Marxism
Historical materialism is a very interesting and complex idea, with many intricacies and possible implications. It can have applications in many different ways in society, including areas like class struggle and economic development. Due to how in-depth historical materialism can be, its discussion and implications can become extensive.
Historical materialism is a theory regarding society, economics, and history that was first theorized by Karl Marx, in what can be described as a materialist conception of history. The theory is based around the idea that socioeconomic development occurs depending upon the changes in material conditions, like technology and production capacity, and these factors are the primary influence on how society and the economy are capable of being organized. According to the Marxist website, In Defence of Marxism, “historical materialism is the part of Karl Marx’s theory maintaining that social structures derive from economic structures and that these are transformed as a result of class struggles, each ruling class producing another, which will overcome and destroy it, the final phase being the emergence of a communist society.” (Marxist.com)
In essence, historical materialism is a way of taking Marxist theories on science, and then applying them to historical developments, in order to find corollary. According to Mick Brooks in Marxist.com, the “fundamental proposition” of historical materialism can be summed up in a sentence: “it is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but, on the contrary, their social existence that determines their consciousness.” (Marxist.com) That is a direct quote from Karl Marx in the preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. (Marxist.com)
The basic idea seems to be that people’s consciousness is not a product of their actions or decisions, but is a product of the society and circumstances around them. Marxist.com gives an example of this by referencing a
Historical materialism is a theory regarding society, economics, and history that was first theorized by Karl Marx, in what can be described as a materialist conception of history. The theory is based around the idea that socioeconomic development occurs depending upon the changes in material conditions, like technology and production capacity, and these factors are the primary influence on how society and the economy are capable of being organized. According to the Marxist website, In Defence of Marxism, “historical materialism is the part of Karl Marx’s theory maintaining that social structures derive from economic structures and that these are transformed as a result of class struggles, each ruling class producing another, which will overcome and destroy it, the final phase being the emergence of a communist society.” (Marxist.com)
In essence, historical materialism is a way of taking Marxist theories on science, and then applying them to historical developments, in order to find corollary. According to Mick Brooks in Marxist.com, the “fundamental proposition” of historical materialism can be summed up in a sentence: “it is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but, on the contrary, their social existence that determines their consciousness.” (Marxist.com) That is a direct quote from Karl Marx in the preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. (Marxist.com)
The basic idea seems to be that people’s consciousness is not a product of their actions or decisions, but is a product of the society and circumstances around them. Marxist.com gives an example of this by referencing a