Karl Marx - Dialectics

I try to do the impossible - to make a review of dialectics from its origins in ancient Greece through history - in a conversational form.

Dialectics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectic

Dialectics in ancient Greece - Zeno, Heraclitus.

Medieval dialectics - Eriugena, Eckhart.

Enlightenment dialectics - Rousseau, Hume.

German Classical Philosophy - Kant, Fichte, Shelling, Hegel.

Young Hegelians.

Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels.

The quotation is from Laszek Kolakowski "Main Currents of Marxism - 1. The Founders"

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• dialectics
• dialectical method
• dialectical proces
• thesis
• antithesis
• synthesis
• Panta rhei
• Heraclitus
• unity and strife of opposites
• negation of the negation
• Hegel
• Karl Marx

[Trotskisty]

I understand what you're saying when you claim that Marx accepted a teleological aim to real material development in this World, in spite of his strong materialism; but I've never had a problem with that 'issue': because for me, "communist" society, as reached thru socialist praxis coming out of capitalism, is not really and *end*, per se. It is, instead, OUR goal, only. It's our 'horizon' -- beyond which WE (only) cannot see.

I'm interested to see where you are going in the next video.

;)

[dewinthemorning]

@Trotskisty It's extremely interesting to what extent Marx is misunderstood as regards the position of the individual in a future society. I hardly dare talk of communism, I know it wil cause perturbations on you tube. People are strongly conditioned to consider private property 'holy', not understanding that the question is about owning the means of production, which causes division of labour, exploitation and alienation from the products of labor, not personal property for private use.

[Trotskisty]

@dewinthemorning

Not with me. This is the reason I make NO bones about being a plain, garden-variety, old-fashioned COMMUNIST. Just without the stalinist encrustations. Of course, the ruling-class has a vested interest in lying about all this & confusing the issue & everyone. But IMO it is not really possible 2 have a true grasp of anything socialist or communist without a relatively profound & real grasp of dialectical-materialism -- both as it applies to Nature, AND as it applies to method.

[dewinthemorning]

@Trotskisty I don't think we should be so literal. We are not religious after all, to stick to dogma... :)

What I try to do here, is to relate the basic ideas of Marx - let's try to be historians of ideas.

[LockedInTheCupboard]

Excellent this takes me back 20 years to my Degree. You have explained it very clearly. Its all come flooding back. Is it right that Marx predicted that one day the dialectical process would stop...that all the contradictions would inevitably end? I get confused. Anyway I liked his theory of human nature as I understood it. That humans are a product of their environment...not innately self interested, greedy etc but capable of it nonetheless

[dewinthemorning]

@LockedInTheCupboard

Marx is entirely right that the way people think and the ideologies that exist in a society are a product of the material circumstances around them, more specifically the production forces and the production relations in the society, but human nature is basically formed through evolution.

Marx was a child of his time and was influenced by the philosophy, so he thought that humankind can resolve the big contradictions in society and only smaller will still remain.

[grindstonejournal]

That was interesting. :)

[binhthanhvo]

Too much history to cover in 10 minutes. Plus, there's the whole issue of materialism vs idealism. The method is still incredibly valuable. Hopefully, your video will spur people to think and do some research on this subject.

[JoshAlfred27]

2:10 Unity of opposites concept.

[cardellacole4]

I would like to understand how you can use dialectics in two oposits like science and religion if you don't believe in one of them

[Trotskisty]

@LockedInTheCupboard

I'll bet my life that Marx neither would nor could 'predict' that. It doesn't even make sense, actually. The dialectical Universe is unfolding and emergent and evolving, essentially forever. It never stops.

[Trotskisty]

What is the alt. to a 'literal' understanding of dialectical-materialism? Allegory? A mere aid? Or as so many (AFAIC) fence-sitters have it, merely the methodology -- i.e. w/o any REAL meaning in the real World..? I take Freddie Engels' explicit demonstration of dialektix in Nature 2B the reality of 'diamat'... I've spent my whole life trying to understand it this way -- & it worx. Profoundly-so. I wish I had your systematic education on the matter -- but I'll take my concrete experience anyday.

[Trotskisty]

Boy, you really have no luck with all those noise-makers behind the camera, do you?

;P