Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T03:01:40.924Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Paradoxes in the Communist Theory of Marxism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Theodor I. Oizerman*
Affiliation:
Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In their work The German Ideology, the founders of Marxism assert that the prerequisite of post-capitalist (defined by them as communist) society is the universal development of human abilities and all social relations. But then on the same page, contrary to this statement, it is alleged that the abolition of private property is not only highly topical but it is also an imperative history-making task. In Manifesto of the Communist Party, Marx and Engels explain that economic crises recurrently shaking capitalist society expose an apparent contradiction between the productive forces and the capitalist relations of production – therefore, these relations must be eliminated for the preservation of society. Nonetheless, the same treatise affirms that the bourgeoisie cannot exist without revolutionizing not only the productive forces but also the relations of production. But in this case it stands to reason to recognize that there is no conflict between productive forces and production relations, and, therefore, there is no crisis of the capitalist system, either. Paradoxes in the communist theory of Marxism stem not merely from erroneous conceptions but reveal the fact that Marxism as an ideology comes into conflict with its scientific social theory. Hence, these paradoxes disclose the relative independence of the social theory of Marxism from its ideological postulates.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICPHS 2009

References

Berends, J. (1847) Wie ist die Noth der arbeitenden Klassen abzuhelfen? Leipzig: Wigand.Google Scholar
Biedermann, C. (1847) Vorlesungen über Sozialismus und soziale Fragen. Leipzig: Biedermann.Google Scholar
Billington, J. (1966) ‘Six Views on the Russian Revolution’, World Politics, 18(3): 452473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engels, F. (1847) The Principles of Communism, MECW, 6: 341–57; www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm.Google Scholar
Engels, F. (1886) Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy, MECW, 26: 353398; www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1886/ludwig-feuerbach/index.htm.Google Scholar
Kuczynski, J. (1947) Die Geschichte der Lage der Arbeiter in Deutschland von 1800 bis in die Gegenwart. Berlin: Freie Gewerkschaft.Google Scholar
LCW (Lenin Collected Works) (1960-). London: Lawrence and Wishart; Moscow: Progress Publishers; www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/cw/index.htm.Google Scholar
Lenin, V.I. (1905) Social-Democracy’s Attitude Towards the Peasant Movement, LCW, 9: 230239; www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1905/sep/05e.htm.Google Scholar
Lenin, V.I. (1918) The State and Revolution, LCW, 25: 381492; www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev.Google Scholar
Lenin, V.I. (1922) Role and Functions of the Trade Unions Under The New Economic Policy, LCW, 33: 188196; www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1921/dec/30.htm.Google Scholar
MECW (Marx/Engels Collected Works) (1975- 2005). London: Lawrence and Wishart; Moscow: Progress Publishers; http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/cw.Google Scholar
Marx, K. (1844) Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844, MECW, 3: 229347; www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/preface.htm.Google Scholar
Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1846) The German Ideology, MECW, 5: 19539; www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/german-ideology/index.htm.Google Scholar
Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1848) Manifesto of the Communist Party, MECW, 6: 477519; www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm.Google Scholar
Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1850) Universal Society of Revolutionary Communists, MECW, 10: 614–15.Google Scholar
Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1860) Herr Vogt, MECW, 17: 21329.Google Scholar
Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1845) The Holy Family, MECW, 4: 5211; www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/holy-family/index.htm.Google Scholar