"ar! an! *ive u un ha.a#le confi!ence in our cau e%

PART T'O: DIALE#TI#S 4 Dialectics and Meta"h!sics Introduction

ialectic ' a a metho! of inve ti*ation' a metho! of thin.in*' i oppo e! to metaphy ic % The metaphy ical "ay ofthin.in* !eal "ith a# traction % t con i!er thin* each #y it elf' in a# traction from their real con!ition of e$i tence an!interconnection A an! it con i!er thin* a fi$e! an! froe have een ho" materiali t e$planation i oppo e! to i!eali t e$planation% &n! then "e a" ho" materiali t formerlyinterprete! thin* in a mechani t "ay' #ut ho" mechani tic materiali m prove! ina!e+uate to e$plain real proce e ofchan*e an! !evelopment% ;or thi "e nee! materiali t !ialectic % >e nee! to tu!y an! un!er tan! thin* !ialectically%

The !ialectical metho! i ' in!ee!' nothin* #ut the metho! of tu!yin* an! un!er tan!in* thin* in their real chan*e an!!evelopment%

& uch' it tan! oppo e! to metaphy ic %

>hat i metaphy ic ? Or more e$actly' "hat i the metaphy ical "ay of thin.in*' "hich i oppo e! #y the !ialectical "ay ofthin.in*?

Metaphy ic i e entially an a# tract "ay of thin.in*% n a en e all thin.in* i a# tract' ince it "or. "ith *eneralconcept an! cannot #ut !i re*ar! a *reat !eal of particular an! une ential !etail% ;or e$ample' if "e ay that 5men havet"o le* ' "e are thin.in* of the t"o-le**e!ne of men in a# traction from their other propertie ' uch a havin* a hea!'t"o arm an! o onA an! imilarly "e are thin.in* of all men in *eneral' !i re*ar!in* the in!ivi!uality of particular men' of4eter' 4aul an! o on% But there i a# traction an! a# traction% Metaphy ic i !i tin*ui he! #y the fact that it ma.e fal e'mi lea!in* a# traction % & n*el once pointe! out' the art of "or.in* "ith concept i not in#orn % % % #ut re+uire realthou*ht A 7 81 the art of ri*ht thin.in* involve learnin* ho" to avoi! metaphy ical a# traction%

uppo e' for e$ample' "e are thin.in* a#out men' a#out human nature% Then "e houl! thin. a#out human nature inuch a "ay that "e reco*ni


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them' @metaphy ic 5 mean any theory "hich !eal "ith @ultimate 5 not verifia#le in en e-e$perience% By u in* the term inthi "ay' they conceal the fact that they them elve are' if anythin*' more metaphy ical than any other philo opher % ;ortheir o"n mo!e of thin.in* reache e$treme of metaphy ical a# traction% >hat coul! #e 60 more metaphy ical than toima*ine' a the po itivi t philo opher !o' that our en e-e$perience e$i t in a# traction from the real material "orl!out i!e u ? n!ee!' they them elve ma.e @ en ee$perience5 into a metaphy ical ultimate%5

n oppo ition to the a# tract' metaphy ical "ay of thin.in*' !ialectic teache u to thin. of thin* in their real chan*e an!interconnection % To thin. !ialectically i to thin. concretely' an! to thin. concretely i to thin. !ialectically% >hen "e oppo ethe !ialectical metho! to metaphy ic ' then "e ho" up the ina!e+uacy' one- i!e!ne or fal ity of the a# traction ofmetaphy ic %

Thi con i!eration ena#le u to un!er tan! the ori*inal meanin* of the term !ialectic % The "or! i !erive! from theDree. !iale*o' meanin* to !i cu or !e#ate% t "a con i!ere! that to !i cu a +ue tion from all i!e ' an! from allan*le ' allo"in* !ifferent one- i!e! point of vie" to oppo e an! contra!ict each other !urin* the !e#ate' "a the #e tmetho! of arrivin* at the truth% uch "a the !ialectic employe!' for e$ample' #y ocrate % >hen anyone claime! to have aformula "hich an "ere! ome +ue tion once an! for all' ocrate "oul! enter into !i cu ion "ith him an!' #y forcin* himto con i!er the +ue tion from !ifferent an*le ' "oul! compel him to contra!ict him elf an! o to a!mit that hi formula "afal e% By thi metho! ocrate con i!ere! that it "a po i#le to arrive at more a!e+uate i!ea a#out thin* %

The Mar$i t !ialectical metho! !evelop from an! inclu!e !ialectic in the en e in "hich it "a un!er too! #y the Dree. %But it i far richer in content' far "i!er in it cope% & a re ult' it #ecome omethin* +ualitatively ne" a compare! "ithpreMar$i t !ialectic a ne" revolutionary metho!% ;or it i com#ine! "ith a con i tent materiali m an! cea e to #e amere metho! of ar*ument' #ecomin* a metho! of inve ti*ation applica#le to #oth nature an! ociety' a metho! of materiali tun!er tan!in* of the "orl! "hich *ro" out of an! *ui!e the activity of chan*in* the "orl!%

The Meta"h!sical 5Either,Or5 Metaphy ic pre uppo e that each thin* ha it o"n fi$e! nature' it o"n fi$e! propertie ' an! con i!er each thin* #yit elf' in i olation% t trie to ettle the nature an! propertie of 61 each thin* a a *iven' eparate o#/ect of inve ti*ation' not con i!erin* thin* in their interconnection an! in their chan*ean! !evelopment%

Becau e of thi ' metaphy ic thin. of thin* in term of har! an! fa t antithe e % t oppo e thin* of one ort to thin* ofanother ort2 if a thin* i of one ort' it ha one et of propertie A if of another ort' it ha another et of propertie A the onee$clu!e the other' an! each i thou*ht of in eparation from the other%

Thu n*el "rite 2

@To the metaphy ician' thin* an! their mental ima*e ' i!ea ' are i olate!' to #e con i!ere! one after the other' apartfrom each other' ri*i! fi$e! o#/ect of inve ti*ation *iven once an! for all% =e thin. in a# olutely irreconcila#le antithe e %:=i communication i ea' yea' ay' nay' for "hatever i more than the e cometh of evil%: ;or him a thin* either e$i t or it!oe not e$i tA it i e+ually impo i#le for a thin* to #e it elf an! at the ame time omethin* el e%5 6181

4hilo opher have e$pre e! the e ence of thi metaphy ical "ay of thin.in* in the formula2 ach thin* i "hat it i ' an!not another thin*% Thi may oun! no more than plain common en e% But that only ho" that o-calle! common en eit elf conceal mi lea!in* i!ea "hich nee! to #e #rou*ht into the open% Thi "ay of thin.in* prevent u from tu!yin*thin* in their real chan*e an! interconnection in all their contra!ictory a pect an! relation hip ' in their proce ofchan*in* from one thin* into another thin*%5

t i not only philo opher "ho are metaphy ician %

There are left-"in* tra!e unioni t ' for e$ample' "ho are a metaphy ical a any chool of philo opher % ;or them everyoneat their tra!e union local meetin* i either a cla con ciou militant or el e he i a ri*ht-"in* opportuni t% veryone mu t fitinto one or other cate*ory' an! once he i !o"n a ri*ht "in* he i fini he! o far a they are concerne!% That ome"or.er "ho ha #een their opponent in the pa t an! on ome i ue may yet prove an ally in the future an! on other i uei not allo"e! for in their metaphy ical outloo. on life%

n one of Moliere: play there i a man "ho learn for the fir t time a#out pro e% >hen they e$plain to him "hat pro e i ' hee$claim 2 >hy' :ve #een pea.in* pro e all my life 5

imilarly' there are many "or.er "ho may "ell ay2 >hy' :ve #een a metaphy ician all my life 5


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@&re the concept that prevail in natural cience fiction #ecau e they #y no mean al"ay coinci!e "ith reality? ;rom themoment "e accept the theory of evolution all our concept of or*anic life corre pon! only appro$imately to reality% Other"i ethere "oul! #e no chan*eA on the !ay that concept an! reality a# olutely coinci!e in the or*anic "orl!' !evelopment i at anen!%5 6H81

&n! he pointe! out that imilar con i!eration apply to all concept "ithout e$ception%

>hen "e thin. of the propertie of thin* ' their relation hip ' their mo!e of action an! interaction' the proce e into "hichthey enter' then "e fin! that' *enerally pea.in*' all the e propertie ' relation hip ' interaction an! proce e !ivi!e intofun!amental oppo ite %

;or e$ample' if "e thin. of the imple t "ay in "hich t"o #o!ie can act on one another' then "e fin! that thi action ieither repul ion or attraction%

f "e con i!er the electrical propertie of #o!ie ' then there i po itive an! ne*ative electricity%

n or*anic life' there i the #uil!in* up of or*anic compoun! an! the #rea.in* !o"n of them%

&*ain' in mathematic ' there i a!!ition an! u#traction' plu an! minu %

&n! in *eneral' "hatever phere of in+uiry "e may #e con i!erin*' "e fin! that it involve uch fun!amental oppo ite % >e67 fin! our elve con i!erin*' not /u t a num#er of !ifferent thin* ' !ifferent propertie ' !ifferent relation ' !ifferentproce e ' #ut pair of oppo ite ' fun!amental oppo ition % & =e*el put it2 n oppo ition' the !ifferent i not confronte! #yany other' #ut #y it other%5 6781

Thu if "e thin. of the force actin* #et"een t"o #o!ie ' there are not /u t a num#er of !ifferent force ' #ut they !ivi!e intoattractive an! repul ive force A if "e thin. of electric char*e ' there are not /u t a num#er of !ifferent char*e ' #ut they !ivi!einto po itive an! ne*ativeA an! o on% &ttraction tan! oppo e! to repul ion' po itive electricity to ne*ative electricity%

uch fun!amental oppo ition are not un!er too! #y the metaphy ical "ay of thin.in*%

n the fir t place' the metaphy ical "ay of thin.in* trie to i*nore an! !i count oppo ition% t ee. to un!er tan! a *ivenu#/ect-matter imply in term of a "hole num#er of !ifferent propertie an! !ifferent relation of thin* ' i*norin* the

fun!amental oppo ition "hich are manife te! in the e propertie an! relation % Thu tho e "ho thin. in metaphy ical terma#out cla -!ivi!e! ocietie ' for e$ample' try to un!er tan! ociety a con i tin* merely of a lar*e num#er of !ifferentin!ivi!ual connecte! to*ether #y all .in! of !ifferent ocial relation #ut they i*nore the fun!amental oppo ition of

e$ploiter an! e$ploite!' manife te! in all tho e ocial relation %

n the econ! place' "hen the metaphy ical "ay of thin.in* !oe neverthele come upon the fun!amental oppo ition an!cannot i*nore them' then true to it ha#it of thin.in* of each thin* in i olation' a a fi$e! con tant it con i!er the eoppo ite each in i olation from the other' un!er tan! them eparately an! a each e$clu!in* the other% Thu ' for e$ample'the ol!er phy ici t u e! to thin. of po itive an! ne*ative electricity /u t imply a t"o !ifferent electrical flui! %5

But contrary to metaphy ic ' not only are fun!amental oppo ite involve! in every u#/ect-matter' #ut the e oppo itemutually imply each other' are in epara#ly connecte! to*ether' an!' far from #ein* e$clu ive' neither can e$i t or #eun!er too! e$cept in relation to the other%

Thi characteri tic of oppo ition i .no"n a polarity2 ;un!amental oppo ite are polar oppo ite % & ma*net' for e$ample' 66ha t"o pole ' a north pole an! a outh pole% But the e pole ' oppo ite an! !i tinct' cannot e$i t in eparation% f the ma*neti cut in t"o' there i not a north pole in one half an! a outh pole in the other' #ut north an! outh pole recur in each half%The north pole e$i t only a the oppo ite of the outh' an! vice ver aA the one can #e !enne! only a the oppo ite of theother%

n *eneral' fun!amental oppo ition ha to #e un!er too! a polar oppo ition' an! every u#/ect-matter ha to #e un!er too!in term of the polar oppo ition involve! in it%

Thu in phy ic "e fin! that attraction an! repul ion are involve! in every phy ical proce in uch a "ay that they cannot#e eparate! or i olate! the one from the other% n con i!erin* livin* #o!ie ' "e !o not fin! in ome ca e the #uil!in* up ofor*anic compoun! an! in other ca e their #rea.in* !o"n' #ut every life proce involve #oth the #uil!in* up an! the#rea.in* !o"n of or*anic compoun! % n capitali t ociety the increa in* ociali


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Thi unity of oppo ite the fact that oppo ite cannot #e un!er too! in eparation one from another' #ut only in theirin epara#le connection in every fiel! of inve ti*ation i tri.in*ly e$emplifie! in mathematic % =ere the fun!amentaloperation are the t"o oppo ite ' a!!ition an! u#traction% &n! o far i it from #ein* the ca e that a!!ition an! u#tractioncan #e un!er too! each apart from the other' that a!!ition can #e repre ente! a u#traction an! vice ver aA thu theoperation of u#traction (a #) can #e repre ente! a an a!!ition ( # a)% imilarly a !ivi ion aQ# can #e repre ente! a amultiplication a U (1Q#)% 6681

The unity of oppo ite ' their in epara#le connection' i #y no mean to #e un!er too! a a harmoniou an! ta#lerelation hip' a a tate of e+uili#rium% On the contrary' The unity of oppo ite i con!itional' temporary' tran itory' relative%The tru**le of mutually e$clu ive oppo ite i a# olute' /u t a !evelopment an! motion are a# olute%5 668E

The e$i tence of fun!amental polar oppo ition ' manife tin* them elve in every !epartment of nature an! ociety'e$pre e it elf in the conflict an! tru**le of oppo e! ten!encie ' "hich' !e pite pha e of temporary e+uili#rium' lea! tocontinual motion an! !evelopment' to a perpetual comin* into #ein* an! pa in* 6 a"ay of everythin* in e$i tence' to

harp chan*e of tate an! tran formation %

Thu ' for e$emple' the e+uili#rium of attractive an! repul ive force in the phy ical "orl! i never more than con!itional an!temporaryA the conflict an! tru**le of attraction an! repul ion al"ay a ert it elf' i uin* in phy ical chan*e an!tran formation ' "hether tran formation on an atomic cale' chemical chan*e or' on a *ran! cale' in the e$plo ion of

tar %

Dialectics and Meta"h!sics

To um up%

Metaphy ic thin. in term of @rea!y-ma!e5 thin* ' "ho e propertie an! potentialitie it ee. to fi$ an! !etermine oncean! for all% t con i!er each thin* #y it elf' in i olation from every other' in term of irreconcila#le antithe e either-or% tcontra t one thin* to another' one property to another' one relation hip to another' not con i!erin* thin* in their realmovement an! interconnection' an! not con i!erin* that every u#/ectmatter repre ent a unity of oppo ite oppo e! #utin epara#ly connecte! to*ether%

Contrary to metaphy ic ' !ialectic refu e to thin. of thin* each #y it elf' a havin* a fi$e! nature an! fi$e! propertie@either-or5 #ut it reco*ni


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e$i tenceA #ecau e it let nothin* impo e upon it' an! i in it e ence critical an! revolutionary%5 6K8H

6 #han)e and Interconnection Four Princi"al Features o( the Mar3ist Dialectical Method

The Mar$i t !ialectical metho! !eman! that "e mu t al"ay con i!er thin* ' not in i olation' #ut in their interconnection"ith other thin* ' in relation to the actual con!ition an! circum tance of each ca eA an! that "e mu t con i!er thin* intheir chan*e an! movement' their comin* into #ein* an! *oin* out of #ein*' al"ay ta.in* particularly into account "hat ine"' "hat i ri in* an! !evelopin*%

t follo" that the Mar$i t !ialectical metho! for#i! the employment of rea!y-ma!e cheme an! a# tract formula ' #ut!eman! the thorou*h' !etaile! analy i of a proce in all it concretene ' #a in* it conclu ion only on uch ananaly i %

n hi ialectical an! =i torical Materiali m talin ai! that there are four principal feature of the Mar$i t !ialectical metho!%

(1) Contrary to metaphy ic ' !ialectic !oe not re*ar! nature a /u t an a**lomeration of thin* ' each e$i tin*in!epen!ently of the other ' #ut it con i!er thin* a connecte! "ith' !epen!ent on an! !etermine! #y each other% =enceit con i!er that nothin* can #e un!er too! ta.en #y it elf' in i olation' #ut mu t al"ay #e un!er too! in it in epara#leconnection "ith other thin* ' an! a con!itione! #y them%5

(E) Contrary to metaphy ic ' !ialectic con i!er everythin* a in a tate of continuou movement an! chan*e' of rene"alan! !evelopment' "here omethin* i al"ay ari in* an! !evelopin* an! omethin* al"ay !i inte*ratin* an! !yin* a"ay%=ence it con i!er thin* not only from the tan!point of their interconnection an! inter!epen!ence' #ut al o from the

tan!point of their movement' their chan*e' their !evelopment' their comin* into #ein* an! *oin* out of #ein*%5

(3) Contrary to metaphy ic ' !ialectic !oe not re*ar! the 0 proce of !evelopment a a imple proce of *ro"th' #uta a !evelopment "hich pa e from % % % +uantitative chan*e to open' fun!amental chan*e ' to +ualitative chan*e '"hich occur a#ruptly' ta.in* the form of a leap from one tate to another% =ence it con i!er !evelopment a an on"ar!an! up"ar! movement' a a tran ition from an ol! +ualitative tate to a ne" +ualitative tate' a a !evelopment from the

imple to the comple$' from the lo"er to the hi*her%5

(H) Contrary to metaphy ic ' !ialectic hol! that the proce of !evelopment from the lo"er to the hi*her ta.e place %%% aa !i clo ure of the contra!iction inherent in thin* %%% a a tru**le of oppo ite ten!encie "hich operate on the #a i ofthe e contra!iction %5

>e hall po tpone until the ne$t chapter con i!eration of the latter t"o feature ' "hich concern the proce of !evelopmentfrom one +ualitative tate to another' from the lo"er to the hi*her% n thi chapter "e hall con i!er the fir t t"o feature ofthe !ialectical metho!' namely' that it con i!er thin* al"ay in their interconnection an! in their movement an! chan*e%

#onsiderin) Thin)s in Their Interconnection and #ircumstances

The !ialectical metho! !eman! ' fir t' that "e houl! con i!er thin* ' not each #y it elf' #ut al"ay in their interconnection"ith other thin* %

Thi oun! o#viou % everthele it i an @o#viou 5 principle "hich i very often i*nore! an! i e$tremely important toremem#er% >e have alrea!y con i!ere! it an! ome e$ample of it application in !i cu in* metaphy ic ' ince the verye ence of metaphy ic i to thin. of thin* in an a# tract "ay' i olate! from their relation "ith other thin* an! from theconcrete circum tance in "hich they e$i t%

The principle of con i!erin* thin* in relation to actual con!ition an! circum tance ' an! not apart from tho e actualcon!ition an! circum tance ' i al"ay of fun!amental importance for the "or.in*-cla movement in !eci!in* the mo telementary +ue tion of policy%

;or e$ample' there "a a time "hen the Briti h "or.er "ere fi*htin* for a ten-hour !ay% They "ere ri*ht at that time not toma.e their imme!iate !eman! an ei*ht-hour !ay' ince thi "a 1 not yet a reali


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o "or.in*-cla lea!er can #e of very much value if he trie to !eci!e +ue tion of policy in term of *eneral principlealone' "ithout ta.in* into account the actual circum tance in relation to "hich policy ha to #e operate!' "ithoutun!er tan!in* that the ame policy can #e ri*ht in one ca e an! "ron* in another' !epen!in* on the concretecircum tance of each ca e%

Thu ,enin "rote2

@Of cour e' in politic ' in "hich ometime e$tremely complicate! national an! international relation hip #et"eencla e an! partie have to #e !ealt "ith %%% it "oul! #e a# ur! to concoct a recipe' or *eneral rule % % % that "oul! erve in allca e % One mu t have the #rain to analy


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environment' an! they *ro" an! !evelop #y a imilatin* that environment% Thu ,y en.o !efine! the here!ity' or nature' ofan or*ani m a it re+uirement of certain con!ition for it life an! !evelopment' an! it re pon!in* to variou con!ition ina certain "ay% Thi un!er tan!in* of the unity of or*ani m an! environment ha! important con e+uence % ;or it le! to thee$pectation that #y compellin* an or*ani m to a!apt it elf to an! a imilate chan*e! con!ition ' it nature coul! #echan*e!% &n! thi e$pectation ha #een verifie! in practice%

The #iolo*i t of the Men!el-Mor*an chool' on the other han!' treat the or*ani m a# tractly' metaphy ically' a i olate!from it real con!ition of life% They conceive of the @nature5 of the or*ani m a +uite in!epen!ent of it con!ition of life%=ence they conclu!e' in true metaphy ical tyle' that the here!ity of an or*ani m 5i "hat i ' an! that it i no u e tryin* tochan*e it in the "ay in "hich oviet #iolo*i t have chan*e! the here!ity of or*ani m %

#onsiderin) Thin)s in Their Mo$ement7 Their #omin) into 8ein) and 9oin) Out o( 8ein) ,et u no" con i!er ome e$ample of the econ! principle of !ialectic ' "hich !eman! that "e houl! con i!er thin* intheir movement' their chan*e' their comin* into #ein* an! *oin* out of #ein*%

Thi principle' too' i of *reat importance in cience%

oviet #iolo*i t ' for e$ample' *ui!e! #y thi principle of !ialectic ' have con i!ere! the or*ani m in it *ro"th an!!evelopment% Thu at a certain ta*e of *ro"th' the nature of the or*ani m i till pla ticA if you can mo!ify it at that ta*e'you can often chan*e it nature' *ive it a chan*e! here!ity% omethin* i ne"ly comin* into #ein* in the or*ani m' an! thati the time to fo ter it an! to *ive it a !e ire! !irection% But if that ta*e i pa e!' then it nature #ecome fi$e! an! youcannot chan*e it% ou mu t fin! /u t the ri*ht ta*e of *ro"th if you "i h to mo!ify the here!ity of the or*ani m%

The #iolo*i t of the Men!el-Mor*an chool' on the other han!' con i!er the nature of the or*ani m a *iven an! fi$e! fromthe very tart%

Thi econ! principle of !ialectic teache u al"ay to pay attention to "hat i ne"' to "hat i ri in* an! *ro"in* not /u tto "hat e$i t at the moment' #ut to "hat i comin* into #ein*%

Thi principle i of paramount importance for revolutionaryun!er tan!in*' for revolutionary practice%

The u ian Bol hevi. ' for e$ample' a" from the very #e*innin* ho" u ian ociety "a movin* "hat "a ne" in it'"hat "a comin* into #ein*% They loo.e! for "hat "a ri in* an! *ro"in*' thou*h it "a till "ea. the "or.in* cla %>hile other !i counte! the importance of the "or.in* cla an! fini he! #y enterin* into compromi e "ith the force ofthe ol! ociety' the Bol hevi. conclu!e! that the "or.in* cla "a the ne"' ri in* force' an! le! it to victory%

Ju t thi ame un!er tan!in* of "hat "a ri in* an! *ro"in* an! of "hat "a !i inte*ratin* an! !yin* a"ay' "ae$emplifie! in talin: lea!er hip !urin* the "ar' 19H1-H7% >hen the Derman "ere #efore Mo co" in ovem#er 19H1' an!all the allie! military trate*i t out i!e the oviet Lnion con i!ere! that u ia: !efeat "a certain' talin ai! that "hilethe Derman "ere at the pea. of their military po"er the oviet force ' on 7 the other han!' "ere till mo#ili


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commence to #uil! ociali m%

,a tly' to!ay "e ometime hear the ar*ument2 Capitali m mean "ar' therefore "ar i inevita#le% True enou*h' o lon*a capitali m' "hich ha lon* a*o entere! it la t (imperiali t) pha e' per i t ' there mu t inevita#ly #e conflict #et"een therival po"er ' an! the e conflict are uch a to entail the inevita#ility of imperiali t "ar % But the imperiali t cannot ma.e"ar "ithout the people% The more they prepare "ar' the more open their a**re ivene #ecome ' the more one po"erattempt to impo e it !omination on another' an! the more har! hip they impo e on the people' the more can the people#e rallie! to oppo e their "ar% Therefore in any in tance "hen "ar threaten ' that "ar can #e prevente! an! po tpone!% &n!#y fi*htin* to pre erve peace' "e can lay the #a i for en!in* the con!ition "hich po e the inevita#ility of "ar% mperiali t"ar plan can #e !efeate!A they can #e !efeate! if the "or.in* cla rallie all the peace-lovin* force aroun! it elf% &n!imperiali m it elf' "ith the con e+uent inevita#ility of "ar' can #e en!e!% f "e !efeat the imperiali t "ar plan ' that "ill #ethe #e t roa! to"ar! the en!in* of capitali m it elf an! the #uil!in* of ociali m% mperiali m "ill not #e en!e! #y "aitin*for it to "rec. it elf in inevita#le "ar ' #ut #y unitin* to prevent the realihen that "hich i ari in* an! !evelopin* come to fruition' an! that "hich i !i inte*ratin* an! !yin* a"ay finally!i appear ' there emer*e omethin* ne"%

;or a "e a" in criticie pea. of @!evelopment5 "here ta*e #y ta*e omethin* ne".eep emer*in*%

Thu there i a !ifference #et"een mere chan*e an! !evelopment% evelopment i chan*e procee!in* accor!in* to it o"ninternal la" from ta*e to ta*e%

&n! there i e+ually a !ifference #et"een *ro"th an! !evelopment% Thi !ifference i familiar to #iolo*i t ' for e$ample%Thu *ro"th mean *ettin* #i**er merely +uantitative chan*e% But !evelopment mean ' not *ettin* #i**er' #ut pa in*into a +ualitatively ne" ta*e' #ecomin* +ualitatively !ifferent% ;or e$ample' a caterpillar *ro" lon*er an! fatterA then it

pin it elf a cocoon' an! finally emer*e a a #utterfly% Thi i !evelopment% & caterpillar *ro" into a #i**er caterpillarA it!evelop into a #utterfly%

4roce e of nature an! hi tory e$emplify' not merely chan*e' not merely *ro"th' #ut !evelopment% Can "e' then' reachany conclu ion a#out the *eneral la" of !evelopment? Thi i the further ta . of materiali t !ialectic to fin! "hat*eneral la" are manife te! in all !evelopment' an! to *ive u ' therefore' the metho! of approach for un!er tan!in*'


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e$plainin* an! controllin* !evelopment%

Nuantity an! Nuality2 The ,a" of the Tran formation of Nuantitative into Nualitative Chan*e Thi #rin* u to the t"o latter feature of the Mar$i t !ialectical metho!' a e$plaine! #y talin% The fir t of the e may #ecalle! the la" of the tran formation of +uantitative into +ualitative chan*e% >hat !oe thi mean?

&ll chan*e ha a +uantitative a pect' that i ' an a pect of mere increa e or !ecrea e "hich !oe not alter the nature of that"hich chan*e % But +uantitative chan*e' increa e or !ecrea e' cannot *o on in!efinitely% &t a certain point it al"ay lea! toa +ualitative chan*eA an! at that critical point (or no!al point' a =e*el calle! it) the +ualitative chan*e ta.e placerelatively u!!enly' #y a leap' a it "ere%

;or e$ample' if "ater i #ein* heate!' it !oe not *o on *ettin* K1 hotter an! hotter in!efinitelyA at a certain criticaltemperature' it #e*in to turn into team' un!er*oin* a +ualitative chan*e from li+ui! to *a % & cor! u e! to lift a "ei*ht mayhave a *reater an! *reater loa! attache! to it' #ut no cor! can lift a loa! in!efinitely *reat2 at a certain point' the cor! i#oun! to #rea.% & #oiler may "ith tan! a *reater an! *reater pre ure of team up to the point "here it #ur t % & variety ofplant may #e u#/ecte! to a erie of chan*e in it con!ition of *ro"th for a num#er of *eneration for in tance' to col!ertemperature A the variety continue unchan*e!' until a point i reache! "hen u!!enly a +ualitative chan*e i in!uce!' achan*e in the here!ity of the plant% n thi "ay prin* "heat have #een tran forme! into "inter "heat ' an! vice ver a' aa re ult of the accumulation of a erie of +uantitative chan*e %

Thi la" of the tran formation of +uantitative into +ualitative chan*e i al o met "ith in ociety% Thu #efore the y tem ofin!u trial capitali m come into #ein* there ta.e place a proce of the accumulation of "ealth in money form in a fe"private han! (lar*ely #y colonial plun!er)' an! of the formation of a propertyle proletariat (#y enclo ure an! the !rivin* ofpea ant off the lan!)% &t a certain point in thi proce ' "hen enou*h money i accumulate! to provi!e capital for in!u trialun!erta.in* ' "hen enou*h people have #een proletariani


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a!!ition or u#traction of matter or motion% % % %

@&ll +ualitative !ifference in nature re t on !ifference of chemical compo ition or on !ifferent +uantitie or form ofmotion or' a i almo t al"ay the ca e' on #oth% =ence it i impo i#le to alter the +uality of a #o!y "ithout a!!ition or

u#traction of matter or motion' i%e% "ithout +uantitative alteration of the #o!y concerne!%5 K381

Thi feature of the !ialectical la" connectin* +uality an! +uantity i familiar to rea!er of the popular literature a#out atomic#om# % To ma.e a uranium #om# it i nece ary to have the i otope' uranium-E37A the more common i otope' uranium E3K'"ill not !o% The !ifference #et"een the e t"o i merely +uantitative' a !ifference in atomic "ei*ht' !epen!in* on the num#erof neutron pre ent in each ca e% But thi +uantitative !ifference of atomic "ei*ht' E37 an! E3K' ma.e the +ualitative!ifference #et"een a u# tance "ith the propertie re+uire! for the #om# an! a u# tance "ithout tho e propertie % ;urther'havin* *ot a +uantity of uranium-E37' a certain critical ma of it i re+uire! #efore it "ill e$plo!e% f there i not enou*h'the chain reaction "hich con titute the e$plo ion "ill not occurA "hen the critical ma i reache!' the reaction !oeoccur%

Thu "e ee that +uantitative chan*e are tran forme! at a certain point into +ualitative chan*e ' an! +ualitative !ifferencere t on +uantitative !ifference % Thi i a univer al feature of !evelopment% >hat ma.e uch !evelopment happen?

evelopment Ta.e 4lace Throu*h the Lnity an! tru**le of Oppo ite

n *eneral' the rea on "hy in any particular ca e a +uantitative chan*e lea! to a +ualitative chan*e lie in the very nature'in the content' of the particular proce e involve!% Therefore in each ca e "e can' if "e only .no" enou*h' e$plain /u t "hya +ualitative chan*e i inevita#le' an! "hy it ta.e place at the point it !oe %

To e$plain thi "e have to tu!y the fact of the ca e% >e cannot invent an e$planation "ith the ai! of !ialectic aloneA"here an un!er tan!in* of !ialectic help i that it *ive u the clue a to "here to loo.% n a particular ca e "e may not yet.no" ho" an! "hy the chan*e ta.e place% n that ca e "e have the ta . of fin!in* out' #y inve ti*atin* the fact of theca e% ;or there i nothin* un.no"a#le' no e ential my tery or ecret of !evelopment' of the emer*ence of the +ualitativelyne"%

,et u con i!er' for e$ample' the ca e of the +ualitative chan*e "hich ta.e place "hen "ater #oil %

>hen heat i applie! to a ma of "ater containe! in a .ettle' then the effect i to increa e the motion of the moleculecompo in* the "ater% o lon* a the "ater remain in it li+ui! tate' the force of attraction #et"een the molecule are

ufficient to in ure that' thou*h ome of the urface molecule are continually e capin*' the "hole ma cohere to*ether aa ma of "ater in i!e the .ettle% &t #oilin* point' ho"ever' the motion of the molecule ha #ecome ufficiently violent for

lar*e num#er of them to #e*in /umpin* clear of the ma % & +ualitative chan*e i therefore o# erve!% The "ater #e*in to#u##le an! the "hole ma i rapi!ly tran forme! into team% Thi chan*e evi!ently occur a a re ult of the oppo itionoperatin* "ithin the ma of "ater the ten!ency of the molecule to move apart an! /ump free ver u the force ofattraction #et"een them% The former ten!ency i reinforce! to the point "here it overcome the latter a a re ult' in thica e' of the e$ternal application of heat%

&nother e$ample "e have con i!ere! i that of a cor! "hich #rea. "hen it loa! #ecome too *reat% =ere a*ain' the+ualitative chan*e ta.e place a a re ult of the oppo ition et up #et"een the ten ile tren*th of the cor! an! the pull of theloa!% &*ain' "hen a prin* "heat i tran forme! into a "inter "heat' thi i a re ult of the oppo ition #et"een the plant:@con ervati m5 an! the chan*in* con!ition of *ro"th an! !evelopment to "hich it i u#/ecte!A at a certain point' theinfluence of the latter overcome the former%

The e e$ample prepare u for the *eneral conclu ion that' a talin put it' the internal content of the proce of!evelopment' the internal content of the tran formation of +uantitative chan*e into +ualitative chan*e con i t in the

tru**le of oppo ite oppo ite ten!encie ' oppo ite force "ithin the thin* an! proce concerne!%

Thu the la" that +uantitative chan*e are tran forme! into +ualitative chan*e ' an! that !ifference in +uality are #a e! on!ifference in +uantity' lea! u to the la" of the unity an! tru**le of oppo ite %

=ere i the "ay talin formulate thi la" of !ialectic %

@Contrary to metaphy ic ' !ialectic hol! that internal contra!iction are inherent in all thin* an! phenomena of nature' forall have their ne*ative an! po itive i!e ' a pa t an! a future' K7 omethin* !yin* a"ay an! omethin* !evelopin*A an! thatthe tru**le #et"een the e oppo ite ' the tru**le #et"een the ol! an! the ne"' #et"een that "hich i !yin* a"ay an! that"hich i #ein* #orn' #et"een that "hich i !i appearin* an! that "hich i !evelopin*' con titute the internal content of theproce of !evelopment' the internal content of the tran formation of +uantitative chan*e into +ualitative chan*e %


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@The !ialectical metho! therefore hol! that the proce of !evelopment from the lo"er to the hi*her ta.e place not a aharmoniou unfol!in* of phenomena' #ut a a !i clo ure of the contra!iction inherent in thin* an! phenomena' a aF tru**le: of oppo ite ten!encie "hich operate on the #a i of the e contra!iction %5 K781

To un!er tan! !evelopment' to un!er tan! ho" an! "hy +uantitative chan*e lea! to +ualitative chan*e ' to un!er tan!ho" an! "hy the tran ition ta.e place from an ol! +ualitative tate to a ne" +ualitative tate' "e have to un!er tan! thecontra!iction inherent in each thin* an! proce "e are con i!erin*' an! ho" a @ tru**le5 of oppo ite ten!encie ari e onthe #a i of the e contra!iction %

>e have to un!er tan! thi concretely' in each ca e' #earin* in min! ,enin: "arnin* that the fun!amental the i of!ialectic i 2 truth i al"ay concrete% >e cannot !e!uce the la" of !evelopment in the concrete ca e from the *eneralprinciple of !ialectic 2 "e have to !i cover them #y actual inve ti*ation in each ca e% But !ialectic tell u "hat to loo. for%

ialectic of ocial evelopment The Contra!iction of Capitali m

The !ialectic of !evelopment the unity an! tru**le of oppo ite ha #een mo t thorou*hly "or.e! out in the Mar$i tcience of ociety% =ere' from the tan!point of the "or.in*cla tru**le' on the #a i of "or.in*-cla e$perience' "e can

"or. out the !ialectic of the contra!iction of capitali m an! of their !evelopment very e$actly%

But the principle involve! in the !evelopment of ociety are not oppo e! to #ut are in e ence the ame a tho e involve!in the !evelopment of nature' thou*h !ifferent in their form of manife tation in each ca e% Thu n*el ai!2

@ "a not in !ou#t that ami! the "elter of innumera#le K6 chan*e ta.in* place in nature the ame !ialectical la" ofmotion are in operation a tho e "hich in hi tory *overn the apparent fortuitou ne of event %5 K681

=o" Mar$i m un!er tan! the contra!iction of capitali m an! their !evelopment' thi cro"nin* triumph of the !ialecticalmetho!' "a e$plaine! in *eneral term #y n*el %

The #a ic contra!iction of capitali m i not imply the conflict of t"o cla e ' "hich confront one another a t"o e$ternalforce "hich come into conflict% o' it i the contra!iction "ithin the ocial y tem it elf' on the #a i of "hich the claconflict ari e an! operate %

Capitali m #rou*ht a#out2

@The concentration of the mean of pro!uction in lar*e "or. hop an! manufactorie ' their tran formation into mean of

pro!uction "hich "ere in fact ocial% But the ocial mean of pro!uction an! the ocial pro!uct "ere treate! a if they "eretill' a they ha! #een #efore' the mean of pro!uction an! the pro!uct of in!ivi!ual % =itherto' the o"ner of thein trument of la#or ha! appropriate! the pro!uct #ecau e it "a a a rule hi o"n pro!uct' the au$iliary la#or of otherper on #ein* the e$ceptionA no"' the o"ner of the in trument of pro!uction continue! to appropriate the pro!uct' althou*hit "a no lon*er M pro!uct' #ut e$clu ively the pro!uct of other : la#or% Thu ' therefore' the pro!uct ' no" ociallypro!uce!' "ere not appropriate! #y tho e "ho ha! really et the mean of pro!uction in motion an! really pro!uce! thepro!uct ' #ut #y the capitali t %5 K68E

The #a ic contra!iction of capitali m i ' therefore' the contra!iction #et"een ociali


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concentrate!' more centrali


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@ t i often ai! an! "ritten that the core of Mar$: theory i the cla tru**leA #ut it i not true% %%% To limit Mar$i m to thetheory of the cla tru**le mean curtailin* Mar$i m' !i tortin* it' re!ucin* it to omethin* "hich i accepta#le to the#our*eoi ie% & Mar$i t i one "ho e$ten! the acceptance of the cla tru**le to the acceptance of the !ictator hip of the90 proletariat% Thi i "here the profoun! !ifference lie #et"een a' Mar$i t an! an or!inary petty (or even #i*) #our*eoi %Thi i the touch tone on "hich the real un!er tan!in* an! acceptance of Mar$i m houl! #e te te!%5 9081

n *eneral' contra!iction i inherent in a *iven proc

Dialectical Materialism: An Introduction by Maurice Cornforth

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