Социальные нормы и революция

UNIT

Pretext activities:

1. What do you understand by the word “society” in its broad and narrow sense?

2. Why can a society be characterized as a system?

3. What is hatred? What is the social danger of group hatred?

4. Tell about the role of the popular masses as creators of history using examples you know.

1. Read and translate the text:

KARL MARX

Karl Heinrich Marx (1818-1883) was born on May 5, 1818 in Trier, son of a Jewish lawyer, who converted to Christianity in 1824. After studying law at University of Bohn, Marx left for the University of Berlin in 1836, where he associated with members of the radical Young Hegelian movement and switched the study of law to philosophy. In 1841 he received his doctorate but then abandoned his academic career in philosophy and turned his talents to journalism. In 1844Marx began collaborating with Friedrich Engels, the rebellious and self-educated son of a textile manufacturing family. It was Engels who introduced Marx to both the study of political economy and the working movement.

Marx’s manuscripts on political economy exhibit a brilliant intelligence, trained in Hegelian philosophy but influenced by Enlightenment materialism, beginning to articulate radical criticisms both of the capitalist social order and of its theoretical self-understanding in the works of economists such as Adam Smith and James Mill.

Marx’s interest in philosophical materialism is evident. But as a philosopher Marx remained in the tradition of Hegelian idealism which he sought to marry with Enlightenment materialism. From both traditions he derived the idea that philosophy must both comprehend itself historically and engage itself practically in the progressive struggle of humanity. German idealism was concerned with the problems of human selfhood, the nature of fulfilling human life, and with people’s sense of meaning, self-worth, and relatedness to their natural and cultural environment.

Marx also offered the theory of society and history where he posited socially productive activity as the fundamental determinant of social organization and historical change. For the materialist conception of history, the fundamental element determining social organization is the productive powers of a society, and the fundamental determinant of history is the tendency of these powers to grow. Whether historical materialism is a “technological theory of history” depends on how broadly or narrowly we take the crucial idea of “productive powers”. Marx indicates, however, that under this heading he understands not only the arsenal of tools and means of production at people’s disposal, along with the human skills required to employ them, but also the theoretical knowledge of nature involved in production and even forms of human cooperation, insofar as they play a direct role in productive techniques and the satisfaction of human needs.

Productive powers at a given stage of development determine the nature of human laboring activity because labor consists in the exercise of those powers. Productive powers favor certain “social relations of production”, systems of social roles relating to control of the production process and the disposition of its fruits. These relations are the basis of institutions of property. Taken together, the system of social relations of production constitutes what Marx calls “economic structure of society” characteristic of a given “mode of production”. Marx understands history as divided into periods, specifically as a series of distinct modes of production, each with its own characteristic economic structure, social relations of production, and consequent forms of property, and distribution of social power.

The material theory treats political, legal, and other such institutions as a “superstructure” erected on this economic base. Political institutions reflect the dominant relations of economic power and property, because their function is to enforce those relations. The dominant ideas, conceptions and intellectual products in a society are erected on the same economic basis. Like political institutions, they reflect and tend to reinforce the dominant economic structure in the society.

Marx’s theory of historical change depends on the fact that the productive powers of society have a tendency to grow over time. As they grow, they alter their relation to dominant relations of production or the economic structure of society. New powers come to correspond to new relations of production, which would facilitate their social employment or their future expansion. When the powers and relations of production cease to correspond and come into conflict, this brings about a change in the economic structure of society, as new relations replace old ones. The old or outdated mode of production is then replaced by a new mode of production. An epoch in which such changes are occurring is an epoch of social revolution.

The materialist conception of history is simultaneously a summary of empirical results, a methodological program for empirical research, and a device for projecting the historical future. In Capital Marx’s theory both depends on and illustrates the materialist conception of history. It begins with an abstract analysis of capitalist production, grounded on the idea of a product of labor as an exchangeable commodity. Then it works through the determinant variants of commodity production found in modern capitalism, by developing the categories of exchange value, money, capital, wage labor and surplus value.

Marx always saw his theoretical activity as vitally connected to the practical struggle of the working class for universal human emancipation. He fought for the acceptance of his ideas within the working class movement because he thought that the success of the working class movement was dependent on its liberating itself from ideological confusions and achieving a correct scientific understanding of the social and historical process in which it is involved. In line with a radical tradition within the modern Enlightenment, Marx was convinced that humanity was on the verge of a radically new way of life, which would be brought about when the scientific understanding achieved by philosophers or intellectuals joins forces with a democratic mass movement.

2. Answer the following questions:

1. What sciences did Marx specialize in?

2. Why did he abandon his academic career?

3. What movement did he associate with?

4. Who was Marx’s collaborator?

5. What famous economists did Marx criticize in his early works?

6. What philosophical traditions were used by Marx in his works?

7. What were the main ideas of German idealism?

8. What are the main statements of the theory of society and history offered by Marx?

9. What determines the nature of human laboring activity at a given stage?

10. How are political, legal and other such institutions treated in the materialist theory?

11. What can bring about a change in the economic structure of society?

12. What are the main ideas expressed by Marx in “Capital”?

13. In what way did Marx see his theoretical activity as vitally connected to the practical struggle of the working class?

3. Give English equivalents:

Оставить научную карьеру; начать сотрудничество; влияние материализма эпохи Просвещения; выражает радикальную критику капиталистического строя; принимать практическое участие в прогрессивной борьбе человечества; чувство собственного достоинства; преодолеть чувство само отчуждения; производительные силы общества; основополагающая (решающая) идея; средства производства, находящиеся в распоряжении людей; облегчать применение разделения труда в большой степени; распределение сил в обществе

4. Fill in prepositions:

1. He converted ___ Christianity ___ the age ___ 30.

2. Marx left ___ Berlin ___ 1836 where he associated ___ Hegelian movement and switched ___ philosophy.

3. ___ 1844 Marx began collaborating ___ Engels.

4. Marx’s works exhibit a brilliant intelligence, trained ___ Hegelian philosophy but influenced ___ Enlightenment materialism.

5. Philosophy must engage itself ___ the progressive struggle ___ humanity.

6. Historical materialism depends ___ how broadly or narrowly we take the idea ___ “productive powers”.

7. Conflict ___ the powers and relations ___ production brings ___ a change ___ the economic structure ___ society.

8. The success of the working class movement was dependent ___ its liberating itself ___ ideological confusions and achieving a correct scientific understanding ___ the social and historical process ___ which it is involved.

9. Marx was convinced that humanity was ___ the verge ___ a radically new way ___life, which would be brought ___ when the scientific understanding achieved ___ philosophers or intellectuals joins forces ___ a democratic mass movement.

10. Marx fought ___ the acceptance ___ his ideas ___ the working class movement.

5. Give synonyms and opposites:

The word	Synonym	Opposite
Exhibit (v)
Influenced (adv)
Comprehend (v)
Fundamental (adj)
Grow (v)
Broadly (adv)
Rival (adj)
Erect (v)
Production (n)
Conception (n)
Modern (adj)
Profit (n)
Downfall (n)

6. Give all possible derivatives:

to engage to depend social to employ to change

to exist disposition to correspond satisfaction distribution

7. Match the words with their definitions:

1. to articulate a) to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem

2. to facilitate b) to do a particular job or have a particular purpose; to

achieve smth you wanted to do

3. to seek c) to make it possible or easier for smth to happen

4. humanity d) to express thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively

5. fulfill e) to use your power, rights or influence

6. self-worth f) smth that can be bought or sold; smth that is useful or

necessary

7. environment g) to try to find smth or smb that you need in your life

8. overcome h) all the people who are living in the world

9. distinct I) to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people

10. consequent j) the place in which people live and work, including all

physical conditions that affect them; the natural world

11. to enforce k) definite and obvious

12. commodity l) happening as a result of smth

13. to exercise m) the feeling that you are as important as other people and you

deserve to be respected and treated well

8. Translate into English:

1. Когда производительные силы и отношения перестают согласовываться, они вступают в конфликт и приводят к изменению экономической структуры общества.

2. Устаревшие способы производства заменяются на новые в эпохи социальных революций.

3. Маркс говорил о новых производительных силах, как об оружии, используемом революционным классом в борьбе против господствующего класса.

4. Теория Маркса в «Капитале» начинается с абстрактного анализа капиталистического способа производства, основанного на понятии труда как предмета потребления, годного для обмена.

5. Немецкий идеализм был озабочен проблемами личности, чувством собственного достоинства человека и его родственности с окружающей природой и культурой.

6. В теории Маркса социальные производительные силы воспринимаются как определяющие социальной организации.

7. Производительные силы на определенной стадии развития определяют природу трудовой деятельности человека.

8. Производительные силы благоприятствуют определенным «социальным отношениям производства», системам социальных ролей, относящихся к производственному процессу и распределяющих его плоды.

9. Маркс был убежден, что человечество находится на грани нового образа жизни.

10. Рабочий класс зависит от своего освобождения от идеологической путаницы и достижения научного понимания социального и исторического процесса, в котором он участвует.

9. Complete the text with the words and word combinations from the box:

Notion; previous historical pattern; violent alterations; firmly established; hinder; favoured; vulnerable; tenuous or flimsy; departure from; put forward; roots; accept the inequities of power; advancement of mankind; in one separate country; upsetting the stability; endure the threat of; placed him in the forefront; implies; upheavals; inherent; endeavour; according to; admitted the importance of; beliefs

Revolution is (понятие), that (включает в себя) the idea of a major sudden and (насильственных перемен) in different spheres of society. (В соответствии с) Aristotelian theory of cyclical (перемен) where this idea found its (корни), revolution means radical (отход от предыдущей модели исторического развития). Plato believed that if a society possesses (твердо установленный) code of (верований) it could (препятствовать) the revolution. Aristotle (высказывал мысль о том) that a society (уязвимо для) revolution if its basic value system is (хрупкая). During the Middle Ages the church required that people should (смиряться с несправедливостью) instead of (разрушать стабильность) of a society. N.Machiavelli (признавал важность) creating a state that could (выдержать угрозу) of revolution. This very acceptance of the idea of change (выдвинуло его в первые ряды) of modern revolutionary thought. Milton believed that revolutionary (перевороты) were society’s (присущей обществу способностью) to realize its potential. Hegel thought that revolution was (воплощение человеческой судьбы). And Marx considered it the culmination of (устремлений) of the proletariat. Lenin (выдвинул) and implemented the idea of carrying out of socialist revolution (в отдельно взятой стране).

9. Render the text into English:

Социальные нормы и революция

Слово «норма» латинского происхождения и означает буквально: руководящее начало, правило, образец. Нормы вырабатывает общество, социальные группы, которые входят в него. Социальные нормы направляют поведение, позволяют его контролировать, регулировать и оценивать. Они ориентируют человека в вопросах: что следует делать? Что можно делать? Чего делать нельзя? Как нужно себя вести? С помощью норм функционирование людей, групп, всего общества приобретает упорядоченный характер. Воспринимая и следуя им, человек включается в систему общественных отношений, получает возможность взаимодействовать с другими людьми, с различными организациями, с обществом в целом.

Существующие в обществе нормы можно представить в ряде их разновидностей. Это, прежде всего, обычаи и традиции. Далее, правовые нормы, закрепленные в законах. Затем моральные нормы, несущие в основном оценочную нагрузку (хорошо - плохо, благородно - подло). Существуют еще и эстетические нормы, политические нормы, религиозные нормы. Если морально-нравственные и религиозные нормы приходят в упадок, а правовые нормы не выполняют свои функции, общество становится уязвимым для революционных потрясений и не может противостоять им.

Идея революции развивалась, и отношение к этому явлению и его последствиям радикально менялось с течением времени. В 19-м веке она представлялась пределом человеческим устремлений. Революцию считали присущей обществу способностью, которая помогает ему осознать свои возможности и, при благополучном завершении ее, осуществить предназначение человечества. В конце 19-го века идея построения бесклассового общества стала главным направлением развития философской революционной мысли. Карл Маркс выступал за то, что пролетариат должен захватить средства производства и установить контроль над экономикой. После достижения этой высшей цели отпадает необходимость в дальнейших политических переменах.

10.Pair-work and points for discussions:

1. Marx said: “Take a certain stage of production development, exchange and consumption and you will have a certain social order, family and classes structure – I mean a certain society”. Explain this statement. Relations among which spheres of social life can be traced in it?

2. Speak on the topic: “Transformation of the idea of revolution in the minds of philosophers throughout human history”.

3. What political parties, which have been presented in the course of national and world history, do you know? Characterize the activities of any of them.

4. Imagine You are spokespersons of two different parties. You are running in the elections and have to present the programmes of your parties for the future actions in case you are elected. Articulate your programmes in turn, challenging each other.

5. Marx put correlation between the morals of an individual and his/her social status in the following way: “A Republican has somewhat other consciousness than a Royalist, a wealthy person has somewhat different from a poor one, an intellectual has a different consciousness from the one who is unable to think.” Do you agree with this statement? Ground your point of view.

11. Write an essay on one of the following topics:

1. Oligarchic tendencies in advanced political systems.

2. The contemporary political systems based on constitutionalism and democracy.

3. Would you like to be the governor of the Kaliningrad Region?

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