Socialism, pre-Marxist (utopian) Socialism and Marxism: making conceptions clear

V.V. MUKHACHEV
Doctor of Philosophy (DSc), Professor, Principal researcher, The Institute of Socio-Political Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

TERRA ECONOMICUS, 2013, Vol. 11 (no. 2.1),

p. 69-81

The article deals with the socialist thought, namely, its two main types – utopian socialism and Marxism. As it took place 100–150 years ago, both socialist theories are interpreted today quite differently by various authors. But at this juncture the principles of humanitarian knowledge seem to be broken; the correct view of modern society, which is, capitalistic per se, still impregnated with socialism, appears to be unattained yet. Revealing the dialectical nature of development of the objective world, from lower level to the higher one, Marx asserted: «the key to the anatomy of a monkey lies in the human anatomy». Proceeding from the methodological principles of « Marx’s method», – that is, a dialectical materialism elaborated by Marx along with Engels, – the author focuses, above all, on the concept of Marxism, which appears to be the most scientifically developed form of theoretical socialism. Clarification of the concept of Marxism by extraneous ideological features elimination made it feasible to reconstruct Marx’s and Engels’ original ideas of both socialism and communism, their essence and genesis. Thereafter, the research provides insight into the theoretical notions related to this world-wide historical movement, which had been defined by the creators of Marxism and used by them.

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Keywords: Marxism; socialism; utopian consciousness; utopian socialism; «prehistory of socialism»; ideology; science; pseudo-Marxism

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Publisher: Southern Federal University
Founder: Southern Federal University
ISSN: 2073-6606