Ihavementionedthefactthat,about40or50yearsago,anycultivatedforeignersettlinginEnglandwasstruckbywhathewasthenboundtoconsiderthereligiousbigotryandstupidityoftheEnglishrespectablemiddle—class。
IamnowgoingtoprovethattherespectableEnglishmiddle—classofthattimewasnotquiteasstupidasitlookedtotheintelligentforeigner。
Itsreligiousleaningscanbeexplained。
Notes(1VorwartsexistedinLeipzigfrom1876—78,aftertheGothaUnificationCongress。
[2]"Qual"isaphilosophicalplayuponwords。Qualliterallymeanstorture,apainwhichdrivestoactionofsomekind;atthesametime,themysticBohmeputsintotheGermanwordsomethingofthemeaningoftheLatinqualitas;
his"qual"wastheactivatingprinciplearisingfrom,andpromotinginitsturn,thespontaneousdevelopmentofthething,relation,orpersonsubjecttoit,incontradistinctiontoapaininflictedfromwithout。[NotebyEngelstotheEnglishEdition]
Socialism:UtopianandScientific(Chpt。1)FredrickEngelsSocialism:UtopianandScientificI
[TheDevelopmentofUtopianSocialism]
ModernSocialismis,initsessence,thedirectproductoftherecognition,ontheonehand,oftheclassantagonismsexistinginthesocietyoftodaybetweenproprietorsandnon—proprietors,betweencapitalistsandwage—workers;
ontheotherhand,oftheanarchyexistinginproduction。But,initstheoreticalform,modernSocialismoriginallyappearsostensiblyasamorelogicalextensionoftheprincipleslaiddownbythegreatFrenchphilosophersofthe18thcentury。Likeeverynewtheory,modernSocialismhad,atfirst,toconnectitselfwiththeintellectualstock—in—tradereadytoitshand,howeverdeeplyitsrootslayinmaterialeconomicfacts。
Thegreatmen,whoinFrancepreparedmen’smindsforthecomingrevolution,werethemselvesextremerevolutionists。Theyrecognizednoexternalauthorityofanykindwhatever。Religion,naturalscience,society,politicalinstitutions?everythingwassubjectedtothemostunsparingcriticism:everythingmustjustifyitsexistencebeforethejudgment—seatofreasonorgiveupexistence。Reasonbecamethesolemeasureofeverything。Itwasthetimewhen,asHegelsays,theworldstooduponitshea;[1];
firstinthesensethatthehumanhead,andtheprinciplesarrivedatbyitsthought,claimedtobethebasisofallhumanactionandassociation;
butbyandby,also,inthewidersensethattherealitywhichwasincontradictiontotheseprincipleshad,infact,tobeturnedupsidedown。Everyformofsocietyandgovernmentthenexisting,everyoldtraditionalnotion,wasflungintothelumber—roomasirrational;theworldhadhithertoalloweditselftobeledsolelybyprejudices;everythinginthepastdeservedonlypityandcontempt。Now,forthefirsttime,appearedthelightofday,thekingdomofreason;henceforthsuperstition,injustice,privilege,oppression,weretobesupersededbyeternaltruth,eternalRight,equalitybasedonNatureandtheinalienablerightsofman。
Weknowtodaythatthiskingdomofreasonwasnothingmorethantheidealizedkingdomofthebourgeoisie;thatthiseternalRightfounditsrealizationinbourgeoisjustice;thatthisequalityreduceditselftobourgeoisequalitybeforethelaw;thatbourgeoispropertywasproclaimedasoneoftheessentialrightsofman;andthatthegovernmentofreason,theContratSocialofRousseau,cameintobeing,andonlycouldcomeintobeing,asademocraticbourgeoisrepublic。Thegreatthinkersofthe18thcenturycould,nomorethantheirpredecessors,gobeyondthelimitsimposeduponthembytheirepoch。
But,sidebysidewiththeantagonismsofthefeudalnobilityandtheburghers,whoclaimedtorepresentalltherestofsociety,wasthegeneralantagonismofexploitersandexploited,ofrichidlersandpoorworkers。
Itwasthisverycircumstancethatmadeitpossiblefortherepresentativesofthebourgeoisietoputthemselvesforwardasrepresentingnotonespecialclass,butthewholeofsufferinghumanity。Stillfurther。Fromitsoriginthebourgeoisiewassaddledwithitsantithesis:capitalistscannotexistwithoutwage—workers,and,inthesameproportionasthemediaevalburgheroftheguilddevelopedintothemodernbourgeois,theguildjourneymanandtheday—laborer,outsidetheguilds,developedintotheproletarian。
Andalthough,uponthewhole,thebourgeoisie,intheirstrugglewiththenobility,couldclaimtorepresentatthesametimetheinterestsofthedifferentworking—classesofthatperiod,yetineverygreatbourgeoismovementtherewereindependentoutburstsofthatclasswhichwastheforerunner,moreorlessdeveloped,ofthemodernproletariat。Forexample,atthetimeoftheGermanReformationandthePeasants’War,theAnabaptistsandThomasMunzer;inthegreatEnglishRevolution,theLevellers;inthegreatFrenchRevolution,Babeuf。
Theseweretheoreticalenunciations,correspondingwiththeserevolutionaryuprisingsofaclassnotyetdeveloped;inthe16thand17thcenturies,Utopianpicturesofidealsocialconditions2);
inthe18thcentury,actualcommunistictheories(MorellyandMably)。Thedemandforequalitywasnolongerlimitedtopoliticalrights;itwasextendedalsotothesocialconditionsofindividuals。Itwasnotsimplyclassprivilegesthatweretobeabolished,butclassdistinctionsthemselves。ACommunism,ascetic,denouncingallthepleasuresoflife,Spartan,wasthefirstformofthenewteaching。ThencamethethreegreatUtopians:Saint—Simon,towhomthemiddle—classmovement,sidebysidewiththeproletarian,stillhadacertainsignificance;FourierandOwen,whointhecountrywherecapitalistproductionwasmostdeveloped,andundertheinfluenceoftheantagonismsbegottenofthis,workedouthisproposalsfortheremovalofclassdistinctionsystematicallyandindirectrelationtoFrenchmaterialism。
Onethingiscommontoallthree。Notoneofthemappearsasarepresentativeoftheinterestsofthatproletariatwhichhistoricaldevelopmenthad,inthemeantime,produced。LiketheFrenchphilosophers,theydonotclaimtoemancipateaparticularclasstobeginwith,butallhumanityatonce。
Likethem,theywishtobringinthekingdomofreasonandeternaljustice,butthiskingdom,astheyseeit,isasfarasHeavenfromEarth,fromthatoftheFrenchphilosophers。
For,toourthreesocialreformers,thebourgeoisworld,basedupontheprinciplesofthesephilosophers,isquiteasirrationalandunjust,and,therefore,findsitswaytothedust—holequiteasreadilyasfeudalismandalltheearlierstagesofsociety。Ifpurereasonandjusticehavenot,hitherto,ruledtheworld,thishasbeenthecaseonlybecausemenhavenotrightlyunderstoodthem。Whatwaswantedwastheindividualmanofgenius,whohasnowarisenandwhounderstandsthetruth。Thathehasnowarisen,thatthetruthhasnowbeenclearlyunderstood,isnotaninevitableevent,followingofnecessityinthechainsofhistoricaldevelopment,butamerehappyaccident。Hemightjustaswellhavebeenborn500yearsearlier,andmightthenhavesparedhumanity500yearsoferror,strife,andsuffering。
WesawhowtheFrenchphilosophersofthe18thcentury,theforerunnersoftheRevolution,appealedtoreasonasthesolejudgeofallthatis。
Arationalgovernment,rationalsociety,weretobefounded;everythingthatrancountertoeternalreasonswastoberemorselesslydoneawaywith。
Wesawalsothatthiseternalreasonwasinrealitynothingbuttheidealizedunderstandofthe18thcenturycitizen,justthenevolvingintothebourgeois。
TheFrenchRevolutionhadrealizedthisrationalsocietyandgovernment。
Buttheneworderofthings,rationalenoughascomparedwithearlierconditions,turnedouttobebynomeansabsolutelyrational。Thestatebaseduponreasoncompletelycollapsed。Rousseau’sContratSocialhadfounditsrealizationintheReignofTerror,fromwhichthebourgeoisie,whohadlostconfidenceintheirownpoliticalcapacity,hadtakenrefugefirstinthecorruptionoftheDirectorate,and,finally,underthewingoftheNapoleonicdespotism。Thepromisedeternalpeacewasturnedintoanendlesswarofconquest。Thesocietybaseduponreasonhadfarednobetter。Theantagonismbetweenrichandpoor,insteadofdissolvingintogeneralprosperity,hadbecomeintensifiedbytheremovaloftheguildandotherprivileges,whichhadtosomeextentbridgeditover,andbytheremovalofthecharitableinstitutionsoftheChurch。The"freedomofproperty"fromfeudalfetters,nowveritablyaccomplished,turnedouttobe,forthesmallcapitalistsandsmallproprietors,thefreedomtoselltheirsmallproperty,crushedundertheovermasteringcompetitionofthelargecapitalistsandlandlords,tothesegreatlords,andthus,asfarasthesmallcapitalistsandpeasantproprietorswereconcerned,became"freedomfromproperty"。Thedevelopmentofindustryuponacapitalisticbasismadepovertyandmiseryoftheworkingmassesconditionsofexistenceofsociety。Cashpaymentbecamemoreandmore,inCarlyle’sphrase,thesolenexusbetweenmanandman。Thenumberofcrimesincreasedfromyeartoyear。Formerly,thefeudalviceshadopenlystalkedaboutinbroaddaylight;thoughnoteradicated,theywerenowatanyratethrustintothebackground。Intheirstead,thebourgeoisvices,hithertopracticedinsecret,begantoblossomallthemoreluxuriantly。Tradebecametoagreaterandgreaterextentcheating。The"fraternity"oftherevolutionarymottowasrealizedinthechicaneryandrivalriesofthebattleofcompetition。
Oppressionbyforcewasreplacedbycorruption;thesword,asthefirstsociallever,bygold。Therightofthefirstnightwastransferredfromthefeudallordstothebourgeoismanufacturers。Prostitutionincreasedtoanextentneverheadof。Marriageitselfremained,asbefore,thelegallyrecognizedform,theofficialcloakofprostitution,and,moreover,wassupplementedbyrichcropsofadultery。
Inaword,comparedwiththesplendidpromisesofthephilosophers,thesocialandpoliticalinstitutionsbornofthe"triumphofreason"werebitterlydisappointingcaricatures。Allthatwaswantingwasthementoformulatethisdisappointment,andtheycamewiththeturnofthecentury。
In1802,Saint—Simon’sGenevalettersappeared;in1808appearedFourier’sfirstwork,althoughthegroundworkofhistheorydatedfrom1799;onJanuary1,1800,RobertOwenundertookthedirectionofNewLanark。
Atthistime,however,thecapitalistmodeofproduction,andwithittheantagonismbetweenthebourgeoisieandtheproletariat,wasstillveryincompletelydeveloped。ModernIndustry,whichhadjustariseninEngland,wasstillunknowninFrance。ButModernIndustrydevelops,ontheonehand,theconflictswhichmakeabsolutelynecessaryarevolutioninthemodeofproduction,andthedoingawaywithitscapitalisticcharacter?conflictsnotonlybetweentheclassesbegottenofit,butalsobetweentheveryproductiveforcesandtheformsofexchangecreatedbyit。And,ontheotherhand,itdevelops,intheseverygiganticproductiveforces,themeansofendingtheseconflicts。If,therefore,abouttheyear1800,theconflictsarisingfromthenewsocialorderwereonlyjustbeginningtotakeshape,thisholdsstillmorefullyastothemeansofendingthem。
The"have—nothing"massesofParis,duringtheReignofTerror,wereableforamomenttogainthemastery,andthustoleadthebourgeoisrevolutiontovictoryinspiteofthebourgeoisiethemselves。But,indoingso,theyonlyprovedhowimpossibleitwasfortheirdominationtolastundertheconditionsthenobtaining。Theproletariat,whichthenforthefirsttimeevolveditselffromthese"have—nothing"massesasthenucleusofanewclass,asyetquiteincapableofindependentpoliticalaction,appearedasanoppressed,sufferingorder,towhom,initsincapacitytohelpitself,helpcould,atbest,bebroughtinfromwithoutordownfromabove。
ThishistoricalsituationalsodominatedthefoundersofSocialism。
Tothecrudeconditionsofcapitalisticproductionandthecrudeclassconditionscorrespondcrudetheories。Thesolutionofthesocialproblems,whichasyetlayhiddeninundevelopedeconomicconditions,theUtopiansattemptedtoevolveoutofthehumanbrain。Societypresentednothingbutwrongs;toremovethesewasthetaskofreason。Itwasnecessary,then,todiscoveranewandmoreperfectsystemofsocialorderandtoimposethisuponsocietyfromwithoutbypropaganda,and,whereveritwaspossible,bytheexampleofmodelexperiments。ThesenewsocialsystemswereforedoomedasUtopian;themorecompletelytheywereworkedoutindetail,themoretheycouldnotavoiddriftingoffintopurephantasies。
Thesefactsonceestablished,weneednotdwellamomentlongeruponthissideofthequestion,nowwhollybelongingtothepast。Wecanleaveittotheliterarysmallfrytosolemnlyquibbleoverthesephantasies,whichtodayonlymakeussmile,andtocrowoverthesuperiorityoftheirownbaldreasoning,ascomparedwithsuch"insanity"。Forourselves,wedelightinthestupendouslygrandthoughtsandgermsofthoughtthateverywherebreakoutthroughtheirphantasticcovering,andtowhichthesePhilistinesareblind。
Saint—SimonwasasonofthegreatFrenchRevolution,attheoutbreakofwhichhewasnotyet30。TheRevolutionwasthevictoryofthe3rdestate?i。e。,ofthegreatmassesofthenation,workinginproductionandintrade,overtheprivilegedidleclasses,thenoblesandthepriests。Butthevictoryofthe3rdestatesoonrevealeditselfasexclusivelythevictoryofasmallerpartofthis"estate",astheconquestofpoliticalpowerbythesociallyprivilegedsectionofit?i。e。,thepropertiedbourgeoisie。
AndthebourgeoisiehadcertainlydevelopedrapidlyduringtheRevolution,partlybyspeculationinthelandsofthenobilityandoftheChurch,confiscatedandafterwardsputupforsale,andpartlybyfraudsuponthenationbymeansofarmycontracts。Itwasthedominationoftheseswindlersthat,undertheDirectorate,broughtFrancetothevergeofruin,andthusgaveNapoleonthepretextforhiscoupd’etat。
Hence,toSaint—Simontheantagonismbetweenthe3rdEstateandtheprivilegedclassestooktheformofanantagonismbetween"workers"and"idlers"。Theidlerswerenotmerelytheoldprivilegedclasses,butalsoallwho,withouttakinganypartinproductionordistribution,livedontheirincomes。Andtheworkerswerenotonlythewage—workers,butalsothemanufacturers,themerchants,thebankers。Thattheidlershadlostthecapacityforintellectualleadershipandpoliticalsupremacyhadbeenproved,andwasbytheRevolutionfinallysettled。Thatthenon—possessingclasseshadnotthiscapacityseemedtoSaint—SimonprovedbytheexperiencesoftheReignofTerror。Then,whowastoleadandcommand?AccordingtoSaint—Simon,scienceandindustry,bothunitedbyanewreligiousbond,destinedtorestorethatunityofreligiousideaswhichhadbeenlostsincethetimeoftheReformation?anecessarilymysticandrigidlyhierarchic"newChristianity"。Butscience,thatwasthescholars;andindustry,thatwas,inthefirstplace,theworkingbourgeois,manufacturers,merchants,bankers。Thesebourgeoiswere,certainly,intendedbySaint—Simontotransformthemselvesintoakindofpublicofficials,ofsocialtrustees;buttheywerestilltohold,vis—a—visoftheworkers,acommandingandeconomicallyprivilegedposition。Thebankersespeciallyweretobecalledupontodirectthewholeofsocialproductionbytheregulationofcredit。ThisconceptionwasinexactkeepingwithatimeinwhichModernIndustryinFranceand,withit,thechasmbetweenbourgeoisieandproletariatwasonlyjustcomingintoexistence。ButwhatSaint—Simonespeciallylaysstressuponisthis:
whatinterestshimfirst,andaboveallotherthings,isthelotoftheclassthatisthemostnumerousandthemostpoor("laclasselaplusnombreuseetlapluspauvre")。
AlreadyinhisGenevaletters,Saint—Simonlaysdownthepropositionthat"allmenoughttowork"。InthesameworkherecognizesalsothattheReignofTerrorwasthereignofthenon—possessingmasses。
"See,"sayshetothem,"whathappenedinFranceatthetimewhenyourcomradesheldswaythere;theybroughtaboutafamine。"
ButtorecognizetheFrenchRevolutionasaclasswar,andnotsimplyonebetweennobilityandbourgeoisie,butbetweennobility,bourgeoisie,andthenon—possessors,was,intheyear1802,amostpregnantdiscovery。
In1816,hedeclaresthatpoliticsisthescienceofproduction,andforetellsthecompleteabsorptionofpoliticsbyeconomics。Theknowledgethateconomicconditionsarethebasisofpoliticalinstitutionsappearshereonlyinembryo。Yetwhatisherealreadyveryplainlyexpressedistheideaofthefutureconversionofpoliticalruleovermenintoanadministrationofthingsandadirectionofprocessesofproduction?thatistosay,the"abolitionofthestate",aboutwhichrecentlytherehasbeensomuchnoise。
Saint—Simonshowsthesamesuperiorityoverhiscontemporaries,whenin1814,immediatelyaftertheentryofthealliesintoParis,andagainin1815,duringtheHundredDays’War,heproclaimstheallianceofFranceandEngland,andthenofbothofthesecountries,withGermany,astheonlyguaranteefortheprosperousdevelopmentandpeaceofEurope。TopreachtotheFrenchin1815analliancewiththevictorsofWaterloorequiredasmuchcourageashistoricalforesight。
IfinSaint—Simonwefindacomprehensivebreadthofview,byvirtueofwhichalmostalltheideasoflaterSocialiststhatarenotstrictlyeconomicarefoundinhiminembryo,wefindinFourieracriticismoftheexistingconditionsofsociety,genuinelyFrenchandwitty,butnotuponthataccountanythelessthorough。Fouriertakesthebourgeoisie,theirinspiredprophetsbeforetheRevolution,andtheirinterestedeulogistsafterit,attheirownword。Helaysbareremorselesslythematerialandmoralmiseryofthebourgeoisworld。Heconfrontsitwiththeearlierphilosophers’
dazzlingpromisesofasocietyinwhichreasonaloneshouldreign,ofacivilizationinwhichhappinessshouldbeuniversal,ofanillimitablehumanperfectibility,andwiththerose—coloredphraseologyofthebourgeoisideologistsofhistime。Hepointsouthoweverywherethemostpitifulrealitycorrespondswiththemosthigh—soundingphrases,andheoverwhelmsthishopelessfiascoofphraseswithhismordantsarcasm。
Fourierisnotonlyacritic,hisimperturbablyserenenaturemakeshimasatirist,andassuredlyoneofthegreatestsatiristsofalltime。
Hedepicts,withequalpowerandcharm,theswindlingspeculationsthatblossomedoutuponthedownfalloftheRevolution,andtheshopkeepingspiritprevalentin,andcharacteristicof,Frenchcommerceatthattime。
Stillmoremasterlyishiscriticismofthebourgeoisformoftherelationsbetweensexes,andthepositionofwomaninbourgeoissociety。Hewasthefirsttodeclarethatinanygivensocietythedegreeofwoman’semancipationisthenaturalmeasureofthegeneralemancipation。
ButFourierisathisgreatestinhisconceptionofthehistoryofsociety。
Hedividesitswholecourse,thusfar,intofourstagesofevolution?
savagery,barbarism,thepatriarchate,civilization。Thislastisidenticalwiththeso—calledcivil,orbourgeois,societyoftoday?i。e。,withthesocialorderthatcameinwiththe16thcentury。Heproves"thatthecivilizedstageraiseseveryvicepracticedbybarbarisminasimplefashionintoaformofexistence,complex,ambiguous,equivocal,hypocritical"?thatcivilizationmoves"inaviciouscircle",incontradictionswhichitconstantlyreproduceswithoutbeingabletosolvethem;henceitconstantlyarrivesattheveryoppositetothatwhichitwantstoattain,orpretendstowanttoattain,sothat,e。g。,"undercivilizationpovertyisbornofsuperabundanceitself"。
Fourier,aswesee,usesthedialecticmethodinthesamemasterlywayashiscontemporary,Hegel。Usingthesesamedialectics,hearguesagainsttalkaboutillimitablehumanperfectibility,thateveryhistoricalphasehasitsperiodofascentandalsoitsperiodofdescent,andheappliesthisobservationtothefutureofthewholehumanrace。AsKantintroducedintonaturalsciencetheideaoftheultimatedestructionoftheEarth,Fourierintroducedintohistoricalsciencethatoftheultimatedestructionofthehumanrace。
WhilstinFrancethehurricaneoftheRevolutionsweptovertheland,inEnglandaquieter,butnotonthataccountlesstremendous,revolutionwasgoingon。Steamandthenewtool—makingmachineryweretransformingmanufactureintomodernindustry,andthusrevolutionizingthewholefoundationofbourgeoissociety。Thesluggishmarchofdevelopmentofthemanufacturingperiodchangedintoaveritablestormandstressperiodofproduction。
Withconstantlyincreasingswiftnessthesplitting—upintolargecapitalistsandnon—possessingproletarianswenton。Betweenthese,insteadoftheformerstablemiddle—class,anunstablemassofartisansandsmallshopkeepers,themostfluctuatingportionofthepopulation,nowledaprecariousexistence。
Thenewmodeofproductionwas,asyet,onlyatthebeginningofitsperiodofascent;asyetitwasthenormal,regularmethodofproduction?theonlyonepossibleunderexistingconditions。Nevertheless,eventhenitwasproducingcryingsocialabuses?theherdingtogetherofahomelesspopulationintheworstquartersofthelargetowns;thelooseningofalltraditionalmoralbonds,ofpatriarchalsubordination,offamilyrelations;
overwork,especiallyofwomenandchildren,toafrightfulextent;completedemoralizationoftheworking—class,suddenlyflungintoaltogethernewconditions,fromthecountryintothetown,fromagricultureintomodernindustry,fromstableconditionsofexistenceintoinsecureonesthatchangefromdaytoday。
Atthisjuncture,therecameforwardasareformeramanufacturer29—years—old?amanofalmostsublime,childlikesimplicityofcharacter,andatthesametimeoneofthefewbornleadersofmen。RobertOwenhadadoptedtheteachingofthematerialisticphilosophers:thatman’scharacteristheproduct,ontheonehand,ofheredity;ontheother,oftheenvironmentoftheindividualduringhislifetime,andespeciallyduringhisperiodofdevelopment。Intheindustrialrevolutionmostofhisclasssawonlychaosandconfusion,andtheopportunityoffishinginthesetroubledwatersandmakinglargefortunesquickly。Hesawinittheopportunityofputtingintopracticehisfavoritetheory,andsoofbringingorderoutofchaos。
Hehadalreadytrieditwithsuccess,assuperintendentofmorethan500
meninaManchesterfactory。From1800to1829,hedirectedthegreatcottonmillatNewLanark,inScotland,asmanagingpartner,alongthesamelines,butwithgreaterfreedomofactionandwithasuccessthatmadehimaEuropeanreputation。Apopulation,originallyconsistingofthemostdiverseand,forthemostpart,verydemoralizedelements,apopulationthatgraduallygrewto2,500,heturnedintoamodelcolony,inwhichdrunkenness,police,magistrates,lawsuits,poorlaws,charity,wereunknown。Andallthissimplybyplacingthepeopleinconditionsworthyofhumanbeings,andespeciallybycarefullybringinguptherisinggeneration。Hewasthefounderofinfantschools,andintroducedthemfirstatNewLanark。Attheageoftwo,thechildrencametoschool,wheretheyenjoyedthemselvessomuchthattheycouldscarelybegothomeagain。Whilsthiscompetitorsworkedtheirpeople13or14hoursaday,inNewLanarktheworking—daywasonly10andahalfhours。Whenacrisisincottonstoppedworkforfourmonths,hisworkersreceivedtheirfullwagesallthetime。Andwithallthisthebusinessmorethandoubledinvalue,andtothelastyieldedlargeprofitstoitsproprietors。
Inspiteofallthis,Owenwasnotcontent。Theexistencewhichhesecuredforhisworkerswas,inhiseyes,stillfarfrombeingworthyofhumanbeings。"Thepeoplewereslavesatmymercy。"Therelativelyfavorableconditionsinwhichhehadplacedthemwerestillfarfromallowingarationaldevelopmentofthecharacterandoftheintellectinalldirections,muchlessofthefreeexerciseofalltheirfaculties。
"Andyet,theworkingpartofthispopulationof2,500
personswasdailyproducingasmuchrealwealthforsocietyas,lessthanhalfacenturybefore,itwouldhaverequiredtheworkingpartofapopulationof600,000tocreate。Iaskedmyself,whatbecameofthedifferencebetweenthewealthconsumedby2,500personsandthatwhichwouldhavebeenconsumedby600,000?"[3]
Theanswerwasclear。Ithadbeenusedtopaytheproprietorsoftheestablishment5percentonthecapitaltheyhadlaidout,inadditiontoover300,000poundsclearprofit。AndthatwhichheldforNewLanarkheldtoastillgreaterextentforallthefactoriesinEngland。
"Ifthisnewwealthhadnotbeencreatedbymachinery,imperfectlyasithasbeenapplied,thewarsofEurope,inoppositiontoNapoleon,andtosupportthearistocraticprinciplesofsociety,couldnothavebeenmaintained。Andyetthisnewpowerwasthecreationoftheworking—classes。"
Note,l。c。,p。22。
Tothem,therefore,thefruitsofthisnewpowerbelonged。Thenewly—createdgiganticproductiveforces,hithertousedonlytoenrichindividualsandtoenslavethemasses,offeredtoOwenthefoundationsforareconstructionofsociety;theyweredestined,asthecommonpropertyofall,tobeworkedforthecommongoodofall。
Owen’scommunismwasbaseduponthispurelybusinessfoundation,theoutcome,sotosay,ofcommercialcalculation。Throughout,itmaintainedthispracticalcharacter。Thus,in1823,OwenproposedthereliefofthedistressinIrelandbyCommunistcolonies,anddrewupcompleteestimatesofcostsoffoundingthem,yearlyexpenditure,andprobablyrevenue。Andinhisdefiniteplanforthefuture,thetechnicalworkingoutofdetailsismanagedwithsuchpracticalknowledge?groundplan,frontandsideandbird’s—eyeviewsallincluded?thattheOwenmethodofsocialreformonceaccepted,thereisfromthepracticalpointofviewlittletobesaidagainsttheactualarrangementofdetails。
HisadvanceinthedirectionofCommunismwastheturning—pointinOwen’slife。Aslongashewassimplyaphilanthropist,hewasrewardedwithnothingbutwealth,applause,honor,andglory。HewasthemostpopularmaninEurope。Notonlymenofhisownclass,butstatesmenandprincelistenedtohimapprovingly。ButwhenhecameoutwithhisCommunisttheoriesthatwasquiteanotherthing。Threegreatobstaclesseemedtohimespeciallytoblockthepathtosocialreform:privateproperty,religion,thepresentformofmarriage。
Heknewwhatconfrontedhimifheattackedthese?outlawry,excommunicationfromofficialsociety,thelossofhiswholesocialposition。Butnothingofthispreventedhimfromattackingthemwithoutfearofconsequences,andwhathehadforeseenhappened。Banishedfromofficialsociety,withaconspiracyofsilenceagainsthiminthepress,ruinedbyhisunsuccessfulCommunistexperimentsinAmerica,inwhichhesacrificedallhisfortune,heturneddirectlytotheworking—classandcontinuedworkingintheirmidstfor30years。Everysocialmovement,everyrealadvanceinEnglandonbehalfoftheworkerslinksitselfontothenameofRobertOwen。Heforcedthroughin1819,afterfiveyears’fighting,thefirstlawlimitingthehoursoflaborofwomenandchildreninfactories。HewaspresidentofthefirstCongressatwhichalltheTradeUnionsofEnglandunitedinasinglegreattradeassociation。Heintroducedastransitionmeasurestothecompletecommunisticorganizationofsociety,ontheonehand,cooperativesocietiesforretailtradeandproduction。Thesehavesincethattime,atleast,givenpracticalproofthatthemerchantandthemanufactureraresociallyquiteunnecessary。Ontheotherhand,heintroducedlaborbazaarsfortheexchangeoftheproductsoflaborthroughthemediumoflabor—notes,whoseunitwasasinglehourofwork;institutionsnecessarilydoomedtofailure,butcompletelyanticipatingProudhon’sbankofexchangeofamuchlaterperiod,anddifferingentirelyfromthisinthatitdidnotclaimtobethepanaceaforallsocialills,butonlyafirststeptowardsamuchmoreradicalrevolutionofsociety。
TheUtopians’modeofthoughthasforalongtimegovernedtheSocialistideasofthe19thcentury,andstillgovernssomeofthem。Untilveryrecently,allFrenchandEnglishSocialistsdidhomagetoit。TheearlierGermanCommunism,includingthatofWeitling,wasofthesameschool。Toallthese,Socialismistheexpressionofabsolutetruth,reasonandjustice,andhasonlytobediscoveredtoconqueralltheworldbyvirtueofitsownpower。Andasanabsolutetruthisindependentoftime,space,andofthehistoricaldevelopmentofman,itisamereaccidentwhenandwhereitisdiscovered。Withallthis,absolutetruth,reason,andjusticearedifferentwiththefounderofeachdifferentschool。Andaseachone’sspecialkindofabsolutetruth,reason,andjusticeisagainconditionedbyhissubjectiveunderstanding,hisconditionsofexistence,themeasureofhisknowledgeandhisintellectualtraining,thereisnootherendingpossibleinthisconflictofabsolutetruthsthanthattheyshallbemutuallyexclusiveofoneanother。Hence,fromthisnothingcouldcomebutakindofeclectic,averageSocialism,which,asamatteroffact,hasuptothepresenttimedominatedthemindsofmostofthesocialistworkersinFranceandEngland。
Hence,amish—mashallowingofthemostmanifoldshadesofopinion:amish—mashofsuchcriticalstatements,economictheories,picturesoffuturesocietybythefoundersofdifferentsects,asexciteaminimumofopposition;
amish—mashwhichisthemoreeasilybrewedthemoredefinitesharpedgesoftheindividualconstituentsarerubbeddowninthestreamofdebate,likeroundedpebblesinabrook。
TomakeascienceofSocialism,ithadfirsttobeplaceduponarealbasis。
Notes[1]ThisisthepassageoftheFrenchRevolution:
"Thought,theconceptoflaw,allatoncemadeitselffelt,andagainstthistheoldscaffoldingofwrongcouldmakenostand。
Inthisconceptionoflaw,therefore,aconstitutionhasnowbeenestablished,andhencefortheverythingmustbecaseduponthis。SincetheSunhadbeeninthefirmament,andtheplanetscircledaroundhim,thesighthadneverbeenseenofmanstandinguponhishead?i。e。,ontheIdea?andbuildingrealityafterthisimage。AnaxagorasfirstsaidthattheNous,reason,rulestheworld;butnow,forthefirsttime,hadmencometorecognizethattheIdeamustrulethementalreality。Andthiswasamagnificentsunrise。AllthinkingBeingshaveparticipatedincelebratingthisholyday。Asublimeemotionswayedmenatthattime,anenthusiasmofreasonpervadedtheworld,asifnowhadcomethereconciliationoftheDivinePrinciplewiththeworld。"
[Hegel:"ThePhilosophyofhistory",1840,p。535]
Isitnothightimetosettheanti—Socialistlawinactionagainstsuchteachings,subversiveandtothecommondanger,bythelateProfessorHegel?
(2EngelsrefersheretotheworksoftheutopianSocialistsThomasMore(16thcentury)andTommasoCampanella(17thcentury)。
[3]FromTheRevolutioninMindandPractice,p。21,amemorialaddressedtoallthe"redRepublicans,CommunistsandSocialistsofEurope",andsenttotheprovisionalgovernmentofFrance,1848,andalso"toQueenVictoriaandherresponsibleadvisers。"
Socialism:UtopianandScientific(Chpt。2)FredrickEngelsSocialism:UtopianandScientificII
[TheScienceofDialectics]
Inthemeantime,alongwithandaftertheFrenchphilosophyofthe18thcentury,hadarisenthenewGermanphilosophy,culminatinginHegel。
Itsgreatestmeritwasthetakingupagainofdialecticsasthehighestformofreasoning。TheoldGreekphilosopherswereallbornnaturaldialecticians,andAristotle,themostencyclopaedicofthem,hadalreadyanalyzedthemostessentialformsofdialecticthought。Thenewerphilosophy,ontheotherhand,althoughinitalsodialecticshadbrilliantexponents(e。g。
DescartesandSpinoza),had,especiallythroughEnglishinfluence,becomemoreandmorerigidlyfixedintheso—calledmetaphysicalmodeofreasoning,bywhichalsotheFrenchofthe18thcenturywerealmostwhollydominated,atalleventsintheirspecialphilosophicalwork。Outsidephilosophyintherestrictedsense,theFrenchneverthelessproducedmasterpiecesofdialectic。WeneedonlycalltomindDiderot’sLeNeveudeRameau,andRousseau’sDiscourssurl’origineetlesfondementsdel’inegaliteparmilesshommes。Wegivehere,inbrief,theessentialcharacterofthesetwomodesofthought。
WhenweconsiderandreflectuponNatureatlarge,orthehistoryofmankind,orourownintellectualactivity,atfirstweseethepictureofanendlessentanglementofrelationsandreactions,permutationsandcombinations,inwhichnothingremainswhat,whereandasitwas,buteverythingmoves,changes,comesintobeingandpassesaway。Wesee,therefore,atfirstthepictureasawhole,withitsindividualpartsstillmoreorlesskeptinthebackground;weobservethemovements,transitions,connections,ratherthanthethingsthatmove,combine,andareconnected。Thisprimitive,naivebutintrinsicallycorrectconceptionoftheworldisthatofancientGreekphilosophy,andwasfirstclearlyformulatedbyHeraclitus:everythingisandisnot,foreverythingisfluid,isconstantlychanging,constantlycomingintobeingandpassingaway。
Butthisconception,correctlyasitexpressesthegeneralcharacterofthepictureofappearancesasawhole,doesnotsufficetoexplainthedetailsofwhichthispictureismadeup,andsolongaswedonotunderstandthese,wehavenotaclearideaofthewholepicture。Inordertounderstandthesedetails,wemustdetachthemfromtheirnatural,specialcauses,effects,etc。Thisis,primarily,thetaskofnaturalscienceandhistoricalresearch:branchesofsciencewhichtheGreekofclassicaltimes,onverygoodgrounds,relegatedtoasubordinateposition,becausetheyhadfirstofalltocollectmaterialsforthesesciencestoworkupon。Acertainamountofnaturalandhistoricalmaterialmustbecollectedbeforetherecanbeanycriticalanalysis,comparison,andarrangementinclasses,orders,andspecies。Thefoundationsoftheexactnaturalscienceswere,therefore,firstworkedoutbytheGreeksoftheAlexandrianperiod1),andlateron,intheMiddleAges,bytheArabs。Realnaturalsciencedatesfromthesecondhalfofthe15thcentury,andthenceonwardithadadvancedwithconstantlyincreasingrapidity。TheanalysisofNatureintoitsindividualparts,thegroupingofthedifferentnaturalprocessesandobjectsindefiniteclasses,thestudyoftheinternalanatomyoforganizedbodiesintheirmanifoldforms?thesewerethefundamentalconditionsofthegiganticstridesinourknowledgeofNaturethathavebeenmadeduringthelast400years。Butthismethodofworkhasalsoleftusaslegacythehabitofobservingnaturalobjectsandprocessesinisolation,apartfromtheirconnectionwiththevastwhole;ofobservingtheminrepose,notinmotion;
asconstraints,notasessentiallyvariables;intheirdeath,notintheirlife。AndwhenthiswayoflookingatthingswastransferredbyBaconandLockefromnaturalsciencetophilosophy,itbegotthenarrow,metaphysicalmodeofthoughtpeculiartothelastcentury。
Tothemetaphysician,thingsandtheirmentalreflexes,ideas,areisolated,aretobebeconsideredoneaftertheotherandapartfromeachother,areobjectsofinvestigationfixed,rigid,givenonceforall。Hethinksinabsolutelyirreconcilableantitheses。Hiscommunicationis’yea,yea;
nay,nay’;forwhatsoeverismorethanthesecomethofevil。"Forhim,athingeitherexistsordoesnotexist;athingcannotatthesametimebeitselfandsomethingelse。Positiveandnegativeabsolutelyexcludeonanother;causeandeffectstandinarigidantithesis,onetotheother。
Atfirstsight,thismodeofthinkingseemstousveryluminous,becauseitisthatofso—calledsoundcommonsense。Onlysoundcommonsense,respectablefellowthatheis,inthehomelyrealmofhisownfourwalls,hasverywonderfuladventuresdirectlyheventuresoutintothewideworldofresearch。
Andthemetaphysicalmodeofthought,justifiableandnecessaryasitisinanumberofdomainswhoseextentvariesaccordingtothenatureoftheparticularobjectofinvestigation,soonerorlaterreachesalimit,beyondwhichitbecomesone—sided,restricted,abstract,lostininsolublecontradictions。
Inthecontemplationofindividualthings,itforgetstheconnectionbetweenthem;inthecontemplationoftheirexistence,itforgetsthebeginningandendofthatexistence;oftheirrepose,ifforgetstheirmotion。Itcannotseethewoodsforthetrees。
Foreverydaypurposes,weknowandcansay,e。g。,whetherananimalisaliveornot。But,uponcloserinquiry,wefindthathisis,inmanycases,averycomplexquestion,asthejuristsknowverywell。Theyhavecudgelledtheirbrainsinvaintodiscoverarationallimitbeyondwhichthekillingofthechildinitsmother’swombismurder。Itisjustasimpossibletodetermineabsolutelythemomentofdeath,forphysiologyprovesthatdeathisnotaninstantaneous,momentaryphenomenon,butaveryprotractedprocess。
Inlikemanner,everyorganizedbeingiseverymomentthesameandnotthesame;everymoment,itassimilatesmattersuppliedfromwithout,andgetsridofothermatter;everymoment,somecellsofitsbodydieandothersbuildthemselvesanew;inalongerorshortertime,thematterofitsbodyiscompletelyrenewed,andisreplacedbyothermoleculesofmatter,sothateveryorganizedbeingisalwaysitself,andyetsomethingotherthanitself。
Further,wefinduponcloserinvestigationthatthetwopolesofanantithesis,positiveandnegative,e。g。,areasinseparableastheyareopposed,andthatdespitealltheiropposition,theymutuallyinterpenetrate。
Andwefind,inlikemanner,thatcauseandeffectareconceptionswhichonlyholdgoodintheirapplicationtoindividualcases;butassoonasweconsidertheindividualcasesintheirgeneralconnectionwiththeuniverseasawhole,theyrunintoeachother,andtheybecomeconfoundedwhenwecontemplatethatuniversalactionandreactioninwhichcausesandeffectsareeternallychangingplaces,sothatwhatiseffecthereandnowwillbecausethereandthen,andviceversa。
Noneoftheseprocessesandmodesofthoughtentersintotheframeworkofmetaphysicalreasoning。Dialectics,ontheotherhand,comprehendsthingsandtheirrepresentations,ideas,intheiressentialconnection,concatenation,motion,originandending。Suchprocessesasthosementionedaboveare,therefore,somanycorroborationsofitsownmethodofprocedure。
Natureistheproofofdialectics,anditmustbesaidformodernsciencethatithasfurnishedthisproofwithveryrichmaterialsincreasinglydaily,andthushasshownthat,inthelastresort,Natureworksdialecticallyandnotmetaphysically;thatshedoesnotmoveintheeternalonenessofaperpetuallyrecurringcircle,butgoesthrougharealhistoricalevolution。
Inthisconnection,Darwinmustbenamedbeforeallothers。HedealtthemetaphysicalconceptionofNaturetheheaviestblowbyhisproofthatallorganicbeings,plants,animals,andmanhimself,aretheproductsofaprocessofevolutiongoingonthroughmillionsofyears。But,thenaturalists,whohavelearnedtothinkdialectically,arefewandfarbetween,andthisconflictoftheresultsofdiscoverywithpreconceivedmodesofthinking,explainstheendlessconfusionnowreigningintheoreticalnaturalscience,thedespairofteachersaswellaslearners,ofauthorsandreadersalike。
Anexactrepresentationoftheuniverse,ofitsevolution,ofthedevelopmentofmankind,andofthereflectionofthisevolutioninthemindsofmen,canthereforeonlybeobtainedbythemethodsofdialecticswithitsconstantregardtotheinnumerableactionsandreactionsoflifeanddeath,ofprogressiveorretrogressivechanges。Andinthisspirit,thenewGermanphilosophyhasworked。KantbeganhiscareerbyresolvingthestableSolarsystemofNewtonanditseternalduration,afterthefamousinitialimpulsehadoncebeengiven,intotheresultofahistoricalprocess,theformationoftheSunandalltheplanetsoutofarotating,nebulousmass。Fromthis,heatthesametimedrewtheconclusionthat,giventhisoriginoftheSolarsystem,itsfuturedeathfollowedofnecessity。Histheory,halfacenturylater,wasestablishedmathematicallybyLaplace,andhalfacenturyafterthat,thespectroscopeprovedtheexistenceinspaceofsuchincandescentmassesofgasinvariousstagesofcondensation。
ThisnewGermanphilosophyculminatedintheHegeliansystem。
Inthissystem?andhereinisitsgreatmerit?forthefirsttimethewholeworld,natural,historical,intellectual,isrepresentedasaprocess?i。e。,asinconstantmotion,change,transformation,development;andtheattemptismadetotraceouttheinternalconnectionthatmakesacontinuouswholeofallthismovementanddevelopment。Fromthispointofview,thehistoryofmankindnolongerappearedasawildwhirlofsenselessdeedsofviolence,allequallycondemnableatthejudgmentseatofmaturephilosophicreasonandwhicharebestforgottenasquicklyaspossible,butastheprocessofevolutionofmanhimself。Itwasnowthetaskoftheintellecttofollowthegradualmarchofthisprocessthroughallitsdeviousways,andtotraceouttheinnerlawrunningthroughallitsapparentlyaccidentalphenomena。
ThattheHegeliansystemdidnotsolvetheproblemitpropoundedishereimmaterial。Itsepoch—makingmeritwasthatitpropoundedtheproblem。
Thisproblemisonethatnosingleindividualwilleverbeabletosolve。
AlthoughHegelwas?withSaint—Simon?themostencyclopaedicmindofhistime,yethewaslimited,first,bythenecessarylimitedextentofhisownknowledgeand,second,bythelimitedextentanddepthoftheknowledgeandconceptionsofhisage。totheselimits,athirdmustbeadded。Hegelwasanidealist。Tohim,thethoughtswithinhisbrainwerenotthemoreorlessabstractpicturesofactualthingsandprocesses,but,conversely,thingsandtheirevolutionwereonlytherealizedpicturesofthe"Idea",existingsomewherefrometernitybeforetheworldwas。Thiswayofthinkingturnedeverythingupsidedown,andcompletelyreversedtheactualconnectionofthingsintheworld。CorrectlyandingeniouslyasmanygroupsoffactsweregraspedbyHegel,yet,forthereasonsjustgiven,thereismuchthatisbotched,artificial,labored,inaword,wronginpointofdetail。TheHegeliansystem,initself,wasacolossalmiscarriage?butitwasalsothelastofitskind。
Itwassuffering,infact,fromaninternalandincurablecontradiction。
Upontheonehand,itsessentialpropositionwastheconceptionthathumanhistoryisaprocessofevolution,which,byitsverynature,cannotfinditsintellectualfinalterminthediscoveryofanyso—calledabsolutetruth。But,ontheotherhand,itlaidclaimtobeingtheveryessenceofthisabsolutetruth。Asystemofnaturalandhistoricalknowledge,embracingeverything,andfinalforalltime,isacontradictiontothefundamentallawofdialecticreasoning。
Thislaw,indeed,bynomeansexcludes,but,onthecontrary,includestheideathatthesystematicknowledgeoftheexternaluniversecanmakegiantstridesfromagetoage。
TheperceptionofthethefundamentalcontradictioninGermanidealismlednecessarilybacktomaterialism,but?notabene?nottothesimplymetaphysical,exclusivelymechanicalmaterialismofthe18thcentury。
Oldmaterialismlookeduponallprevioushistoryasacrudeheapofirrationalityandviolence;modernmaterialismseesinittheprocessofevolutionofhumanity,andaimsatdiscoveringthelawsthereof。WiththeFrenchofthe18thcentury,andevenwithHegel,theconceptionobtainedofNatureasawhole?movinginnarrowcircles,andforeverimmutable,withitseternalcelestialbodies,asNewton,andunalterableorganicspecies,asLinnaeus,taught。Modernmaterialismembracesthemorerecentdiscoveriesofnaturalscience,accordingtowhichNaturealsohasitshistoryintime,thecelestialbodies,liketheorganicspeciesthat,underfavorableconditions,peoplethem,beingbornandperishing。AndevenifNature,asawhole,muststillbesaidtomoveinrecurrentcycles,thesecyclesassumeinfinitelylargerdimensions。Inbothaspects,modernmaterialismisessentiallydialectic,andnolongerrequirestheassistanceofthatsortofphilosophywhich,queen—like,pretendedtoruletheremainingmobofsciences。Assoonaseachspecialscienceisboundtomakeclearitspositioninthegreattotalityofthingsandofourknowledgeofthings,aspecialsciencedealingwiththistotalityissuperfluousorunnecessary。Thatwhichstillsurvivesofallearlierphilosophyisthescienceofthoughtanditslaw?formallogicanddialectics。EverythingelseissubsumedinthepositivescienceofNatureandhistory。
Whilst,however,therevolutionintheconceptionofNaturecouldonlybemadeinproportiontothecorrespondingpositivematerialsfurnishedbyresearch,alreadymuchearliercertainhistoricalfactshadoccurredwhichledtoadecisivechangeintheconceptionofhistory。In1831,thefirstworking—classrisingtookplaceinLyons;between1838and1842,thefirstnationalworking—classmovement,thatoftheEnglishChartists,reacheditsheight。TheclassstrugglebetweenproletariatandbourgeoisiecametothefrontinthehistoryofthemostadvancedcountriesinEurope,inproportiontothedevelopment,upontheonehand,ofmodernindustry,upontheother,ofthenewly—acquiredpoliticalsupremacyofthebourgeoisie。
factsmoreandmorestrenuouslygavethelietotheteachingsofbourgeoiseconomyastotheidentityoftheinterestsofcapitalandlabor,astotheuniversalharmonyanduniversalprosperitythatwouldbetheconsequenceofunbridledcompetition。Allthesethingscouldnolongerbeignored,anymorethantheFrenchandEnglishSocialism,whichwastheirtheoretical,thoughveryimperfect,expression。Buttheoldidealistconceptionofhistory,whichwasnotyetdislodged,knewnothingofclassstrugglesbaseduponeconomicinterests,knewnothingofeconomicinterests;productionandalleconomicrelationsappearedinitonlyasincidental,subordinateelementsinthe"historyofcivilization"。
Thenewfactsmadeimperativeanewexaminationofallpasthistory。
Thenitwasseenthatallpasthistory,withtheexceptionofitsprimitivestages,wasthehistoryofclassstruggles;thatthesewarringclassesofsocietyarealwaystheproductsofthemodesofproductionandofexchange?inaword,oftheeconomicconditionsoftheirtime;
thattheeconomicstructureofsocietyalwaysfurnishestherealbasis,startingfromwhichwecanaloneworkouttheultimateexplanationofthewholesuperstructureofjuridicalandpoliticalinstitutionsaswellasofthereligious,philosophical,andotherideasofagivenhistoricalperiod。Hegelhasfreedhistoryfrommetaphysics?hemadeitdialectic;
buthisconceptionofhistorywasessentiallyidealistic。Butnowidealismwasdrivenfromitslastrefuge,thephilosophyofhistory;nowamaterialistictreatmentofhistorywaspropounded,andamethodfoundofexplainingman’s"knowing"byhis"being",insteadof,asheretofore,his"being"byhis"knowing"。
Fromthattimeforward,Socialismwasnolongeranaccidentaldiscoveryofthisorthatingeniousbrain,butthenecessaryoutcomeofthestrugglebetweentwohistoricallydevelopedclasses?theproletariatandthebourgeoisie。
Itstaskwasnolongertomanufactureasystemofsocietyasperfectaspossible,buttoexaminethehistorico—economicsuccessionofeventsfromwhichtheseclassesandtheirantagonismhadofnecessitysprung,andtodiscoverintheeconomicconditionsthuscreatedthemeansofendingtheconflict。ButtheSocialismofearlierdayswasasincompatiblewiththismaterialistconceptionastheconceptionofNatureoftheFrenchmaterialistswaswithdialecticsandmodernnaturalscience。TheSocialismofearlierdayscertainlycriticizedtheexistingcapitalisticmodeofproductionanditsconsequences。Butitcouldnotexplainthem,and,therefore,couldnotgetthemasteryofthem。Itcouldonlysimplyrejectthemasbad。ThemorestronglythisearlierSocialismdenouncedtheexploitationsoftheworking—class,inevitableunderCapitalism,thelessablewasitclearlytoshowinwhatthisexploitationconsistedandhowitarose。butforthisitwasnecessary?
topresentthecapitalisticmodeofproductioninitshistoricalconnectionanditsinevitablenessduringaparticularhistoricalperiod,andtherefore,also,topresentitsinevitabledownfall;andtolaybareitsessentialcharacter,whichwasstillasecret。Thiswasdonebythediscoveryofsurplus—value。
Itwasshownthattheappropriationofunpaidlaboristhebasisofthecapitalistmodeofproductionandoftheexploitationoftheworkerthatoccursunderit;thatevenifthecapitalistbuysthelaborpowerofhislaboreratitsfullvalueasacommodityonthemarket,heyetextractsmorevaluefromitthanhepaidfor;andthatintheultimateanalysis,thissurplus—valueformsthosesumsofvaluefromwhichareheapedupconstantlyincreasingmassesofcapitalinthehandsofthepossessingclasses。Thegenesisofcapitalistproductionandtheproductionofcapitalwerebothexplained。
Thesetwogreatdiscoveries,thematerialisticconceptionofhistoryandtherevelationofthesecretofcapitalisticproductionthroughsurplus—value,weowetoMarx。Withthesediscoveries,Socialismbecameascience。Thenextthingwastoworkoutallitsdetailsandrelations。
Notes(1TheAlexandrianperiodofthedevelopmentofsciencecomprisestheperiodextendingfromthe3rdcenturyB。C。tothe17thcenturyA。D。ItderivesitsnamefromthetownofAlexandriainEgypt,whichwasoneofthemostimportantcentresofinternationaleconomicintercoursesatthattime。
IntheAlexandrianperiod,mathematics(EuclidandArchimedes),geography,astronomy,anatomy,physiology,etc。,attainedconsiderabledevelopment。
Socialism:UtopianandScientific(Chpt。3)FredrickEngelsSocialism:UtopianandScientificIII
[HistoricalMaterialism]
Thematerialistconceptionofhistorystartsfromthepropositionthattheproductionofthemeanstosupporthumanlifeand,nexttoproduction,theexchangeofthingsproduced,isthebasisofallsocialstructure;
thatineverysocietythathasappearedinhistory,themannerinwhichwealthisdistributedandsocietydividedintoclassesorordersisdependentuponwhatisproduced,howitisproduced,andhowtheproductsareexchanged。