Q.Critically examine Marx's theory of Historical Materialism.
Or, Discuss critically the theory of Historical materialism of Marx.
[M.U. 2012]
Ans. Historical Materialism is the extention of the principle of dialectical materialism to the study of social life and its evolution. It seeks to explain social evolution in terms of certain permanent laws of social change. It is Marxian philosophy of history. It has in it the elements of historical study of the past and analytical account of the present social structure and prosperity, unfolding the future. In the words of Plamenatz, "Historical Materialism is the heart of Marxism." Prof. G.D.H. Cole prefers to call it "the realistic interpretation of history."
Different views about the Forces Determining Human History: The writers, earlier to Karl Marx and after, have different views about the forces determining human history. St. Augustine holds the view that history has a religious basis. He further points out that "Not a single blade of grass moves but by His will." It means he has interpreted everything in terms of the divine will and dictates. On the other hand Buckle's belief is that, "climate is decisive in the history of man." Hegel, the German thinker gives a metaphysical interpretation of human history. The victory and the defeat of a nation in history. was determined by almighty's judgment. Another famous philosopher Freud is of the view that sex is the determining factop.
Marx's View: Karl Marx does not accept any of the views mentioned above with regard to the interpretation of human history. Contrary to the interpretation given above, Marx gives his own interpretation which is called materialistic or economic interpretation His contention is that the economic causes or the material forces are fundamental in the social change.
Difference between Historical Materialism and Economic Determinism: Before we discuss in detail Marx's materialistic interpretation of history, let us examine some views about the terminology used by Karl Marx. Some thinkers like Vaughan take historical materialism, as economic
But historical materialism is not the same thing as economic determinism. Many other scholars do not subscribe to this view. Historical Materialism (HM) involves both the concepts of the Economics Determinism (ED) and Class Struggle (CS). Scholars like Veblin accept the validity of Economic Determinism but not of Class Struggle. Hence they reject Historical Materialism and accept Economic Determinism (HM-ED+CS).
Joint Contribution: Further, it must be noted that Historical Materialism is a joint contribution of Marx and Engels, The latter in his preface to the Communist Manifesto states that when he mei Marx in 1848, he had already worked out the theory. Similarly Marx also records that Engels had independently worked out it before he met him.
Historical Materialism is an Application or Dialectical Materialism to evolution of Society : Historical materialism of Marx is nothing else but the application of the principle of dialectical materialism to the development of society. His theory begins with the simple truth which is the clue to the meaning of History that "man must eat to live." It means that every man has to survive on eating. In other words, materialism. In the words of C.L. Wayper, "His (Man's) very survival depends upon the success with which he can produce, what he wants from Nature. Production is, therefore, the most important of all human activities. Men in association produce more than men in isolation and society is thus the result of an attempt to secure the necessities of hie. But society has never accomplished that to the satisfaction of all its members and has, in consequence, always been subject to internal stresses and strains. Hence man, not realising that unsatisfied needs are merely the result of defective modes of production, has always imagined another world in which those needs will be met, and religion, which is no more than the shadow cast by a defective economic system-'the sob of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, the spirit of conditions utterly unspiritual' -and which will pass away with the defects that have produced it, has been widespread. It is 'the opium of the people' not in the sense that it is a drug administered to the exploited by the exploiters, but that in a society where no other needs are fully met religion is the resort of all."
Marxian Enunciation of Historical Materialism: The following words of Karl Marx contain the best exposition of his concept of Historical Materialsim. Marx's own words, "In the social production of material needs of life men enter into definite relations that are indispensable and independent of their will; these relations of productions which correspond to a definite stage of the development of the material forces of production make the economic structure of society which is the real foundation upon which arise the legal and political super-structure and to whkh correspond definite forms of social consciousness. The modes of production in material life determine the general character of social, political and spiritual processes of life. It is not the consciousness of men that determines their (social) existence but rather it is their social existence that determines their consciousness."
Whenever changes occur in the modes or in the relation of production the whole social pattern undergoes a change. These changes produce corresponding changes in ideas and institutions.
Every system of production has given rise to two principal mutually hostile classes: free man and slave, patrician and plebian, and lord and serf. Again Marx writes, "there is no history apart from the record of class-struggle." Marx applies historical materialism to explain both the past history and future possible evolution. He distinguishes between five stages of production. The first primitive communal stage, slave stage, feudal stage, capitalist stage and socialist stage. Under the first, means of production are socially owned. Under the second, the slaves work for their masters. Under the third the feudal lord potentially owns the serfs since the serfs can have some property. Under the fourth, capitalist owns the means of production but not the labour though they are compelled to work for them. Under the fifth, which has not come into existence, workers themselves own the means of production. This will happen when capitalism reaches its fullest development but then it would be abolished because of its inherent contradictions. It may be noted that from the point of production each of these stages represents an advance upon its predecessor, this being in accordance with the dialectical principle.
All phenomena of Society/History owe origin to Material Conditions: Marx's materialistic conception of History tells us that all the phenomena of society have their origin in material conditions of life. Thus as a Sabine observes, "hiss materialistic interpretation means first and foremost secularism." According to Marx, all fundamental changes in history are effected and shaped by the mode of production or the economic forces. Any change in the mode of production needs a corresponding change in social relations. "In changing the mode of production, mankind changes all its social relations. The handmill creates a society with the feudal lord; the steam mill, a society with the industrial capitalists."
