Historical Materialism of Karl Marx

Historical Materialism: Marx’s Theory of Society

Marx’s theory of historical materialism is the foundation of his sociological thought. He believed that material conditions, specifically economic factors, influence the structure and development of society. According to Marx, human society is formed by the forces and relations of production, which are essentially comprised of technological means of production. This theory is historical because Marx traced the evolution of human societies from one stage to another, and it is materialistic because he interpreted the evolution of societies in terms of their material or economic bases. In contrast to the earlier view of Hegel, who believed that ideas were the cause of change, Marx argued that ideas were a result of objective reality, i.e., matter.

Understanding Society and Social Change

Marx’s sociological thinking goes beyond examining the structure of human societies at a given point in time. He seeks to understand society in its entirety and explains societies in terms of the future of humankind. For Marx, it is not enough to describe the world; he has a plan for changing it. Therefore, his sociological thinking largely concerns the mechanism of change.

Clarification and Focus

It is important to note that this discussion is focused solely on Marx’s sociological ideas and not the various interpretations of his ideas that became the official ideology of Communist regimes. Marx’s theory of historical materialism is a general theory of society that extensively deals with the contradictions found in capitalist societies during his time.

Background

Marx’s childhood and youth took place during a period of European history when reactionary powers were attempting to eradicate the influence of the French Revolution. At the same time, there was a liberal movement in Germany that was influenced by the Revolution in France. Marx became associated with the young Hegelians, a group of people following the philosophy of Hegel, during his studies at the University of Berlin. Despite being the youngest member, Marx gained the confidence, respect, and admiration of the group, as they saw in him a powerful anti-Hegelian and a new Hegel.

Marx’s Faith in Democracy

Marx’s intellectual heritage was a synthesis of many ideological currents in Europe during the early and middle nineteenth century. He drew insights, attitudes, and concepts from the basic assumptions of democratic faith and slogans of the French Revolution. His radical view of democracy was based on historical events such as the revolutions in England, France, and America. From these studies, Marx concluded that a transitory stage of Proletarian democracy would ultimately lead to communism, a system in which goods are owned in common and accessible to all.

Conception of History

Marx’s epoch coincided with the era of industrial and social revolutions, extending into the modern era. This historical context shaped his thinking and provided the framework for his theory of historical materialism. Although Marx never explicitly wrote about historical materialism, his writings from 1843-8 referred to it in a fragmentary fashion. He viewed historical materialism not as a new philosophical system, but as a practical method of socio-historical studies and a basis for political action. He drew inspiration from Hegel’s philosophy, recognizing that the history of mankind is a single and non-repetitive process, and that the laws of historical process can be discovered.

Materialism and Marx’s Approach to History

Materialism seeks scientific explanations of things, including religion, and opposes the concept of idealism. Historical materialism emphasizes the fundamental and causal role of material conditions in the development of human history. Marx traced historical events in the light of a materialistic understanding of reality and developed a sociological approach to history. He rejected Hegelian and Post-Hegelian speculative philosophy and instead built on Feuerbach’s anthropological naturalism. Marx’s theory sought to explain all social phenomena in terms of their place and function in complex systems of society and nature, without resorting to metaphysical explanations.

Conclusion

Marx’s theory of historical materialism is a fundamental aspect of his sociological thought. It emphasizes the influence of material conditions, particularly economic factors, on the structure and development of society. Marx’s understanding of society goes beyond examining its structure at a given point in time; he seeks to understand society in its entirety and has a plan for changing it. His theory is historical because he traces the evolution of human societies, and it is materialistic because he interprets the evolution of societies in terms of their material or economic bases. Marx’s ideas were influenced by the historical context in which he lived, as well as the philosophical ideas of Hegel and Feuerbach.