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Long Answer type Question

Karl Marx

Q1. Examine Karl Marxs Dialectic Materialism

Ans: Dialectical Materialism is a way of understanding reality; whether thoughts,

emotions, or the material world. Simply stated, this methodology is the combination of

Dialectics and Materialism. The materialist dialectic is the theoretical foundation of

Marxism (while being communist is the practice of Marxism).

The conditions of the rise of Marxist philosophy were socio-economic. Karl Marx brought

a revolution in philosophy by changing the role of philosophy and the philosophers. He

laid emphasis upon change rather than thought. His philosophy was characterized by a

consistent defence of the interests of the proletariat. Marxist philosophy is dialectical

materalism. Reality consists of matter and the forms of its existence. Motion is a form of

existence of matter. Consciousness is a product of the development of matter. Dialectics is

the doctrine of development and universal connection

Dialectics is the method of reasoning which aims to understand things concretely in all their

movement, change and interconnection, with their opposite and contradictory sides in unity.

Dialectics is opposed to the formal, metaphysical mode of thought of ordinary understanding

which begins with a fixed definition of a thing according to its various attributes. For example

formal thought would explain: a fish is something with no legs which lives in the water

Materialism are those philosophical trends which emphasise the material world (the world outside

of consciousness) as the foundation and determinant of thinking, especially in relation to the

question of the origin of knowledge. Compare with idealism. For materialism, thoughts are

reflections of matter, outside of Mind, which existed before and independently of thought.

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The pre-Marxist philosophy was characterized by a struggle between materialism and

idealism

Marx had to take a stand with regards to the basic division in all philosophy the division

between idealism and materialism. This division is regarding the basic question as to,

which is primary spirit or nature. Those who take the stand that spirit is primary belong

to the camp of idealism, whereas those who take the stand that nature is primary belong to

the camp of materialism. Idealism is always connected in one way or other to religion.

Being men of practice, who were absolutely opposed to religious beliefs, it was but natural

that Marx (and Engels )established Marxist philosophy firmly in the camp of materialism.

In doing so they were definitely influenced and aided by the writings of Feuerbach and

other materialist philosophers of that time. However these philosophers were mechanical

materialists who understood nature and society to be like a machine turning round and

round without any development or real change. Marx rejected mechanical materialism

because it did not give any understanding of historical change and development.

For this Marx had to turn to dialectics, which is the science of the general laws of motion.

The essence of dialectics is that it understands things in their inter-connections and

contradictions. Dialectics thus was able to provide the science of development that Marx

knew was necessary to change the world.

At that time Hegels philosophy and laws of dialectics (which Marx studied deeply) were

the most advanced in Europe. But Hegel had developed his philosophical laws in an idealist

way by only making them applicable to the field of thought. He belonged to the camp of

idealism and refused to recognise that nature and material social being are primary, and

spirit and ideas are secondary. He thus did not accept that his system of thought itself was

a product of the development of human society to a definite stage. He refused to understand

that his laws of thought were themselves reflections of the laws of nature and society. Thus,

as Marx said, Hegels dialectics, by being idealist, was standing on its head that means it

was absurd and illogical. Marx turned Hegels dialectics the right side up that means he

made it rational by putting it on the basis of materialism. Marx took Hegels dialectical

laws and gave them the approach of materialist philosophy. He thus made Hegels laws of

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thought also into laws of nature and society. He thus formulated Dialectical Materialism,

which is the essence of Marxist philosophy.

The materialistic dialectics is governed by the following three laws :

1. The Law of the Unity and Struggle of Opposite.

2. The Law of the Passage of Quantitative into Qualitative Changes.

3. The Law of the Negation of the Negation.

1. The Law of the Unity and Struggle of Opposite. According to this law, the existence

of all objects is inclusive in each other. None exists separately. In the same way, even in

the different states of the same thing the preceding states are assimilated in succeeding.

Thus, objects and their states are both inseparable from each other. In social philosophy,

the result of this law is the welfare of any one person is not separated from that of other

people. Social welfare and indiviudal welfare have no distinctions. In the same way, all

activities of men admit of reciprocal relations. According to Marxism, the economic or

wealth producing activities predominate in us. Thus, economic activities and social welfare

are intimately related.

2. The Law of the Passage of Quantitative into Qualitative Changes. It is not only

quantity from quantity and quality from quality but new qualities are also created from

quantity. Consciousness is created out of matter although matter completely lacks

consciousness. Man is not a mere conglomeration of hands, legs, etc. In him is

consciousness, completely differing in nature from the body. Like the Carvakas, Marx

treats consciousness as a new quality and the result of combination of parts of the body.

Thus, his social philosophy is not only materialism. The evolution of both body and

consciousness is necessary because the two are separate

3. The Law of Negation of the Negation. In the progress of dialectical evoultion every

new step produces qualities differing from the preceding step. Thus, these two are called

thesis and antithesis. Their conflict is settled in another step called the synthesis. In the

field of social philosophy, this law creates relativism. Social laws are not unchangeable

and eternal; their evolution also is in accordance with this dialectical justice. The following

social norms negate the preceding social thoughts and eliminate the internal conflict. The

Marxist social philosophy is the synthesis of ancient and medieval moral approaches.

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Hegel used this dialectical method as explanation to the progress of society and various

institution

Q. Materialistic Interpretation of History is the application of dialectic materialism to

the development of society Analyze ( M.U 2000)

Ans : By giving dialectics a rational and materialist basis Marx changed it into a philosophy

of revolution. Marx applied dialectical materialism to the study of society and history and

thus discovered the materialist Interpretation of history. The materialist Interpretation of

history was a new and revolutionary way of understanding society and social change. It

explained the basis of social changes and political revolutions not as an invention of some

brilliant mens brains but as the product of the processes within society. It showed all

revolutionaries that the path to social change lay in understanding society and accordingly

formulating the ideas to bring about change.

The starting point of the materialist Interpretation of history is the level of development of

the material productive forces i.e. tools, machinery, skills, etc. Marx says that according to

the stage in the development of the productive forces we get definite relations of production

i.e. relations of ownership and control over the means of production. Thus, for example,

backward productive forces like the wooden plough, and wind, hand and animal operated

mills give us feudal relations; modern productive forces like tractors, harvesters, etc., when

they are widespread, give rise to capitalist relations of production. These relations of

production constitute the economic structure of society, or the economic base of society.

On top of the economic base of society arises a legal and political superstructure with

definite forms of social consciousness. Further, Marx says that it is the mode of production

(consisting of the productive forces and relations of production) that conditions the social,

political and intellectual life in general. Thus, for example, the feudal mode of production

gives rise to very severe oppression on women and lower castes and a very undemocratic

Historical materialism is a methodological approach to the study of society, economics, and history

first articulated by Karl Marx (18181883) as the materialist conception of history. It is a theory of

socioeconomic development according to which changes in material conditions (technology and

productive capacity) are the primary influence on how society and the economy are organised.

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political system; the capitalist mode of production, on the other hand, reduces social

oppression and brings some bourgeois democratic rights.

At a certain stage in the development of the productive forces they come into conflict with

the existing relations of production. These old relations of production start preventing the

development of the productive forces. Unless these production relations are changed the

productive forces cannot develop. This period when the relations of production start acting

as chains on the development of the productive forces is the beginning of the epoch of

social revolution. Revolution is needed to change the relations of production i.e. the

relation between the various classes in society. Once this happens and the relations of

production or property relations are broken i.e. the economic base is changed, then the

change in the whole superstructure follows quite quickly.

This materialist conception of history was the first great discovery of Marx, which he

accomplished in 1844-45. It was the foundation on which the other great pillars of Marxist

theory were built. In later years Marx and Engels, and the other Marxist Teachers further

developed Marxist philosophy. However its essence remained the basic principles of

dialectical and historical materialism mentioned above.

Q3 State the criticism of Marxs political philosophy

Ans: Following are the criticism of Marxs political philosophy:

1. Philosophical ideas. The philosophy of Karl Marx has been subject to the following

objections: (1) The dialectics in the philosophy of Karl Marx is neither logically nor

philosophically justified. Referring to the use of dialectic to organic and human worlds

Raymond Aron wrote "Historically, a certain orthodoxy may combine these different

propositions; but logically and philosophically, the economic interpretation of history and

the critique of capitalism in terms of the class struggle have nothing to do with the dialectics

of nature."" (2) There is no logical or philosophical necessary connection between

capitalism and metaphysical materialism.

2. Oversimplification. Marx has tried to make the whole philosophy too simple. According

to his philosophy economic factor is the only one which moves the whole world. This

suffers from oversimplification.

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3. Neglect of role of religion. According to Marx 'religion is the opium of the people'. He

has even gone to the extent of saying that 'man created God'. But religion is very deep-

rooted in mankind. Religion develops our spiritual feelings which are the basis of modern

life.

4. Economic determination. According to Marxian philosophy economic factor is the only

one which motivates man. This is economic determinism. This is not correct. Man is not

merely an actor but is also a great wire puller. He determines many things including his

own economic conditions and also political and social systems.

5. Politics hand-maid of economics. Marxian society is built only on economic basis. He

made politics the hand-maid of economics. In actual life however, economics is the hand-

maid of politics. Those who enjoy political authority also decide the economic life of the

people.

6. State not withering away. Marx believed that 'state will wither away'. But with the

passage of time the state has changed its character. Modern state is increasingly getting

stronger instead of withering away. Today one cannot imagine a society without a state.

The state is being assigned more and more duties and responsibilities. It has now become

a welfare state.

7. Undue Stress on Revolution. According to Marxian philosophy revolution is the only

method which brings about social changes. But in actual practice, even great changes have

come by 'non-violence' and by change of heart. Even the communists are now trying to

seize power by democratic means. 8. Possibility of continued struggle. Marx was of the

opinion that after the establishment of classless society there will be no struggle. This is

not to human nature. A party coming to power after" constant use of violence will not

abandon violence. One struggle leads to another. In this struggle there will be no idea of

reason but of catching power and authority. Thus, the struggle will continue.

9. Utopia. Marx has failed to devise means by which it should be ensured that the working

classes will not take revenge on the capitalists for their long oppression. He has not ensured

that after being once overthrown, the capitalist classes will not try to recapture power. In

so far as the conception of classless society is concerned Marxian philosophy is utopian in

nature and character. Though Marx condemned Fourier and Owen for being utopian, yet

he himself is no exception to that.

10. Two fatal ambiguities. According to Dunning, "But the theories of Marx which at the

first sight seem to be so compact and well provocative of dissension, have two fatal

ambiguities which have been provocative of dissensions. The first is that he nowhere

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describes the general outlines of society which is to spring from the old....Marx moreover

expressed the most contradictory statement as to the methods to be pursued. His doctrine

of capitalistic development would naturally minimize the importance of active organization

and propaganda save a means of consolidating the proletarian forces for final cataclysm."

Q. Critically examine Marxs theory of class struggle

Ans:

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Q. Write a short note on Marxs theory of surplus value

Or

What is Marxian surplus value? Show how a class war is inevitable when surplus value is

appropriated by one class MU 1999

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