I may be pardoned the digression; but, as I said, questions which are really analogous re-appear now in connection with the ethical maxims of Marxism. [69] And it would be to the point to draw a comparison between the peasants' rebellions, with which modern Italy has supplied us with another example in recent years, and the political struggles of the German workmen, or the economic struggles of the Trade Unions in England. [70] See in particular P.I. ch. ix., _Moral und Recht, Ewige Wahrheiten_. [71] See, in particular, MARX'S ideas: _Ueber Feuerbach_, in 1845, in the appendix to Engels' book, _Ludwig Feuerbach und der Ausgang der Klassischen deutschen Philosophie_, 2nd ed. Stuttgart, 1895, pp. 59-62; and _cf._ ANDLER in _Revue de metaphysique_, 1897, LABRIOLA, _o.c. passim_ and GENTILE, _l.c._, p. 319. From this point of view (_i.e._ limiting the statement to the theory of knowledge) we might speak like Labriola of historical materialism as a philosophy of practice, _i.e._ as a particular way of conceiving and solving, or rather of over-coming, the problem of thought and of existence. The philosophy of practice has now been designedly studied by Gentile in the volume referred to. [72] Some interpretations would be merely verbal explanations. To some it will appear a very hard statement that socialism aims at abolishing the State. Yet it suffices to consider that the State, among socialists, is synonymous with difference of classes and the existence of governing classes, to understand that as in such a case, we can speak of the _origin_ of the State, so we can speak of its _end_; which does not mean the end of organised society (_cf. Antidühring_, p. 302). The conception of _the way in which capitalist society will come to an end_ demands no little critical working out; on this point the thought of Marx and Engels is not without obscurities and inconsistencies (_cf. Antidühring_, pp. 287 _et seq._ and p. 297). [73] See CH. ANDLER, _Les origines du socialisme d'état en Allemagne_, Paris, Alcan, 1897. Andler promises a book, and is now giving a course of lectures on the _decomposition of Marxism_. _CHAPTER IV._ RECENT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MARXIAN THEORY OF VALUE AND CONTROVERSIES CONCERNING THEM I _Labriola's criticism of method and conclusions of preceeding essays answered: His criticism merely destructive: Tendency of ether thinkers to arrive at like conclusions._