Critique of The Notion of Socialism As A Science
The philosophy of science basis of the claim of Marxism, and in the Soviet Union, Marxism-Leninism, to be a science is based its conceptions of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. Although the influence of Marxist thought especially in the social sciences is great, there are no communities of theoretical or applied scientists or technicians based on Marxism. This contrasts with those for disciplines which do have established and credible claims to being theoretical sciences or engineering disciplines, the planning functions of the current communist states notwithstanding.
The most one could say is that socialism, e.g. Marxism, has, at least historically, been a current which finds expression in various scientific disciplines such as mathematical economics, sociology, etc. Socialism and Marxism are thus better described as theoretical frameworks for understanding and analyzing the social, economic and political world.
Read more about this topic: Scientific Socialism
Famous quotes containing the words critique of, critique, notion, socialism and/or science:
“Wagners art is the most sensational self-portrayal and self- critique of German nature that it is possible to conceive.”
—Thomas Mann (18751955)
“In its artless cruelty, Dallas is superior to any intelligent critique that can be made of it. That is why intellectual snobbery meets its match here.”
—Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929)
“This is just a footnote, though a microcosmic one perhaps, to the greater curve
Of the elaboration; it asks no place in it, only insertion hors-texte as the invisible notion of how that day grew
From planisphere to heaven, and what part in it all the I had, the insatiable researcher of learned trivia, bookworm ...”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)
“The socialism of our day has done good service in setting men to thinking how certain civilizing benefits, now only enjoyed by the opulent, can be enjoyed by all.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“We have lost the art of living; and in the most important science of all, the science of daily life, the science of behaviour, we are complete ignoramuses. We have psychology instead.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)