Dialectical materialism is a philosophy developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that holds matter as the only reality and ideas as products of material practices. It views history and society as determined by the means of production rather than ideas. Dialectical materialism uses a dialectic method to understand how contradictions within social systems cause them to evolve through qualitative changes. It aims to scientifically explain reality through analyzing the material conditions of human societies.

1. Dialectical Materialism
(Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels)
Prepared by Man Bdr Shahi
(Nepal)

2. Dialectical Materialism
 Definition : only matter/stuff exists, mind/ideas/consciousness are
not “real”
 Dialectical materialism is a philosophy of science and nature, based
on the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, and developed
in Europe
 In Marx, it’s opposed to the idealism of Hegel, the dominant
philosopher at the time.
 Idealism holds that the ultimate reality depends on the mind.
 Hegel – Zeitgeist :The spirit (Geist) of the time (Zeit.)History flows
from changes in the dominant ideas of an age.
 Marx is said to have “stood Hegel on his head”

3.  Historical Materialism (HM): a methodological approach to the study
of human societies and their development over time.
 In simplified form, Dialectical Materialism states that ideas and thoughts
of human changes in a dialectical process due to the movement and
existence of the matter.
 Dialectical Materialism is not only philosophy but also a complete way
of thinking to explain the reality.
 HM looks for the causes of developments and changes in human society
in the means by which humans collectively produce the necessities of
life.
 Social classes and the relationship, along with the political structures and
ways of thinking are founded in society and reflect contemporary
economic activity.

4. Dialectic

5. Dialectic
 Thesis – Antithesis - Synthesis
 Hegelian dialectic is about the evolution of ideas.
 Marxian dialectic is about the evolution of social
organization

6. Characteristics of DM
 Dynamism: Matter in motion. Nothing is fixed and permanent
 Changeability: Everything consists of opposing forces/sides
or contradictions
 Integrate Whole: Balances shift and sometimes one
overcomes other (quantitative change leads to qualitative
change).
 Unity of Opposite: Result is new reality with new internal
contradictions (Pole of Magnetic)
 Theory of Inner Contradiction: Social struggle

7. MARX’S VIEWS
 He was a materialist – to understand society, we have to
understand how it organizes production
 Forces of Production – land, technology, skills, knowledge,
etc.
 Social Relations of Production – who controls the forces of
production, and how