Scientific Socialism and How far is it scientific?

Thus, in a given society, the authority of man over man is inversely proportional to the stage of intellectual development which that society has reached; and the probable duration of that authority can be calculated from the more or less general desire for a true government, — that is, for a scientific government. And just as the right of force and the right of artifice retreat before the steady advance of justice, and must finally be extinguished in equality, so the sovereignty of the will yields to the sovereignty of the reason, and must at last be lost in scientific socialism. (Proudhon:1876)

Scientific Socialism, also known as Marxian Socialism or just Marxism, is a concept where socialism is upon an idea that a particular economic theory that economical relations is the basis upon which all other social and political alignments in society are based and the conflict of interests between the workers and the ruling class in a capitalist society, i.e.; Class Struggle, determine the achievement of the ultimate goal of Socialism, i.e. absence of Private Property, State-Controlled Means of Production (Land, Capital, Industries), No income inequality, et al. Scientific Socialism can also be seen, as a distinctive approach to the analysis of society, especially in the terms of historical processes of change, which has had a dramatic impact on numerous fields of study in the social sciences. There is hardly any area of socioeconomic, political and cultural investigation that has not been scrutinized by the techniques of Marxist analysis. In particular this has involved historical materialist methodology rooted in the belief that the structure of society and human relations in all their forms are the product of material conditions and circumstances rather than of ideas, thoughts and consciousness. This raises the problem of determinism in Scientific Socialism, since an emphasis on material forces of economic productions and class relations inevitably suggests that these are the key factors which have shaped and which continues to shape the process of historical change. In particular these systems of thought, including political belief systems and cultural products such as Art and Literature are basically expressions of class interests and socioeconomic worldviews of certain distinctive groups in society. Thus, the Socialist analysis of Capitalist societies focuses attention on issues of power and domination from the perspective not only of overt political supremacy but also through supremacy gained from domination in the class structure and in the realms of ideas, values and cultural norms.

SOCIALISM AS A SCIENCE

Marxists expedited to unfold why human society changes, and what changes are in
waiting for the People of the World (Internationalism; one of the characteristics of
Marxists). The intensive study which they conducted brought them to an inevitable
result – like the changes in Nature – are not unanticipated, but keenly adhere to
certain laws; bringing them to a close similarity with Natural Sciences, which is
incidentally governed, by laws of nature. This fact makes it possible to work out a
scientific concept-based theory, based on the experience of man. Marxists or
Scientific Socialists took the instance of Karl Marx himself, learning from his
experiences theorizing Socialism in the British Capitalist Society, they believed that
Economic Theories (Determinism) cannot be parted with Socio-Historical Truths;
which Marx himself believed in. the question of Thrifts and wages can be classified
and understood as solely economic problems but the realist student who studies about
the reality of peoples’ lives, will be of the opinion that the workers and their patrons
should be given due emphasis in this question; this ushers a study of their historical
background during which they are living currently.
The result of the scientific approach to the study of society is knowledge that can be
used to change society, just as all scientific knowledge can be used to change the
external world. But it also makes clear that the general laws which govern the
movement of society are of the same pattern as the laws of the external world. These
laws which hold good universally, both for men and things, make up what may be
called the Marxist philosophy or view of the world. (Burns:1939)

THE EXTENT OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIALISM: HOW FAR IT IS SCIENTIFIC?

The ceaseless clash of contradictions which formed the foundation of economic life in the middle of the nineteenth century was bound to find theoretical expression, especially from members of those classes victimized by those contradictory forces and which had an interest in changing the direction of society. In the works of Karl Marx and of Frederick Engels the interests of the working class found their best expression. In their life activities they symbolize the best of German philosophy, French politics, and British economics, synthesizing all three elements to bring forth “Scientific Socialism.” (Chapter XVII; pp.1) Scientific Socialism relies on the Science of Politics, Logic and Economics. In the study of Logic or Philosophy, Marx borrowed the theory of dialectics from Hegel, expunging his idealist theory. As far as Economics was concerned, Marx theorized upon the conception of value, as labor and subsequently made out a theory of surplus value and the laws governing the accumulation of capital, examining the structure and functioning of the capitalist system in 19th Century Britain. With regard to Politics, Marx and Engels held the conception of class struggle which was the Clarion Call for the contemporary working class, and evolved them into a thesis forming a new Socialist Society, through the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. The great contribution of Marxism was to develop scientific socialist theory and to introduce it into the working-class movement. Marx and Engels based socialism on a scientific understanding of the laws of social development, of the class struggle. And so, they were able to show how socialism was to be achieved, and to arm the working class with knowledge of its historical mission. (Conforth, 1954, pp.9)

CONCLUSION

To Conclude, Scientific Socialism was both a method and a body of scientific conclusions, later becoming both a theory and a practice. Just as it is clearly unimaginable to separate program from strategy and tactics, therefore as a matter of fact, it is unthinkable to dissect the philosophical from the political and economic. They are all tied up together by life’s materialism. The Marxist analysis of Capitalism and the conditions under which capitalism enters into a period of economic crises that eventually lead to social and political revolution is exceedingly complex and essentially economic in its orientation. As capitalism has continued to develop and change since the death of Marx and Engels, numerous Marxist thinkers like Lenin, have added important theoretical dimensions.



Works Cited

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