Cheat Sheet
Use this to brush up on Marxism and impress your Antifa command structure.
This just floated through my social media feed. I do not know the origin; it is unsourced. It is quite possible, given the formatting and appearance, this is a product of A.I. Regardless, it is a fair dissection of the differences between Historical Materialism and Dialectical Materialism—both perspectives derived from the life’s work of political economist Karl Marx, and through his collaboration with Friedrich Engels. I have reproduced it in text form, both for reader visibility and so those who use the audio format will be able to access it.
Marx was a metatheorist who, like his contemporaries, was seeking a principle organizational theory of society. One that would explain everything. In the 150 years since Das Kapital was published, philosophy has developed new branches and social theories have come to reflect postmodern and post-structuralist elements. This has led some to focus on culture- and identity-formation, exploring avenues of human pursuit where conflict remains the driving force but culture is the contested realm.
HISTORICAL MATERIALISM (Karl Marx) vs. DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM (Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels)
HISTORICAL MATERIALISM
MEANING
Explains social change through material (economic) conditions and modes of production. History progresses through class struggle.
MAIN FEATURES
Economic base shapes society.
Class conflict drives historical change.
Mode of production determines social organization.
Society evolves through historical stages.
KEY ELEMENTS
Forces of production
Relations of production
Base and superstructure
Class struggle
EXAMPLE
Transition from: Feudalism —> Capitalism —> Socialism
DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM
MEANING
A philosophical method explaining change through contradictions in the material world. Everything develops through the conflict of opposing forces.
MAIN FEATURES
Reality is material.
Change is constant.
Contradictions produce development.
Quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes.
KEY ELEMENTS
Contradiction
Change
Negation
Material Reality
EXAMPLES
Water changes into steam when gradual heating reaches a critical point.
Capitalism contains contradictions that lead to social transformation.
KEY DIFFERENCES
Historical Materialism is a theory of social change. Dialectical Materialism is a philosophy of change.
Historical Materialism focuses on history and society. Dialectical Materialism focuses on nature, society, and thought.
Historical Materialism is based on class struggle. Dialectical Materialism is based on thought.
Historical Materialism explains historical development. Dialectical Materialism explains universal change.
Historical Materialism is an economic interpretation of history. Dialectical Materialism is a materialist dialectical method.
On “Practicing Sociology” Saturdays are for philosophizing. Some call it “Sabbath.”
