Single Idea 23862

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 9. Communism]

Full Idea

When Marx inverted Hegel's dialectic of history, by substituting matter for mind as the motive, he attributed to matter the essence of mind, an unceasing aspiration towards the best - which was in keeping with the general current of capitalist thought.

Gist of Idea

By saying the material dialectic of history aspires to the best, Marx agreed with capitalism

Source

comment on Karl Marx (works [1860]) by Simone Weil - Reflections on Liberty and Social Oppression p.43

Book Reference

Weil,Simone: 'Oppression and Liberty' [Routledge 1955], p.43


A Reaction

[compressed] A rather nice debating point! Marx seems to share the universal nineteenth century belief in unremitting progress. Without that, it is impossible to believe that a revolution will necessarily improve anything.