9 mark questions - socialism Flashcards
(1 cards)
Analyse and explain how socialist thinkers view human nature.
Analyse and explain three ways in which socialists view human nature.
1. Role of capitalism in the corruption of human nature
2. Human nature is not predestined - it is a product of historical and present conditions, based on the economy
3. ‘Social Darwinism’ added a new strand - genetic element now prioritised over conditions
Early socialist thinkers, specifically Marx and Engels, believed that human nature was malleable and responded to its capitalist surroundings by becoming competitive and self-interested. They believed that removing capitalism, humans would become more collaborative and communal, therefore human nature could be improved. This was inspired by the work of Epicurus in Ancient Greece, who argued that happiness required group living alongside creative freedom. Marx and Engels therefore believed that human nature was corrupted through its alienation from the means of production which required ‘selfish egoism’ to succeed. As a result, Marx and Engels argued that due to this corrupting effect, capitalism must be removed immediately through a revolution. However, the later socialist Beatrice Webb agreed with them, believing that while capitalism which caused the possession of wealth which ‘seemed to invariably sterilise genius’ rather than improve mankind, she did not agree with the idea of revolution. This could be blamed on their differing contexts, as while Marx and Engels lived in the autocratic state of Germany, throughout her life Webb had seen increasing government intervention as well as the formation of a Labour party so believed that gradual socialism could be more effective than revolution at preserving human nature, as capitalism could be lived with despite its degrading influence.
Another aspect of socialist thinking believed that human nature was shaped by its surroundings rather than being predestined, like original sin, or genetic. For example, Rosa Luxembourg argued that ‘human nature only develops in the crucible of history and by no means under the urge of an abstract concept of justice’. This borrows characteristics from the liberal, Lockean idea of tabula rasa and Marx’s ideas of being shaped by your surroundings, as well as the more class-based Hegellian belief in human nature being based on socioeconomic conditions. This follows on from Marxist materialism ideas, going against the prevalent Liberal idea that individuals personal context had no bearing on their potential outcomes aside from how hard they work. Luxembourg’s personal context included a childhood in Russian-owned Poland in a Jewish family, possibly influencing her more negative view of human nature, as she was discriminated against under the idea of ‘selfish egoism’ rather than benefitting from it. This belief is more prevalent today, therefore is applied often to government policy such as reducing structural unemployment.
A third socialist idea surrounding human nature that developed in the late 19th century was the concept of ‘social Darwinism’, which later evolved into eugenics. It was originally created by Liberal thinker Herbert Spencer and was adopted by Socialist thinkers such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She wrote in her book feminist Herland despite not being a politically writer, that those who could not adapt to a Communist society, such as perverts and criminals, should be sterilised to create a utopian society so that these defects of character could not be passed on. This is a strand of Communist thinking that was created due to the idealistic Utopian ideal that Communism strove for, however as a result it prioritises what they believed to be the genetic element of criminality rather than the social or structural beliefs of previous socialists. This is from the context of increased scientific thinking, especially the Theory of Evolution, being misapplied to social sciences. In the modern day, eugenics is viewed as reprehensible especially after its application in World War 2 concentration camps.
