Historical materialism

Historical materialism (or what Marx himself called "the materialist conception of history" - materialistischen Geschichtsauffassung) is a social theory and an approach to the study of history and sociology, normally considered as the intellectual basis of Marxism.

Related Topics:
Marx - Social theory - History - Sociology - Marxism

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Historical materialism looks for the causes of developments and changes in human history in economic, technological, and more broadly, material factors, as well as the clashes of material interests among tribes, social classes and nations.

Related Topics:
Economic - Technological

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It can be contrasted with other interpretations of history (which Marxists might call idealisms) which attribute the causes of historical and social change primarily to politics, philosophy, art, God, or any number of other manifestations of consciousness. It centers on the notion that the ways in which humans live are forever changing, so that even capitalism is a temporary institution that emerged a few centuries ago, and will someday go away.

Related Topics:
Idealism - Politics - Philosophy - Art - God - Capitalism - Institution

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