The Nature of Human Brain Work: An Introduction to Dialectics

by Joseph Dietzgen

This primer on dialectical materialism is the first and best-known work of a pioneer of socialist philosophy. Joseph Dietzgen, a tanner by trade, was self-taught and developed his theory of dialectical materialism independently of Karl Marx. In this book he argues that thinking is a process involving two opposing aspects—generalization and specialization—and all thought is therefore a dialectical process. Knowledge is limited, truth is relative, and the only absolute is existence itself. This cornerstone of socialist philosophy lays the foundation for a nondogmatic, flexible, nonsectarian yet principled socialist politics.

Genres: Philosophy, Psychology, Politics, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1869

About the author

1828-1888

Reviews

[Michael’ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely amazing. Dietzgen replaces morality with what philosophers might now call an amoral ethics, quite similar to Nietzsche in some regard. Dietzgen’s writing is very clear and concise, unlike the great, 20th century philosophers. Dietzgen links up ontology, epistemology, philosophy of mind, ethics, philosophy of science and philosophy of religion, laying the foundations for a worldview that simply never leads to what we would now call philosophical and religious questions. This is the only original work by any Marxist that is both as insightful and as clearly worded as the works of Marx, Engels and Weydemeyer themselves. This way better than all 20th century Critical Theory. Sadly Dietzgen and Weydemeyer have mostly been forgotten. They should replace Stalin and Mao as two of the “heads of Marxism”.

[T · Rating 2 out of 5]

"It Depends," by Joseph Dietzgen

Extremely disappointed in this work, especially because it was allegedly so central according to so many out-of-context sources. People cite Marx’s letter where he called Dietzgen “our philosopher” but leave out the ones where he complained to Engels (and where Engels did the same) that this book could have been a much simpler, more concise pamphlet. Marx likewise (correctly) complained that it was clear Dietzgen had not read Hegel. In the introduction Dietzgen mentions a book about Hegel and how his philosophy was “outdated,” but never explains how or why except to assume that “speculative” means what it seems at face value (the opposite of his “scientific” approach he tries to describe in this work). 

There are traces of Aristotle, Hume, Feuerbach, and a whole lot of Kant (though by his misuse of the word "transcendental," I assume he read a secondary summary). Unfortunately, not even the Kantian system is clearly worked out. Dietzgen at multiple points mixed up the faculty of Understanding with the faculty of Reason, saying that the former sought “general laws,” which was actually something Kant clearly explained worked in the latter. Dietzgen says that things are contradictory and then rails against contradiction. He can't decide whether he stands with Kant or Hegel because, well, it seems he barely read either.

The most important element of this book is that it represents the first concentrated attempt to understand epistemology from a socialist perspective. He goes beyond Proudhon, Kant, Engels, Feuerbach, Marx in his attempt at elucidating the role of consciousness from a materialist point of view. His relation-based view of reality is admirable, as is his view that thoughts, ideas are material and that “thought is work.” I like his attempts to solidify some of Kant's ideas, but these are so badly worked out the pamphlet is truly mostly a bore and useless. 

Lastly, you will not find a mention of "Dialectical Materialism" here. I wish I could say something different, but this book was a mess, and it shows that Marx, Engels, and a few others were really rare in the socialist movement at the time.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

really on point- if a lil dated...

i mean the blurb on the front says: "Here is our philosopher!" - Karl Marx

can't beat that endorsement...

[Michael’ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant, especially with the introduction by Anton Pannekoek. Dietzgen attacks the whole of the old ethics but while he tends to utilitarianism, what he substitutes for it often as much Nietzschean as utilitarian. It expresses its ideas exactly and concisely, though sometimes its language is a little turgid. Dietzgen engages the great thinkers of his and earlier times but expresses his ideas clearly and without reliance on authorities. Marx reportedly said “This is our philosopher!” when he finished it. If any work by any author of the 1st International should be in the Marxist cannon, other than those of Marx & Engels, this is it.

[Brook · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really find this book to say very much of interest, to be honest. It felt somewhat basic and aimless compared to, say, Bogdanov's Philosophy of Living Experience which aims to do the same.

[Amar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic work. While I would say the whole thing is valuable, I must say that the last chapter is of greatest importance. Reminds me of Nietzsche.
Beyond that, I must also commend Dietzgen for his tremendous readability.

[Jesse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was promised a materialist dialectics - instead I got an rehash of bits of Bacon, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume, updated with a forthright atheism and moral relativism that just boils down to "morality is human welfare".

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The world is always right.”

[Will L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels unnecessarily long-winded at times but I don't find anything to disagree with