Frederick Engels, author of Theoretical, Anti-Dühring, approaches and analyzes how the capitalist way of production is essentially in conflict. Using Engels' theory as a reference source, the following essay will explain Engels' meaning behind historical materialism, contradiction in capitalism and finally analyze the two examples of contradiction provided. The concept of historical materialism brings together two words. Materialism is defined as the belief that physical and material possessions have a higher value for survival than mental well-being. Historical is viewing and recognizing past events. Engels defines and establishes the meaning of historical materialism in that the progress and existence of individuals occurs through materials. Engels uses this term as a way to look at times gone by and understand the way in which human survival is to follow the cycle of production and reproduction to continue that essential requirement in life. To understand the story, you must first understand the economic vision. As for survival through an economic approach, history is made of productions and changes. In such events of the past, how a product is produced, when it is produced and how it is distributed reflected on the society in which the separation between classes and estates occurred (Engels, 292). Engels reflects on the impact materialists have had on history. Production differs from the current one and from that which occurred in the past. Historically, what you produced was considered yours, however, nowadays, what you produce is not considered yours at all. What happened is that the ownership of the product was exclusively his, due to his own work and the raw material used. Verses now in which large factories and workshops created a more… medium of paper… the productive forces rebel against the mode of production they have surpassed” (Engels, 302). Engels thinks that a problematic issue has occurred in the middle of the mode of production, which consequently leads to the breaking of the cycle. With the capitalist mode of production, with all the productive forces involved, the pressure is unbearable and therefore causes collapse. In the theoretical Anti-Dühring, Frederick Engels imagines the final result of the historical development of capitalism is prejudicial. This is because the production company's workers invest more than they receive in profit. Engels highlights the trials and errors that occurred within historical materialism. Works citedEngels, Federico "theoretician". Anti-Duhring. Herr Eugen Duhring's revolution in international scientific publishers, 1939. pp.297-310
tags