Jeremy wrote:
> Precisely what is the nature of dialectical materialism? I have seen
> descriptions of it as a method, theory, doctrine and philosophy.
All of those desciptions are correct. Dialectical materialism (diamat
as they called it in the USSR) is a philosophy with a theory of the
natural which is materialist and a method of investigation which is
dialectical; and became the docrine of a large section of the Second
and all of the Third International.
Although Lenin said that 'Marx and Engels scores of times termed
their philosophical views dialectical materialism' I have not found
any direct use of the term in the English translation of their works.
The first person to have definitely used the term was Plekahov in
1891. He developed his position in 'Fundamental Problems of Marxism'.
Probably the greatest advocate was Joseph Stalin in 'Dialectical &
Historical Materialism' (1938) which is published in 'Problems of
Leninism'. It opens be declaring:
'Dialectical materialism is the world outlook of the Marxist Leninist
Party....Its method of studying the phenomena of nature is
dialectical. Its conception of nature is materialistic.' and goes on
to note that 'Historical materialism is the extension of dialectical
materialism to the study of social life.'
One does not study the world as some snapshot but as existence in
flux.
He is following on from Lenin in his 'Development is the struggle of
opposites' (In: 'On the Question of Dialectics' 1915). There is also a
brief overview in Lenin 'On Marx and Engels'.
But more importantly from Engels' preface to the 2nd edn. of
'Dialectics of Nature':
'In nature amid the welter of innumerable changes the same
dialectical laws of motion force their way through as those which in
history govern the apparent fortuitousness of events.'
In my opinion, Engels had always sought to put Marxism on a proper
scientific basis for the physical science as well as the human
sciences. So 'Dialectics of Nature' proposes a natural philosophy
unifying enlightenment materialism with the Hegelian dialectic while
ditching their mechanism nad idealism repectively.
The three main 'Laws' of dialectical materialism are:
1. Gradual quantitive changes give rise to revolutionary qualative
changes.
2. Concrete reality is a unity of contradictions.
3. Opposites negate one another (law of te negation of the negation).
These are applied to economic questions of Value, philosophical
questions of mind and matter and scientific questions of evolution.
Other writers on dialectical materialism include Maurice Cornfield
and Mao. The main critics are Marxist humanists such as Lukacs and
Korsch who stress the dialectic to the extent that the materialism
may be lost to idealism. Whereas at the opposite pole Popper, the
Frankfurt School, Della Volpe (and I presume Gramski and Sartre)
oppose it Hegelian basis.
Depending on what else you have read, the interest you have in the
subject and your own political position I hope this goes some way to
answerring your question. For a fuller answer look-up some of the
sources mentioned.
Regards,
John
--- from list [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
