Marx and Engels, in their Communist Manifesto, critique the concept of idealism. In this sense, idealism is the concept in which the world is understood through the focus of ideas first, and that ideas are, in a sense, what drives history. Marx and Engels disagree with this and believe that idealism is ideology, and that ideology means untrue beliefs that are used to solidify subordination and domination. Instead, these men focus more on materialism, real things; they believe that ideas just hover around, and do not take any legitimate course of action.
 |
| Co-author of the Communist Manifesto |
I completely disagree with this thinking, as ideals are essential
for human progression. New ideas are the
foundations of inventions and innovations- innovations that drive human
progress. An obvious example of this is
the ever increase of and focus on technology in the world today. Technology is used to make the world more
efficient and expand. Machines used to
make automobiles now have decreased the demand for assembly line workers, and
made the process faster and more efficient.
Marx and Engels focus on economy, and assert it as the only thing
that matters- politics and culture are just reflections of economy, their
rational involving the concepts of idealism stem from this concentration. However, these very ideas that Marx and
Engels discredit are the ideas that inspire the invention of the machines and
influence the technology that make the economy more efficient (as shown above
with the automobile example.) I think
that Marx and Engels have it all wrong and contradict themselves with these two
ideals.
Stemming away from idealism is what gets countries in trouble. Having a country that just focuses on the material, on the construction of products and labor in the factories, is what causes countries to fall off. Countries need to, instead, focus on education and the inspiration of ideas and technology into the young- not throw them into a factory and force them to work. The emphasis on math and science classes in school is what prompts engineering, an ever increasing and successful field that focuses on efficiency and innovation. An educated, strong middle class will allow for more upward mobility and a potential prosperous economy. This is why the debate over education is such a prevalent topic today in politics and even the most recent presidential debate.
 |
| "Education= success!"- a major topic in politics |
 |
| Steve Jobs and his iPhone |
The invention or innovation of a product for the betterment of
humanity is essentially how individuals thrive.
If you look at Steve Jobs, or Bill Gates, their ideals and inventions is
what made them their wealth, and have changed the world today. One cannot imagine a world without these inventions.
The world and society needs these young, innovative minds. These minds are what power the world-what
change it, make it more efficient, or a better place all around.
Image Sources: Karl Marx, Education= success, Steve Jobs
I personally think that change in society does come from both idealism (ideas) and also materialism (actual things, not just ideas). I think that in a country, in order to have innovation and change, it is important to not rely on one specific thing, like an idea or an object, but to combine the two. After all, don't materialistic things come from ideas? I agree with you completely when you say countries need to enforce kids going to school and learning how to innovate and think and create ideas, learn, instead of just being thrown in a factory to work. People do become entirely too attached and engrossed in what they do that they literally become their job and they are like machines and nothing else. With a combination of a materialistic society and an idealist society, this can be prevented and one can weigh the other out. Like you mentioned Steve Jobs and his invention. That invention came from an idea, maybe about a material object but still his own idea. I don't think Marx's idea of materialism or the idea of idealism are really either correct. It is important to have both of them to innovate and change society.
ReplyDeleteJonathan,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I couldn't agree more that education is hands down the most important thing in society, I must disagree with your critique of Marx & Engel's views on idealism and ideology. I think that you are allowing the concepts of ideas and ideology to mix.
-An "idea," as defined by Merriam Webster's website, is "a transcendent entity that is a real pattern of which existing things are imperfect representations" or "an entity (as a thought, concept, sensation, or image) actually or potentially present to consciousness."
-"Ideology," as defined by Merriam Webster's website, is "a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture" or "the integrated assertions, theories and aims that constitute a sociopolitical program."
-"Idealism," as defined by Merriam Webster's website, is "the practice of forming ideals or living under their influence."
Having laid those out, I'd like to address the fact that focus on education, innovation and technology has nothing to do with ideology. I think that Marx & Engel's critique of ideology has more to do with its use a tool to control the thoughts of people. The foundation for their critical belief, in my opinion, is ideology as a form of indoctrination. In this sense, education can be used as indoctrination. However, it is by no means necessarily bound to that all the time (education does not need to be part of ideology, just as ideas are not the same as ideology).
In fact, ideology is usually the opposite of education, because it not only allows, but also encourages us to blindly follow without thinking and can even discourage education at all. By subscribing to ideology, people stop looking for true causes behind issues and they stop thinking--they simply live under the ideology's influence, acting in line with it.
“Many of our most serious conflicts are conflicts within ourselves. Those who suppose their judgements are always consistent are unreflective or dogmatic.”
― John Rawls, Justice as Fairness: A Restatement