24.04.2017 Views

what-is-marxism-all-about-by-fist

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Dialectical material<strong>is</strong>m can be broken down into its respective<br />

components for a better understanding. Dialectics describes<br />

the scientific method Marx<strong>is</strong>ts use to analyze the world<br />

around them. Material<strong>is</strong>m represents Marx<strong>is</strong>ts’ conception of<br />

the reality dialectics <strong>is</strong> intended to analyze.<br />

Dialectics, as a method of analys<strong>is</strong>, takes into account the interconnectedness<br />

of nature, the contradictions and state of continuous<br />

change inherent in it, and the process <strong>by</strong> which natural<br />

quantitative change leads to qualitative change. Simply put, dialectics<br />

holds that <strong>all</strong> things are in a constant state of change, that<br />

th<strong>is</strong> continual change <strong>is</strong> a result of interactions and conflicts,<br />

and that many sm<strong>all</strong> hidden changes add up until the thing in<br />

question has been qualitatively transformed into something different.<br />

The process <strong>by</strong> which water <strong>is</strong> transformed into steam, <strong>by</strong><br />

heating it until it passes the boiling point, illustrates the concept<br />

of dialectics at work.<br />

Material<strong>is</strong>m <strong>is</strong> the Marx<strong>is</strong>t conception of nature as it ex<strong>is</strong>ts<br />

without any supernatural or mystical dimension. Material<strong>is</strong>m<br />

holds that objective reality ex<strong>is</strong>ts independent of human consciousness<br />

and that matter <strong>is</strong> primary.<br />

Dialectical material<strong>is</strong>m shows that people’s thoughts, characters<br />

and actions are shaped <strong>by</strong> the conditions in the world<br />

around them, the material world. When people look at the<br />

world through the lens of dialectical material<strong>is</strong>m they can see<br />

the logical development of beliefs and thoughts, actions and<br />

events, and even human h<strong>is</strong>tory as a whole.<br />

H<strong>is</strong>torical material<strong>is</strong>m extends the principles of dialectical<br />

material<strong>is</strong>m to the study of society and its h<strong>is</strong>tory. H<strong>is</strong>torical<br />

material<strong>is</strong>m recognizes that h<strong>is</strong>tory and society develop based<br />

on material, economic conditions. Therefore <strong>all</strong> development,<br />

that of ideas and that of institutions, <strong>is</strong> based on conflicts and<br />

interactions in the material world.<br />

16 What <strong>is</strong> Marx<strong>is</strong>m All About

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!