At 16:04 10/12/99 GMT, Russ wrote:
>
>Lew writes:
>
>>Whether Engels turned this materialist methodology into a metaphysics
>>(as I believe) or not, the issue now is one of political practice. In
>>what way does "dialectical materialism" contribute to the struggle for
>>socialism?
>
>It hinders the struggle by turning Marx into a metaphysician.
Eh?
Let's take an example. This morning "Science" announces that a group of
researchers believe they have found the approximately 300 genes that are
indispensible for life in a bacterium. They now plan to assemble these
genes artificially and see if they have created life.
This is a fine example of dialectical materialism, dialectical because
everything is connected to everything else, and because quantitative
changes lead to qualitative ones at certain times.
The researchers have proposed a debate because churches are disturbed.
The bad reason why churches are disturbed is because they have an idealist
view of the sanctity of Life which separates it from the material universe.
The good reason why the churches are disturbed is that they represent
conservative alarm at the developments of science and technology and a
strong feeling that these must be brought under social control. This
challenges the private ownership of the means of production.
Only a dialectical materialist approach to this latest scientific discovery
can help progressive working people take a relevant political stand.
>Off on my travels and I await the explanations, hope all is resolved on my
>return.
>(fat chance)
>
>Russ
Damn.
Chris Burford
London
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