Engel's book

In his novel, Engels claims that shifts in production and trade shifts are the definitive cause of social and political revolutions. He also claims that such improvements should be pursued not in theory but the period's economics in question. Engels is saying that for a civilization to exist, and in general, for the entire human race to live, creation and reproduction of the materials needed for existence are required for that period, hence the term historical materialism.
In this process, Engels argues that calling ethical behavior a scourge is simply a sign that production techniques are changing quietly. Furthermore, forms of exchange in social order are integrated into the former conditions that are no longer working. This phenomenon means that the existent of the society is under the influence of the relations that arise from its mode of production, as well as the economic base.

In his work, Engels indicates that the capitalist mode of production is basically contradictory. He notes that there is a conflict between the forces of production and mode of production; stating that as large-scale industries develop fully, it disagrees with forces within the capitalism as a technique of production that has its limit. To outdo their competitors, capitalists have to lower the price of their products. Companies have to increase production to compensate for losses associated with the price reduction. This way, there will be more products on the market than the consumption, a phenomenon called the anarchy in production. If there are more products than what can be sold for profit, companies’ productivity and profitability decline significantly. As a result, they become unable to pay their employees and thus, they must lay off some workers to reduce production costs. Furthermore, employees won’t be in a position to buy the products they produced due to financial problems.

Engels terms capitalism as an unstable system. The activities of competing capitalists are based on the law, expand or die. Therefore, achieving sustainability remains to be an unattainable dream. When a company’s profitability declines, a stronger capitalist absorbs it. The firms that survive the absorption by other organizations emerge as victors. However, they are few in number, bigger, and stable economically. Such companies may exploit workers and even consumers since it is the only relevant company in the market and any emerging firm is suppressed so that only a few strong companies control the market. Such environments are not competitive and are associated with low-quality products. Engels argues that capitalism has outlived its usefulness since it cannot address unemployment in the society. The fundamental contradictions led to other contradictions.

Engels goes on to state that the new forces of production have already outgrown the bourgeois form of using them. He adds that Modern socialism is nothing but a reflex in the thought of this actual conflict; and its ideal reflection in the minds of the working class. This statement establishes itself as the antagonism between proletariat and bourgeoisie. That is, the relation between capital and labor; hence the conflict between the two establishes the fundamental contradiction of capitalism.

Two other contradictions results from the fundamental contradiction. The first one is the contradiction between the process of production in each plant and the anarchy of production in the entire society. On one hand, it states that producers carry on their activities independent of one another; with privately organized labor process that establishes the productive activity of society. On the other hand, it states that the producers are equally dependent on one another and that they belong to a larger social division of labor. This contradiction states that the production in the industries is very much organized and efficient; but the outcome is chaotic, starting from the production process all through to the distribution process. In this process, production is mostly done with machines but with the help of a few human laborers who control the machines.

The second contradiction is the mode of production is not consistent with the form of exchange. Furthermore, the productive forces do not conform to the mode of production, which they have overcomed. It explains the introduction of machinery with the Capitalism advancement. The introduction of machinery was intended to be of great benefit to the society. This phenomenon meant that production would be faster and cheaper at the same time. Unfortunately, this has brought a lot of chaos in the industries, with a lot of people being left jobless. He states that machines will become the most powerful weapon in the war of capital against the working class; hence being a threat to laborers.

According to Engels, the innovations of production process have reached a level at where the improvements of production efficiency and quality products are against development. This process is subject to monopoly in politics, education systems and leadership positions where only certain members of the society are considered. Therefore, Engels terms capitalism as a barrier to economic, social and intellectual developments.

In his statement above, Engels means that there will reach a time that the workers will get fed-up and take down the capitalist. He believes that capitalism is hindering the progressions of the society. His statement also indicates the fact that the workers will in future control the production industry as a rebel against the capitalist, hence displacing them and finally, ending the contradictions.

Engels gives an example of the first dilemma which occurred in 1825 where trade stopped, and stagnation of products was seen due to high production and less market. This event led to bankruptcy and products being squandered and destroyed on a large scale. The phenomenon was followed by considerable depreciation of products and finally exchange gradually began again. It shows the production cycle where exchange and production gradually start and accelerates at a certain point just to fall again and the cycle continues again and again.

Engels foresees a social production and exchange, where social production will be replaced by a planned product regulation scheme that meets every individual’s needs in the society. This process will create governance based on an administration that will direct a fair and free process of production that will finally end capitalism once and for all.





References

Engels, Frederick, “Theoretical.” Anti-Duhring. Herr Eugen Duhring’s Revolution in Science. International Publishers, 1939.

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