Historical Materialism

Paper Summary:

This paper contends that, in discussing Karl Marx's basic tenets in the inherent presence of class conflict in a modern, capitalist society, it is inevitable that his method of historical materialism be included to explain how this concept of class conflict emerges. The paper explains that, prior to presenting his thesis of the emergence of class conflict and oppression in a capitalist society, Marx initially discusses how historical materialism made possible his analysis of human societies over time.

From the Paper:

"Historical materialism can also be understood for what it is not-that is, by comparing it with other methods adopted by philosophers and social scientists to explain significant phenomena that occur in the modern capitalist society. Historical materialism is very much different from the idealist perspective of analyzing culture, history, and society. In the idealist perspective, all that humans feel and experience are not products of sensory experience, but of the mind itself, where all human experiences are generated from the mind. Thus, in the idealist perspective, consciousness about one's status in life and perceived expression of oppression exist and develops only in the mind of the individual. Thus, one only feels oppressed if s/he thinks that s/he is indeed oppressed."

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