Rev Left Radio Dialectics of Nature: Engels on Dialectical Materialism as a Worldview
Jun 16, 2025
Dive into the compelling ideas of Friedrich Engels’ 'Dialectics of Nature', where the intersection of nature and Marxist philosophy is explored. The discussion highlights how internal contradictions drive evolution and societal change, linking historical events to contemporary issues like ecological crises and class struggles. With a focus on labor's role in shaping consciousness and critiques of Darwinism, the hosts argue for a dialectical approach to understanding reality and advocate for transformative change in both personal and political realms.
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Reality as Dialectical and Material
- Dialectical materialism reveals reality is dynamic and interconnected, driven by contradiction and motion.
- It rejects external supernatural forces, affirming nature as self-developing and self-aware.
Unity and Struggle of Opposites
- The unity and struggle of opposites drives motion, life, and social change through internal contradictions.
- Stability arises temporarily as unity, but conflict and transformation remain fundamental.
Nature is Not Just Outside
- A student answered "outside" when asked what nature is, highlighting a common misunderstanding.
- Breht emphasized that human society and culture are integral parts of nature itself.
