historical materialism

is marx's science of history which althusser claims that he founded after breaking with hegel and the idealist-empiricist philosophical tradition.

Marx's thought is divided into two key periods, one before and one after 1845. Althusser always insist on the importance of the 1845 break, the moment Marx supposedly broke with Hegel and the idealst-empiricist philosophical tradition and founded a new science the science of history, or what Althusser refers to as historical materialism'

is the idea that ideas of religion and philosophy are only the results of certain relationships of production such that the most enduring or prevailing ideas are simply those that serve the interests of the ruling class.

the ideas of religion and philosophy are actually rooted in people's material existence... particular ideas are only the results of certain relationships of production. The most enduring or prevailing ideas are simply those that serve the interests of the ruling class. Thus, the ruling class makes the rules that structure society, and supports those ideas that forward its own ends. For example, the bourgeoisie glorify property rights because they are the ones in society with property.' (SPARK)

is the name of the doctrine of which communism is the tradition. It does not denote any particular, authoritative interpretation of this doctrine, but rather, is the site of the doctrine's theoretical interpretation.

historical materialism was the name of the doctrine of which Communism is the tradition. However, it does not denote any particular, authoritative interpretation of this doctrine, but rather, the site of its theoretical interpretation. Benjamin deployed the hermeneutic and doctrinal resources of the Messianic tradition to reinterpret historical materialism, philosophically, in line with his conception of its political function. As such, it came to provide the standpoint from which he could both view the destruction of theology as tradition, and thereby, reflecting on this experience, reconstitute the integrity of historical experience in a new, dialectical and revolutionary form.

is a notion which, when applied to ethical and social matters, demonstrates how much unhappiness and injustice and irrationality was man-made.

'The essential element of historical materialism as applied to ethical and social matters was (and actually still is) this: it demonstrated how much unhappiness and injustice and irrationality was man-made.'

historical materialism, n.All

historical materialism