Psychology Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Historical materialism: Historical materialism, developed by Karl Marx, is a theory that societal development is driven by material economic conditions rather than ideas. It emphasizes the role of class struggles and changes in modes of production (e.g., feudalism to capitalism) in shaping history, asserting that economic base influences social, political, and ideological superstructures. See also Materialism._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Ludwig von Mises on Historical Materialism - Dictionary of Arguments
Rothbard II 373 Historical materialism/Mises/Rothbard: We may summarize the Marxian doctrine in this way: In the beginning there are the 'material productive forces', i.e., the technological equipment of human productive efforts, the tools and machines. >Historical Materialism/Marx. Mises: No question concerning their origin is permitted; they are, that is all; we must assume that they are dropped from heaven.(1) Rothbard: And, we may add, any changes in that technology must therefore be dropped from heaven as well. Rothbard II 374 Furthermore, as von Mises also demonstrated, consciousness, rather than matter, is predominant in technology. Mises: A technological invention is not something material. It is the product of a mental process, of reasoning and conceiving new ideas. The tools and machines may be called material, but the operation of the mind which created them is certainly spiritual. Marxian materialism does not trace back 'superstructural' and 'ideological' phenomena to 'material' roots. It explains these phenomena as caused by an essentially mental process, viz. invention. (2) Rothbard: Machines are embodied ideas. In addition, technological processes do not only require inventions. They must be brought forth from the invention stage and be embodied in concrete machines and processes. But that requires savings and capital investment as well as invention. But, granting this fact, then the 'relations of production', the legal and property rights system in a society, help determine whether or not saving and investment will be encouraged and discouraged. Once again, the proper causal path isfrom ideas, principles, and the legal and property rights 'superstructure' (Überbau) to the alleged 'base'. Rothbard: Similarly, machines will not be invested in, unless there is a division of labour of suffcient extent in a society. Once again, the social relations, the cooperative division of labour and exchange in society, determine the extent and development of technology, and not the other way round.(3) >Relations of production/Marx, >Technology/Marx, >Historical Materialism/Marx. 1. Ludwig von Mises, Theory and History (1957, Auburn, Ala.: Mises Institute, 1985), pp. 111-2. 2. Ibid. pp. 109-110 3. In the Poverty of Philosophy, Marx angrily denounced Proudhon for making this very point, that division of labour precedes machines._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
EconMises I Ludwig von Mises Die Gemeinwirtschaft Jena 1922 Rothbard II Murray N. Rothbard Classical Economics. An Austrian Perspective on the History of Economic Thought. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Cheltenham 1995 Rothbard III Murray N. Rothbard Man, Economy and State with Power and Market. Study Edition Auburn, Alabama 1962, 1970, 2009 Rothbard IV Murray N. Rothbard The Essential von Mises Auburn, Alabama 1988 Rothbard V Murray N. Rothbard Power and Market: Government and the Economy Kansas City 1977 |
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> Counter arguments against Mises
> Counter arguments in relation to Historical Materialism
