Page 48 - DSOC401_SOCIOLOGICAL_THOUGHT_ENGLISH

Sociological Thought

notes Small industries and business were destroyed because they could not compete with the big
factories. As a result, people involved in cottage industries were absorbed into factories,
workers. In this way, the wealth of society was concentrated in the hands of a few capitalists,
and two clear division took place in society, capitalists and workers, who have been in
constant struggle with each other concercing their well–beings. In this age the exploitation
of worker was worse than other age. Changes took place in the state system, art, morality,
literature and philosophy to suit the capitalist system.
(v) socialist age : Awarenes will came to the working class to end the exploitation of the
capitalist, they will rebel and overthrow the capitalist and their system. In this struggle the
workers will win. They will establish Socialism, and the rule of the working class will start.
The means of production will be owned in community form by the state, who will have
rights over them. Then the exploiter and the exploited will both be abolished, and a classless
society will be established. In this age, a person will work according to his capabilies, and
will avail of goods according to his needs.
The stage of marxian Socialism has come only in Russia, China and East European countries, not
anywhere else. Marx expressed on the economic determination of history the supposition of the end
of capitalism and the coming of equality. He says that in every age there are certain persons who/
have the means of production, while the rest do not. There is always class–struggle between these two
classes, which ends with the coming of socialism and a classless society is established.

self assessment

Fill in the blanks—
1. Before Marx, Hobbs too was ______ but his materialism instead of being about means/
determiners was more philosophical.
2. This great historical discovery of ______, materialism, brought about a real revolution in the
complete view–point of history.
3. For the existence and life of ______ it is important that he should have the necessary facilities
of food, shelter and clothes.

Criticism of the materialistic (economic) definition of history by Marx

The materialistic (economic) definition of history theory presented by Marx can be criticized as
follows :
1. too much and unnecessary stress on economic factors : Marx has considered only economic factors
responsible for the changes in social, political, cultural and educational structures which is heavily
exaggerated. He has ignored the geographical, population and social factor, when all these factors
are responsible in bringing social change.
2. to describe every historical event on the basic of economy is impossible : Marx had defined every
historical event on the basis of economic factors, but this is not correct. Gautam Buddha sacrificing
his princely to up the life of a mendicant; the fall of the Marathas, the Partition of India, Arab–Israeli
War; the self immolation (jawhar) of Padmini etc. these events cannot be defined economically.
3. ingoring the factor of co–incidence : Marx in defining history, has forgotten the factor of co–
incidence.

Task What is historical materialism? Describe briefly.

42 LoVeLY professionaL uniVersitY