The proletarian class struggle existed before Marx for it is the
offspring of capitalist exploitation. It was nothing more than natural
that the workers, being exploited, should think about and demand
another system of society where exploitation would be abolished. But
all they could do was to hope and dream about it. They were not sure
of its coming to pass. Marx gave to the labor movement and Socialism a
theoretical foundation. His social theory showed that social systems
were in a continuous flow wherein capitalism was only a temporary
form. His studies of capitalism showed that owing to the continuous
development of perfection of technique, capitalism must necessarily
develop to Socialism. This new system of production can only be
established by the proletarians struggling against the capitalists,
whose interest it is to maintain the old system of production.
Socialism is therefore the fruit and aim of the proletarian class
struggle.
Thanks to Marx, the proletarian class struggle took on an entirely
different form. Marxism became a weapon in the proletarian hands;
in place of vague hopes he gave a positive aim, and in teaching a
clear recognition of the social development he gave strength to the
proletarian and at the same time he created the foundation for the
correct tactics to be pursued. It is from Marxism that the workingmen
can prove the transitoriness of capitalism and the necessity and
certainty of their victory. At the same time Marxism has done away with
the old utopian views that Socialism would be brought about by the
intelligence and good will of some judicious men; as if Socialism were
a demand for justice and morality; as if the object were to establish
an infallible and perfect society. Justice and morality change with
the productive system, and every class has different conceptions of
them. Socialism can only be gained by the class whose interest lies in
Socialism, and it is not a question about a perfect social system, but
a change in the methods of production leading to a higher step, i. e.,
to social production.
Because the Marxian theory of social development is indispensable to
the proletarians in their struggle, they, the proletarians, try to
make it a part of their inner self; it dominates their thoughts, their
feelings, their entire conception of the world. Because Marxism is the
theory of social development, in the midst of which we stand, therefore
Marxism itself stands as the central point of the great mental
struggles that accompany our economic revolution.
IV. DARWINISM AND THE CLASS STRUGGLE.
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