Marx’s Intellectual Sources and Critique of Hegel
Marx’s thought draws from several sources, including Hegel’s German idealist philosophy, Feuerbach, French utopian socialism, and English economists like Adam Smith and David Ricardo. Before Marx, these thinkers, including Feuerbach, approached reality contemplatively and metaphysically. Marx’s materialism critiques previous materialism, emphasizing the transformation of reality rather than mere interpretation. This is evident in the historical and dialectical materialism proposed by Marx and Engels, which explains social and economic phenomena.
Materialism vs. Idealism
A fundamental problem in philosophy is the contradiction between materialism and idealism. Materialism posits that reality can be expressed in terms of matter in motion, while idealism asserts that reality stems from consciousness, with matter being a product of mind or spirit. Materialism explains the natural world from within itself, whereas idealism refers to an external principle. Materialists advocate atheism, while idealists believe in God.
Hegel’s Idealism
Idealism reached its peak with Hegel, who sought to integrate Western tradition into a unified theory connecting Greek philosophy’s concept of nature with Christianity’s concept of spirit. Hegel also interpreted human history as the evolution of spirit (Reason). He viewed the world as an evolutionary process governed by the internal law of absolute spirit, a dialectical movement. For Hegel, reason is the starting point, with everything else being manifestations of this dynamic reason.
Marx’s Critique of Hegel
Marx, influenced by Feuerbach, critiqued Hegel from a materialist perspective while retaining a dialectical view of reality. This involved transforming Hegel’s idealist dialectics into a materialist one.
1) Concept of Reality
Marx criticized Hegel’s assertion that “what is rational is real and what is real is rational,” arguing it could be interpreted dogmatically and reactionarily. If reality is rational, it could be reduced to thought, justifying the existing social and political order. The existence of the proletariat, according to Marx, contradicted this supposed reality of Reason.
2) Nature of Man
Hegel defined human nature as Reason or Spirit, but Marx and Engels defined it as labor.
3) Interpretation of History
Hegel interpreted history as governed by spirit, making it the subject of history. Marx argued that this interpretation involved imaginary subjects performing imaginary actions. Instead, Marx proposed that the driving force of history is the struggle between productive forces and production relations, i.e., class struggle.
4) Philosophy and Knowledge
Marx aimed to overcome idealist philosophy, arguing that knowledge is not just theoretical but also practical.
5) Dialectical Reality
Reality is dialectical, but material conditions determine thought.