Author: Dr. Fazl Ahmad Ahmadi
Marx and Marxism (Part Five)
4. Originality of Marxism
As Engels believed, the real value of things can only be judged by experience or practical results, and not merely by appearance or theory. Marxist theories have changed the course of history. The ideas in the Communist Manifesto, unlike the liberal theories of their contemporaries, have remained surprisingly accurate to this day. These theories elucidated the real basis of the class struggle and the periodic crises of capitalism, predicting the future development of the capitalist system: the rise of monopoly capital, imperialism, and globalization. Anyone who wants to understand the current crisis, the growing inequality between classes, today’s political polarization, and even the destruction of the environment should study the ideas of Marx and Engels. It is a truly dialectical and revolutionary philosophy, one that explains the main contradictions of society. Marx and Engels did not simply repeat the trends of their time but also anticipated how society would change in the future.
Of course, this raises the question of whether Marxism has deviated from its original path and is now heading in another direction. For example, Lukács, one of the most prolific Marxists, believed that post-Marx Marxism had strayed from its original method and had become infected with bourgeois attitudes. He argued that the duty of Marxists is to understand the essence of Marx’s method and its correct application, rather than revising it. By continually critiquing the bourgeois methodology, Lukács defined the policy of the Marxist method.
Initially, Marx was influenced by the philosophy of the European Enlightenment and embraced its belief in progress, particularly the radical-democratic ideas stemming from the French Revolution. He studied philosophy in Hegel’s school and was one of his followers. Later, while maintaining the dialectical core of Hegel’s philosophy, he critiqued its idealism from a materialist perspective. Marx upheld the idea of logic governing historical changes and emphasized the material and political aspects of human history, putting aside spiritual concepts. He believed that throughout history, human understanding of nature and society evolves, and production methods become more complex. Through this growth, human beings gain the awareness and ability to create society as a collective duty. Therefore, it is possible to build a society in which all individuals can fully realize their unique potential and develop their individual and social talents.
Continues…
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