Marxist Philosophy: Theory Of Scientific Materialism, Criticism, And Important Works!

The Marxist tradition of history writing is a long and diverse one. It has dominated historiography in many parts of the world and has significantly impacted others. Marxist Philosophy influenced the most significant historians of the twentieth century. S.H. Rigby has pointed out that attempting a comprehensive survey of Marxist Philosophy is problematic because it "would effectively amount to writing a history of the world."

A major part of the UGC NET History syllabus covers historiography. So, In this article, we will examine the features of Marxist philosophy for the UGC NET History Exam. Each year, one or two questions are included in this section.

What Is Marxist Philosophy?

Marxism is a socioeconomic and political ideology. It examines how the influence of the privileged elite on the working class affects the distribution of wealth in society. Worker protests against injustice are sparked by it.

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Marxist Philosophy Of History

Marx's most important contribution is his theory of Scientific Materialism or Historical Materialism. In Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, Engels defined Scientific Materialism. It holds that the economic development of society is the ultimate cause that determines the entire course of human history. 

• The entire course of human history can be explained in terms of changes in modes of production and exchange. Beginning with primitive communism, the mode of production progressed through three stages. These were slavery, feudalism, and capitalism. It divided society into distinct classes (slave-master, serf-baron, and proletariat-capitalist) and their conflict.
• Marx and Engels' dialectical Materialism holds that all things develop via material contradictions. It is the foundation of Scientific Materialism, just like Animals and plants undergo evolution in case of conflict with their surroundings. 
• Historical Materialism is applied to human civilization. All people must work in the economy to provide for their basic needs. This criterion, taken as a whole, implies that every society depends on its production mode.
• As modes of production grow, they encounter new contradictions that force them to be replaced. They are replaced by more developed economic systems, creating contemporary societies. So, every institution in that society must adopt this mode, change it to fit, or disappear. 
• For example, during feudalism, trade was necessary for kings and their vassals to grow their riches. This trade also led to the rise of a merchant class, which demanded political rights, ushering in mercantilism, an early form of capitalism.
• Primitive communism, slavery, feudalism, and capitalism, are the four modes of production. These were previously employed by humanity, according to Marxist Philosophy.
• Marxist Philosophy also identifies a fifth mode, communism. Marx thought that would eventually emerge from capitalism's inherent contradiction: like feudalism. It produced a new class of individuals, industrial workers, who stopped accepting their place in the social order. 
• Engels' 1878 work Herrn Eugen Dührings Umwälzung der Wissenschaft outlined the tenets of Scientific Materialism. It can be assumed that Marx approved the book's content because it was written under his direction and with his approval. It is important to note that Marx himself never outlined his historical theory.

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Criticism Of Marxist Philosophy Of History

This explanation has yet to be entirely accepted. Some critics say these interpretations rely far too much on a concise composition that Marx and Engels should have cared to retain in print.

• Many different thinkers have explored, developed, and interpreted scientific materialism. It was first introduced as a part of communist theory. It became one of the most famous historical theories over the majority of the 20th century.
• Its evolution has been aided by well-known theorists such as Eduard Bernstein, Leo Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Zedong. Until Marx's Theory was published, most philosophers were suspicious of Marxist Philosophy.
• Despite Cohen's contributions, Scientific Materialism is still sharply contested. The criticism was voiced most frequently during the 1990s. It was due to the breakdown of communism in eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in 1989–1991. A collapse symbolized by and directly impacted by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. 
• The fall of communism is regarded as having refuted Scientific Materialism. Most views anticipate that socialism and communism will replace capitalism. 
• Marxist Philosophy refutes this claim. It argues that the socialist and communist nations of the 20th century did not exemplify the method of production that Marx alludes to. Yet, opponents frequently criticize this reply as false because it seems to rely on an ad hoc redefinition of communism.

Important Marxist Philosophy Books

Some of the important Marxist philosophy books are:

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Conclusion

Marxist Philosophy thereby limited every thought and deed to the physical necessities of life. The only thing consciousness is is a reflection of the material circumstances of human existence. The connection between ideas and tangible circumstances is sometimes clear-cut or straightforward. That is quite intricate. Marx used extremely sophisticated language to convey his viewpoint. Marxist Philosophy claims that men are the products of their environments and upbringing. The transformed men are consequently the products of new environments and altered upbringing. They ignore the fact that men change environments and that educators need education.