Question

Throw light on Marx’s dialectical materialism: principle and relevance.

Hint:

Marx: "It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but their social being that determines their consciousness."

Answer 1

Dialectical Materialism is the philosophical foundation of Marxism.
Principle: It combines Hegel's dialectical method with Materialism. Marx argued that the fundamental reality is Matter, not the "Idea".
Consciousness is merely a reflection or product of material conditions.
The "Dialectic" in Marx implies that matter and society evolve through internal contradictions (class struggle) rather than the unfolding of a spirit.
Key Laws: It operates on laws like the transformation of quantity into quality, the interpenetration of opposites, and the negation of the negation.
Relevance: It provides a framework for understanding history (Historical Materialism) as a struggle between economic classes (e.g., Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat).
It serves as a tool for revolutionary change, predicting the eventual collapse of capitalism and the rise of socialism/communism.