Marx and the Dialectic

The Dialectic

What is the Dialectic?

In General

It's Marx's overarching philosophical explanation of how the world functions.

In Short

Conflict causes change.

Three Stages of the Dialectic

1. Thesis
  • Also known as the affirmation or the "yes." It is defined as anything that is or actively exists in this world.
  • Example: A car driving down the road.
2. Antithesis
  • The opposite of the thesis; the negation or the "no."
  • Anything that stops or limits the thesis from developing as it wants to.
  • The antithesis does not destroy the thesis, but only limits it temporarily by posing a boundary or block.
  • Example: A roadblock that stops the car from going further.
3. Synthesis
  • The negation of the negation or the "no" of the "no"; the limit of the limit.
  • Change arises because the thesis encounters the antithesis, forcing the thesis to change.
  • Example: The car encounters a roadblock and must change its course by driving around it or removing it.
  • Quiz 17 illustrates this concept: Every thesis contains its opposite (antithesis), which eventually leads to a new reality (synthesis).

Marx's View on Change

  • Change is good, but change is difficult.
  • This aligns with conflict theory, which views conflict as good because it means the underdog is able to gain something from those in power.
  • Change is difficult because those at the top hold the power and resist change.
  • Encountering roadblocks or problems is beneficial, as it forces change and development.
  • Similar to adages: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Visual Representation of the Dialectic

  • The dialectic can be visualized as a spring or coil.
  • The thesis is the up arrow (representing the underdog).
  • The antithesis is the down arrow (representing the powerful).
  • The curve represents the synthesis (change).
  • A new thesis follows, leading to another antithesis and a new synthesis, driving development forward.

Application to Economic Development

  • The dialectic can be applied to various fields, including economic development according to Marx.
  • The diagram contains "hort feud cap": horticultural feudalism, capitalism.
  • The synthesis leads to the creation of a new mode of production.