DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM: A SCIENCE OF UNIVERSAL CONNECTION AND DEVELOPMENT
Friedrich Engels in his book dialectics of nature defined dialectical materialism. In a nutshell, what Engels is saying is that, dialectical materialism is a process in which dynamic change of all being (matter) is a normal activity and permanence is impossible and alien. It is a process that has always been in existence and will surely continue till infinity. Although it is true that other sciences study the laws guiding the development of the material world, it is only in a particular sphere of reality e.g. astronomy. However, dialectical materialism studies the general laws (of motion and change) which operate in all spheres of reality, unlike the individual sciences which study particular laws. Thus, dialectical materialism is ontological in nature in that it studies the most general laws that operate in all spheres of existence and reality.
Lastly, dialectical materialism is basically used by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to expose the lies of the bourgeoisie that ours will always be (permanence) a capitalist society. Considering the dialectical materialist principle that change is an inherent part of the nature of matter, since society entails matter, it is inevitably sure that the capitalist society will at a certain stage surely give way to socialism and modern communism. Dialectical materialism is a means of changing and transforming the world. It is a pragmatic philosophy of which its principles must be studied and understood in order to learn how its laws operate.
DIALECTICAL MATERIALISTS’ PRINCIPLES AND LAWS OF DEVELOPMENT
What are the general laws of dialectical materialism beyond the primary idea that everything changes? If dialectics is the theory of Marxism, what does its maxims look like and how do they assist us in challenging capitalism and changing society? So, in order to understand the philosophy of Marx and Engels, as well as their conception of reality, a basic idea of the laws and principles of dialectical materialism is necessary. These are the laws guiding the procedures of the material change which their philosophy advocates. These principles are three in number and they are highlighted below;
· Law of the transformation of quantitative into qualitative change and vice-versa
· Law of the unity and struggle of opposites
· Law of the negation of negation
i. Law of the transformation of quantitative into qualitative change and vice-versa
Every material element possesses a quantity and a quality. By quantity, we mean that which has to do with size in terms of content, intensity, effect, influence, possession and the likes. By quality, we refer to the nature of a thing which makes it what it is. Thus, the size of a thing is its quantity and the nature of a thing is its quality. This law emphasizes the fact that development in every material entity starts with little changes in quantity of the components of that system. Since motion is the way in which matter exists, these little changes in quantity continues gradually over time. This surely causes a rise in the overall quantity of the material entity. Definitely, at a certain stage, there would be an overwhelming effect on the quantity which would bring about an entirely new quality. For example, consider warm water which has a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. If it undergoes heating, there would be a gradual increase in the quantity of its temperature, which would move gradually from 30 degrees to 100 degrees boiling point and beyond. At this stage, the water which was previously having a quality of warmness would suddenly have a quality of destructive heat. It would no longer be called water but steam (a new quality). Similarly, ice (a certain quality) when put under the same condition of change in quantity of temperature would become water (a new quality). However, when the former quantity changes into a new quality, the process continues infinitely. Thus, the new quality would still continue to undergo quantitative changes that will surely lead to another entirely new quantity; and that is how it would continually be. This principle explains the basic pattern of change and development in material beings.
ii. Law of the unity and struggle of opposites
Fundamentally, everything that exists is a combination of opposites. It is in the nature of existence for things to occur as a synthesis of opposite entities. Infact, it is said that development occurs only where opposites do exist. Therefore, the way of nature presupposes that in everything material which exists, there must be a unity of opposites. Taking the human being as an example, man is a conglomerate of numerous opposites. It is in the nature of man to be a moral being i.e. to be inclined towards the doing of virtuous deeds, for the sake of peace in society. However, it is also presupposed in the nature of man that he should desire to carry out some acts that are vicious. Paradoxically, man is a contradictory; a synthesis of both good and evil, virtue and vice. It is a natural law that both these elements must exist in man, without these, no development can occur. This is what the unity of opposites mean.
As it is a fact that opposites necessarily presuppose each other, it is also a fact that they must clash. The very fact that they are contradictories implies their destiny to struggle with each other. Thus, two sides of a dilemma cannot exist peacefully; no way! They must move, and in doing so, clashes must occur between them. There is usually a continued struggle between them as to which one must prevail over the other. So, when one of them prevails, then we can say development has taken place. For example; as usual, it is when one willingly refuses to do vice and embrace virtue, that one is said to be exhibiting a virtuous character and vice-versa. Thus, without the existence and clashing of opposites, there can be no movement, change and development. Therefore, development is when an element moves against the influence of its opposite. This is what the struggle of opposites mean.
The conclusion of all this is that, every material system in reality by default, contains within it, elements that would certainly lead to its disfunctionality; and this is based on which has the stronger force or power.
iii. Law of the negation of negation
The underlying essence of this law is simply the changing of the old system to a newly necessary one. Negation talks about cancelling out a former system which was initially important, for the flourishing of a new one which is now very much necessary. Thus, at some point in the existence of any material entity, its old nature would be cancelled out (negated) and changed to a necessarily new type of material entity. The concept behind this law of the negation of negation simply implies, the replacement of the old with a new, of which, the old which is being presently replaced was also once a new replacement of some old entity. For example, if I get a job as a common factory worker in a company, my salary and allowance might determine that I take public transport to work every day. Since, that is what my pay allows; it becomes an appropriate thing to use public transport at this stage. But, if after two years I happen to get a promotion to become a supervisor, my salary and allowance might determine that I buy myself a motor bike for easier and more personal transportation. Thus, it is the case that my new position as a supervisor has created a status that negates (cancels out) my previous condition of using public transport. Even though it was necessary at that stage, my new status makes it obsolete and thus negates it. Now, my new position of having a motor bike to transport me to work is now appropriate. Furthermore, after some years of service if I probably become the executive manager of the company, my salary and allowance might determine that I buy myself a classy car due to my attained status. So, my latest status as the executive manager has created a condition which again negates my previously necessary condition of using a motor bike for my transportation to work. Thus, we can truly see that the concept behind this law of the negation of negation simply implies, the replacement of the old with a new, of which, the old which is being presently replaced was also once a new replacement of some old entity. This principle, as we can see, is another way in which material beings exist generally.
REPRESENTATION OF THESE LAWS IN OUR PRESENT DAY SOCIETY
The major reason why Engels coined out these laws and principles of dialectical materialism was to show how they would be applied to pragmatic societal conditions. In a nutshell, instances of each law and its representation in society are highlighted below;
· Law of the transformation of quantitative into qualitative change and vice-versa
A society which is in economic, political and social crisis; where the bourgeoisie caste has become absolutely incapable of further playing any progressive role, cannot stay in absolute continuity. A point will be rapidly reached where either the working class would have to overthrow the bourgeoisie and carry through a political revolution, or on the other hand, there would be a social counter-revolution by the exploiters, leading to the restoration of capitalism. Basically, the economic, political and social crisis will create a sharp tension which would increase the quantitative pressure in the capitalist system. As this continues over time, a stage would occur when the pressure would be excessive in quantity and then revolutionary change must occur. But, the transformation of society can only be achieved by men and women whom are consciously striving for their own freedom. This struggle between the classes is not fixed or pre-determined. It is not compulsory that the proletariat must overthrow the bourgeoisie or that the bourgeoisie must continue exploiting the proletariat. Whoever must succeed depends on many factors, but a rising, strong and progressive proletariat has many advantages over the old, weak force of reaction. But ultimately, the general result must depend upon which side has the stronger will, the greater organisation and the most skilful and resolute leadership. However, the victory of socialism, if successful, will mark a new and qualitatively different stage of human history. It would start a new world order, the world order of socialism.
· Law of the unity and struggle of opposites
Lenin laid great stress on the importance of contradiction as the motive force of development. However, it is common knowledge that, in any given society, the strivings of some of its members conflict with the strivings of others; that social life is full of contradictions and that history reveals a struggle between nations and societies. Also, within nations and societies there is an alternation of periods of revolution and reaction, peace and war, stagnation and rapid progress. This law is best illustrated by the class struggle. Capitalism requires a capitalist class (bourgeoisie) and a working class (proletariat). The struggle over the surplus value created by the proletariat and mismanaged by the bourgeoisie leads to an irreconcilable struggle that will provide the basis for the eventual overthrow of capitalism. There would be a resolution of the contradiction through the abolition of classes and the institution of socialism.
· Law of the negation of negation
In our present day capitalist society, the capitalist method of industrial production, and capitalist private property, is the specific negation of individual private property based on one's own labour under feudalism, which was the former stage of human society. Initially, slavery, in its day, represented an enormous leap forward over barbarism. It was a necessary stage in the development of productive forces, culture and human society at that time. Similarly, capitalism was originally a necessary and progressive stage in human society. However, like slavery, primitive communism, and feudalism, capitalism has long since ceased to represent a necessary and progressive social system. It has failed, due to the deep contradictions inherent in it, which is the exploitation of the proletariat (working class) by the bourgeoisie (capitalist masters). So, it is doomed to be overcome by the rising forces of the new socialist society within the old capitalist one, represented by the modern proletariat. Private ownership of the means of production and the nation state, are the basic features of capitalist society and they originally marked a great step forward. But, now they serve only to weaken and undermine the productive working class forces and threaten all the gains made in centuries of human development. Thus, it is no longer appropriate; it will certainly be negated by the new socialist state.
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