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Sociological Thought

notes Marx has mentioned the main points of historical materialism in his famous work, “German Ideology”.
Marx does not agree with those historians, who believe that history is the result of the actions of some
great or special persons. Neither does he agree that natural or geographical environment is responsible
for the development of man and his social life. Though its effects are felt on man’s life, yet it cannot
be said to be a determining factor. In a similar way, even the population factor cannot be the genuine
factor, that determines history and man’s social life. Marx says that the real factor is the economic
factor, that creates and makes history. In Marx’s view, history is not just a story or mere narrative song,
of kings–emperors, queens–empresses, and the victories of generals. According to him all historical
events are mere results of the changes taking place in the economic status. To understand any society,
any political organization and its system of law, it is absolutely necessary to gain knowledge of its
economic structure. Human activities are not influenced by morality, religion, nature, population and
nationality, but only influenced by economic factors. In, the words of Marx, “Every social, political
and intellectual relationship, all religious and law institutions, every intellectual view–point, which
is born in the progressive order of history; all these are products of the materialistic state of life.”
In Marx’s theory, economic fundamentalism is in the central position. “Around this central point, orbit,
the expressed and discussed ideas.” To study social life, society and social institution the historical
materialistic analysis theory and its dialectic materialism is just an extension of the earlier theory. The
main material of Marx’s materialism is man, and those means by which a person nurture himself. Before
Marx, even Hobbs was materialistic, but his materialism was more philosophic than means – oriented.
Lock considered wealth/property the focal point, but instead of stressing on production activity, he
gave importance to legal proprietorship. Hegel and Talkbille, did discuss the psychological effects
of industrial organization on humans, but did not make it the focal point of their theories. Marx and
Engels were the first two philosophers who gave importance to ‘means’ and ‘their ability’ to define
and determine. They described the ‘economic state’ as important that other systems like – political,
social, religious, cultural etc. were influenced and defined and determined by the economic.
This great discovery of Marxian historical materialism brought a revolution of reality into the view–
point of world–history; and with a single blow turned the flow of history. This discovery made history
into a science. Marx in his materialistic definition of history, stated two basics about Indian history.
(i) The means to stay alive like – the production of food, clothes and dwellings and
(ii) to give birth to progeny for which the social system should stay stable.

interpretation of Historical materialism (economic Determinism) of
marx

We can interpret Marx’s Historical Materialism or Economic Determinism by stating thus their main
points :
1. the necessity of materialistic value/elements: Man is the creator of history. He can make history
only when his life and being keep existing. It is necessary for his existence and life that he gets the
convenience of food, clothes and habitation, which Marx calls the necessary materialistic values/
elements.

Did You Know? Marx studied the First Indian Movement for Freedom (1857)
methodically).

2. To gather the materialistic values/elements of food, clothes and dwellings man had to produce.

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