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* {{Citation|author=Mao Zedong|mia=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_17.htm|title=[[Library:On contradiction|On contradiction]]|year=1937|city=[[Yan'an]]}} | * {{Citation|author=Mao Zedong|mia=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_17.htm|title=[[Library:On contradiction|On contradiction]]|year=1937|city=[[Yan'an]]}} | ||
* {{Citation|author=Friedrich Engels|year= | * {{Citation|author=Friedrich Engels|year=1883|title=Dialectics of nature|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1883/don/index.htm}} | ||
* {{Citation|author=[[Nikolai Bukharin]]|year=1925|title=Historical Materialism|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/bukharin/works/1921/histmat/index.htm}} | * {{Citation|author=[[Nikolai Bukharin]]|year=1925|title=Historical Materialism|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/bukharin/works/1921/histmat/index.htm}} | ||
Revision as of 07:08, 19 April 2023
In dialectical materialism, a contradiction is a coexistent diametrical[a] link between (usually two) things. Contradictions are formed when two requirements are met:
- Two things must be diametrically opposed
- And one cannot exist without the other
For examples:
- Saturation and starvation form a contradiction; saturation is diametrically opposed to starvation, as one cannot be saturated and starved at the same time. Starvation also must coexist with saturation, otherwise it would be impossible to starve without the need for saturation.
- In warfare, attack and defence form a contradiction; defence is the diametrical opposite of the attack (rule 1) and there is no need for defence if there is no attack (rule 2).
- Life and death form a contradiction. Life is diametrically opposed to death and death cannot exist without life.
- Void versus phenomena. This plays out in several ways. Darkness and light. Heat and cold. Darkness is the absence of light. Cold is the absence of heat.
Contradictions exist everywhere in the world and in many different domains, and it is the solving of contradictions (which makes new ones appear) that drive change in the general sense of the term, thus dialectics happen.
Mao Zedong talked at length about contradictions and is a good starting place for theory.
Primary and secondary contradictions
Contradictions are separated into primary and secondary categories. Secondary contradictions are dependent on primary ones for their existence or rather, primary contradictions drive secondary contradictions.
Whether one should solve the primary or secondary contradiction first is still a point of debate.
Some think that solving class contradictions for example (moving into communism, a classless society) will also inherently solve several secondary contradictions attached such as racism, homophobia, sexism, selfishness, etc.
For others, it is impossible to solve the primary contradiction without addressing the secondary contradictions. They argue it is simply impossible, for example, to solve class contradictions if sexism and homophobia are not addressed first.
Solving contradictions
A contradiction is solved when it stops existing; i.e. when both rules stop being applicable.
Thus the proletariat will stop existing as a class when the bourgeoisie stops existing. However, in that scenario, one of two things may happen:
- Another contradiction takes its place
- The contradiction is solved for good
In this example, it means that the proletariat may be replaced by another class -- but inevitably, so will the bourgeoisie (much like how serfs and nobles were replaced by capitalist social classes). Thus another contradiction would take place between these two classes. Or classes could stop existing at all, which would usher in a classless era and solve class contradictions for good (since there are no more classes).
Universality
Contradiction is universal and absolute, it is present in the process of development of all things and permeates every process from beginning to end.
— Mao Zedong, On contradiction, The Universality of Contradiction
Particularity
The particularity of contradictions refer to a contradiction that forms the distinct essence of a thing. Mao noted that it is important to study the particular contradictions of a thing to qualitatively distinguish it from other things.[1] Humans study the particular contradiction of an essence to distinguish it from other essences. This leads to common knowledge of a set of essences, which in turn aids in the study of particularities.
Mao and Lenin warned against viewing only part of a contradiction (or one-sidedness), as this leads to misunderstanding the contradiction.[2][3] Mao also warned against superficiality, which is not viewing both the totality and the individuality of a contradiction.[4] The result of applying both superficiality and one-sidedness is subjectivity.[5]
Further Reading
- Mao Zedong (1937). On contradiction. Yan'an. [MIA]
- Friedrich Engels (1883). Dialectics of nature. [MIA]
- Nikolai Bukharin (1925). Historical Materialism. [MIA]
References
- ↑ “But what is especially important and necessary, constituting as it does the foundation of our knowledge of a thing, is to observe what is particular to this form of motion of matter, namely, to observe the qualitative difference between this form of motion and other forms. Only when we have done so can we distinguish between things. Every form of motion contains within itself its own particular contradiction. This particular contradiction constitutes the particular essence which distinguishes one thing from another. It is the internal cause or, as it may be called, the basis for the immense variety of things in the world. … All these forms are interdependent, but in its essence each is different from the others. The particular essence of each form of motion is determined by its own particular contradiction. This holds true not only for nature but also for social and ideological phenomena. Every form of society, every form of ideology, has its own particular contradiction and particular essence.”
Mao Zedong (1937). On contradiction: 'III. The Particularity of Contradiction'. [MIA] - ↑ “Firstly, if we are to have a true knowledge of an object we must look at and examine all its facets, its connections and “mediacies”. That is something we cannot ever hope to achieve completely, but the rule of comprehensiveness is a safeguard against mistakes and rigidity.”
Vladimir Lenin (1921). Once Again On The Trade Unions, The Current Situation and the Mistakes of Trotsky and Buhkarin. [MIA] - ↑ “In studying a problem, we must shun subjectivity, one-sidedness and superficiality. … To be one-sided means not to look at problems all-sidedly… . In a word, it means not to understand the characteristics of both aspects of a contradiction. This is what we mean by looking at a problem one-sidedly. Or it may be called seeing the part but not the whole, seeing the trees but not the forest. That way it is impossible to kind the method for resolving a contradiction, it is impossible to accomplish the tasks of the revolution, to carry out assignments well or to develop inner-Party ideological struggle correctly.”
Mao Zedong (1937). On contradiction: 'III. The Particularity of Contradiction'. [MIA] - ↑ “To be superficial means to consider neither the characteristics of a contradiction in its totality nor the characteristics of each of its aspects; it means to deny the necessity for probing deeply into a thing and minutely studying the characteristics of its contradiction, but instead merely to look from afar and, after glimpsing the rough outline, immediately to try to resolve the contradiction (to answer a question, settle a dispute, handle work, or direct a military operation). …”
Mao Zedong (1937). On contradiction: 'III. The Particularity of Contradiction'. [MIA] - ↑ “To be one-sided and superficial is at the same time to be subjective. For all objective things are actually interconnected and are governed by inner laws, but instead of undertaking the task of reflecting things as they really are some people only look at things one-sidedly or superficially and who know neither their interconnections nor their inner laws, and so their method is subjectivist.”
Mao Zedong (1937). On contradiction: 'III. The Particularity of Contradiction'. [MIA]
Notes
- ↑ Diametrical opposition does not necessarily mean the literal opposite. Diametrical means the complete opposite, at both extremes. For example, the bourgeoisie and proletariat are diametrically opposed (both existing at one extreme end: the bourgeoisie that controls industry and the proletariat that must work this industry), but they are not an antonym to one another.