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Dialectics

Dialectical Materialism, developed by Marx and Engels, combines dialectics and materialism to explain societal progress through the conflict of opposites. It posits that economic conditions shape consciousness, reversing Hegel's idealism that prioritizes ideas. The theory outlines a 'base' of economic factors influencing a 'superstructure' of societal elements, illustrating how changes in the economy lead to societal transformations.

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31 views2 pages

Dialectics

Dialectical Materialism, developed by Marx and Engels, combines dialectics and materialism to explain societal progress through the conflict of opposites. It posits that economic conditions shape consciousness, reversing Hegel's idealism that prioritizes ideas. The theory outlines a 'base' of economic factors influencing a 'superstructure' of societal elements, illustrating how changes in the economy lead to societal transformations.

Uploaded by

dartawseefamin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Sure!

Here’s a moderate-length version of the answer on Dialectical Materialism, suitable


for a BA-level exam or assignment:

Dialectical Materialism (Moderate Answer)

Dialectical Materialism is a theory developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to


understand history and society. It combines two ideas: dialectics (taken from Hegel) and
materialism (influenced by Feuerbach).

Dialectics

Dialectics is a method of understanding progress through the conflict of opposites.


According to Hegel, every idea (called a thesis) faces its opposite (antithesis), and from
their clash, a better idea (synthesis) is formed. This new synthesis becomes a new thesis,
and the process continues.

This is known as the Dialectical Triad:

Thesis → Antithesis → Synthesis

Through this method, contradictions are resolved, and truth develops step by step. This
process continues until all false elements are removed and only the complete truth
remains.

Materialism

Materialism says that matter (not ideas) is the basic reality. Marx believed that the
economic conditions of people determine their thoughts and beliefs. He said:

➢ “It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social
existence that determines their consciousness.”

This means our way of earning (economy) shapes our thinking, not the other way around.

Marx vs. Hegel

Hegel believed in idealism: Ideas are the base of everything.

Marx reversed this in materialism: Economic conditions (matter) are the base, and ideas
come from them.
Marx said Hegel’s theory was “standing on its head”, and he put it on its feet.

Base and Superstructure

Marx explained society using two levels:

1. Base (Substructure):

Includes forces of production (tools, machines, labor) and relations of production (owner-
worker relations). Together they form the mode of production.

2. Superstructure:

Includes religion, politics, laws, values, etc., which are shaped by the base.

When the base (economy) changes, the superstructure (society and culture) also changes.

Conclusion

Dialectical materialism explains how society changes through economic conflicts and
contradictions. Marx used Hegel’s dialectical method but based it on material reality
instead of Ideas

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