Marx’s theory of historical materialism seeks to explain human history and development on the basis of the material conditions underlying all human existence. For Marx, the most important of all human activities is the activity of production by means of labor.
Hereof, what are the main features of historical materialism?
Historical materialism asserts that the progress of views and institutions is determined by the material conditions of social life. According to Marx and Engels, matter can never act as a factor of social progress. Matter or material life is the primary thing.
Also, what is Marx’s theory of historical materialism?
Marx’s theory of Historical Materialism states that all objects, whether living or inanimate are subject to continuous change. The rate of this change is determined by the laws of dialectics. Marx says that new developments of productive forces of society came in conflict with existing relations of production.
What is meant by historical materialism?
Definition of historical materialism
: the Marxist theory of history and society that holds that ideas and social institutions develop only as the superstructure of a material economic base — compare dialectical materialism.
What is the importance of historical materialism?
The basic premise of historical materialism is that the ultimate source of human development is the development of the productive forces. This is a most important conclusion because this alone can permit us to arrive at a scientific conception of history.