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Materialism and the Dialectical Method
A very readable explanation of dialectical materialism in 122 pages. This is the original edition of the book, before revisionist editorial changes.
122 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1953
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445 people want to read
About the author
Maurice Cornforth
35 books18 followersa.k.a. Maurice Campbell Cornforth
Maurice Campbell Cornforth (28 October 1909 – 31 December 1980) was a British Marxist philosopher. When he began his career in philosophy in the early 1930s, he was a follower of Wittgenstein, writing in the then current style of analytic philosophy. He later became a leading ideologist of the Communist Party of Great Britain.
He is noted for his attack on the aesthetic theories of Christopher Caudwell, and for his later partial engagement with the linguistic philosophy of Oxford origin of the 1940s and 1960s. He also wrote a defence of Marxism against Karl Popper, whose thought he heavily criticized.
His In Defense of Philosophy attacks, in their relationship to science, empiricist philosophies of many kinds, such as those of Rudolf Carnap (linguistic analysis) and William James (pragmatism), on the "materialist" grounds that they divorce science and scientific investigation from the search for truer understanding of the really existing universe. In this book there is a combination of Marxism with deep insights into the interrelations of the various sciences and the philosophical conundrums produced by the empiricist attempt to reduce science to the collection and correlation of data. Both the insights are based on the theory of the primacy of physical work and tools (thus, "materialism") in the development of specifically human traits such as language, abstract thought, and social organization, and the essential role of the external world in the increasingly complex development of forms of life. These latter ideas are remarkably consistent with the most current evolutionary thinking in biology and anthropology.
His multi-volume book entitled "Dialectical Materialism" was originally published in 1953 by the International Publishers, Co., INC. The first U.S. edition of this work was printed in 1971. The text originated from lectures that Cornforth received funding for from the London District Committee of the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1950. The first volume, "Materialism and the Dialectical Method" provides a good introduction to several important sociological principles; idealism, metaphysics, materialism, mechanical materialism, and dialectical materialism, in addition to Marxist philosophy. The other volumes of this text are entitled as follows, Volume Two Historical Materialism, Volume Three Theory of Knowledge."
Maurice Campbell Cornforth (28 October 1909 – 31 December 1980) was a British Marxist philosopher. When he began his career in philosophy in the early 1930s, he was a follower of Wittgenstein, writing in the then current style of analytic philosophy. He later became a leading ideologist of the Communist Party of Great Britain.
He is noted for his attack on the aesthetic theories of Christopher Caudwell, and for his later partial engagement with the linguistic philosophy of Oxford origin of the 1940s and 1960s. He also wrote a defence of Marxism against Karl Popper, whose thought he heavily criticized.
His In Defense of Philosophy attacks, in their relationship to science, empiricist philosophies of many kinds, such as those of Rudolf Carnap (linguistic analysis) and William James (pragmatism), on the "materialist" grounds that they divorce science and scientific investigation from the search for truer understanding of the really existing universe. In this book there is a combination of Marxism with deep insights into the interrelations of the various sciences and the philosophical conundrums produced by the empiricist attempt to reduce science to the collection and correlation of data. Both the insights are based on the theory of the primacy of physical work and tools (thus, "materialism") in the development of specifically human traits such as language, abstract thought, and social organization, and the essential role of the external world in the increasingly complex development of forms of life. These latter ideas are remarkably consistent with the most current evolutionary thinking in biology and anthropology.
His multi-volume book entitled "Dialectical Materialism" was originally published in 1953 by the International Publishers, Co., INC. The first U.S. edition of this work was printed in 1971. The text originated from lectures that Cornforth received funding for from the London District Committee of the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1950. The first volume, "Materialism and the Dialectical Method" provides a good introduction to several important sociological principles; idealism, metaphysics, materialism, mechanical materialism, and dialectical materialism, in addition to Marxist philosophy. The other volumes of this text are entitled as follows, Volume Two Historical Materialism, Volume Three Theory of Knowledge."
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 5, 2015
Originally given as lectures for British Communist Party members in 1950, this little book is mainly interesting as a document of the Stalinist Orthodoxy. It starts mildly interestingly, but soon deteriorates into awkward legitimation of dialectics as a 'natural' science. If the quotations from Engel's questionable Dialectics of Nature, Lenin's equally questionable Materialism and Empirio-Criticism--not to mention multiple references to Stalin's Dialectical and Historical Materialism--are not enough to put you off, then perhaps the reference to Lysenko as the discoverer of proper laws of nature does the trick. Should have read this before buying the other two installments.
January 7, 2020
كتاب مهم جداً ، بل ضروري ، لكل ماركسي او مهتم بالماركسية ، كتاب رائع وسهل وعميق وموجز ، هنا تفهم جوهر النظرية الماركسية بعيداً عن تعقيدات الرفاق وغموضهم.
August 26, 2021
Clear and concise introduction to Marxism
August 10, 2022
overall really good, just some outdate ideas about sciences (makes sense as it was published in 1953)
October 17, 2024
I was expecting way too much from this work. I personally wouldn't recommend this as an introduction.
It absolutely butchers what Idealism is which just adds to confusion as to what "idealism" even means. Idealism, especially the more serious strands, are not the "subjective Idealism" or "religious" systems that Cornforth disparages in the first chapters; in fact, one could argue that the Idealism after Kant basically goes too far and basically negates subjectivity (be that of "God" or of individuals as they all fall into the development of the concept).
The idea of what "Metaphysics" also is woefully left unexplored as well, it has also been a source of confusion for a lot of people since the typical Marxist usage of the term isa little distinct from how other schools of philosophy use it.
At least the newer editions did some editing and self-criticism and point out that Lysenko was wrong since those statements aged poorly lol
Lots of stuff that's not particularly new or exciting. You might as well read the O.G works by Hegel, Marx, Engels, Lenin, Mao, etc.
It absolutely butchers what Idealism is which just adds to confusion as to what "idealism" even means. Idealism, especially the more serious strands, are not the "subjective Idealism" or "religious" systems that Cornforth disparages in the first chapters; in fact, one could argue that the Idealism after Kant basically goes too far and basically negates subjectivity (be that of "God" or of individuals as they all fall into the development of the concept).
The idea of what "Metaphysics" also is woefully left unexplored as well, it has also been a source of confusion for a lot of people since the typical Marxist usage of the term isa little distinct from how other schools of philosophy use it.
At least the newer editions did some editing and self-criticism and point out that Lysenko was wrong since those statements aged poorly lol
Lots of stuff that's not particularly new or exciting. You might as well read the O.G works by Hegel, Marx, Engels, Lenin, Mao, etc.
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July 7, 2022feeling a little dialectical rn perhaps a bit materialistic
July 24, 2025
Very good matieral to understand dialectical materialism.
December 5, 2024
Great introductory work for those who want to learn more about materialism and Marxist dialectics. Part 1 starts by Cornforth drawing a sketch of what must be the proletariat's philosophy, i.e dialectical materialism. He then contrasts idealism with materialism, and subsequently a distinction between mechanistic materialism and dialectical materialism. Part 2 contrasts dialectics with metaphysics and discusses the primary intricacies of dialectics. If you are a beginner and struggle to understand Marxist philosophy, this book is incredible.
June 24, 2021
accessible and interesting introduction to Materialism and the Dialectical Method, a founding principle of Marxist philosophy.
September 10, 2024
The book begins by explaining the need for proletariat philosophy. Then it takes several examples comparing natural science and dialectical materialism to convince the readers that dialectical materialism is a science by quoting Engles and Lenin many times. With such an analogy, concluding that Marxism is a science, the 'science of society'. The usual ways of classical Marxists embracing the scientific way and dismissing philosophy as an abstract concept is by putting science above philosophy, "Dialectical materialism is in no sense a philosophy "above science".
Of course, the book explores the basics of Dialectical materialism and discusses various concepts such as contradiction, negation, and scientific outlook. At the introductory level, the book serves its purpose well.
Of course, the book explores the basics of Dialectical materialism and discusses various concepts such as contradiction, negation, and scientific outlook. At the introductory level, the book serves its purpose well.
July 27, 2022
A very understandable introduction to Marxist theory, but that certainly does not mean that this should be your first book about or experience with Marxism/socialism. The author has "tried to confine [him]self to a straightforward exposition of the leading ideas of dialectical materialism" - meaning he is not trying his hardest to defend Marxism, but is rather trying to advance the theoretical underpinnings of committed socialists.
For an introduction to socialist history, theory and practice, one might for example refer to Michael Parenti's Blackshirts and Reds.
For an introduction to socialist history, theory and practice, one might for example refer to Michael Parenti's Blackshirts and Reds.
December 2, 2024
The materialism piece was dead on arrival. Modern quantum mechanics has proven that materialism is an incomplete framework for reality and we have technology born of non-materialist fruit.
The dialectical piece is more interesting, but I don't think the process has to be as volatile as described here. Balance can be "dialed" in between two opposing forces instead of one constantly dominating or supplanting the other.
The dialectical piece is more interesting, but I don't think the process has to be as volatile as described here. Balance can be "dialed" in between two opposing forces instead of one constantly dominating or supplanting the other.
June 14, 2023
Perfectly adequate for its time and place.
December 12, 2023
Pretty concise in explaining terms, really learned a lot from this book.
May 7, 2025
excelente libro para comenzar a entender la filosofía del Marxismo: el materialismo dielectico.
September 2, 2025
begins with some good exposition on the philosophy, ends with several chapters just asserting how this philosophy is the solution to all problems.
I wish it showed how.
I wish it showed how.
January 9, 2022
Based on Stalin’s stuff
April 13, 2022
Cornforth does an excellent job laying out the essence of what defines dialectical materialism, viewing all nature as processes that are simultaneously unfolding in relation to one another. However, his views on metaphysics and idealist philosophy are poorly thought out and do not represent those fields accurately.
While this book is good, Stalin's treatise on Dialectical and Historical Materialism is far superior.
While this book is good, Stalin's treatise on Dialectical and Historical Materialism is far superior.
June 1, 2022
DNF
This books comes across as an impatient polemic that simply dismisses any theory that the author does not subscribe to. It would be helpful if he demonstrated why dialectical materialism solves the problems presented by other theories rather than just dismissing the theories as obviously wrong. Because his writing is so arrogant, dismissive, and impatient the tone of the book felt like something from Ayn Rand.
This books comes across as an impatient polemic that simply dismisses any theory that the author does not subscribe to. It would be helpful if he demonstrated why dialectical materialism solves the problems presented by other theories rather than just dismissing the theories as obviously wrong. Because his writing is so arrogant, dismissive, and impatient the tone of the book felt like something from Ayn Rand.
August 25, 2022
I doubt I will ever really understand dialectics unless I study 19th century German philosophy for a decade or so (maybe not even then), but at least I now have somewhat of an idea what it is.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews