Socialism: Positive and Negative

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23574

Title

Socialism: Positive and Negative

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Robert Rives La Monte presents Socialism as a revolutionary, scientific philosophy rooted in materialism and evolution. Rejecting the 'Great Man' theory, he argues that economic conditions dictate social consciousness, inevitably leading to the atrophy of religion and the state. This collection offers a frank, sometimes nihilistic, yet idealistic defense of collectivism and democracy as the only path to human liberation.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1907, Robert Rives La Monte's *Socialism: Positive and Negative* presents a rigorous defense of socialism not merely as a political agenda, but as a consistent, scientific monistic philosophy of the cosmos. Drawing heavily on Darwinism and the materialist conception of history, La Monte argues that economic structures are the primary determinants of all social, political, and spiritual processes. He posits that as material conditions evolve, traditional institutions such as religion, private property, and the conventional family will inevitably atrophy or undergo profound transformation. The volume synthesizes several key essays, including discussions on the materialistic conception of history, the law of surplus-value, and the inevitability of class struggle. La Monte addresses the accusation of 'Nihilism' leveled against socialism, clarifying that the destruction of old institutions is a necessary precursor to the positive ideal of a cooperative commonwealth. In this future society, the free development of each individual becomes the condition for the free development of all. He distinguishes between the positive political demands of socialism—collectivism and democracy—and the negative, destructive aspects required to dismantle the existing order. La Monte explicitly rejects dualism in thought, arguing that the world is governed by material forces rather than divine intervention or abstract ideas. He contends that ideas do not fall from heaven but are formed in specific circumstances and reflect the immediate material conditions of their birth. This ruthless materialism, he asserts, crushes belief in God and the soul, viewing religion as a phenomenon destined to perish through atrophy as scientific culture extends. The book serves as a labor-saving device for thinkers seeking to understand the scientific basis of the movement, asserting that the 'Nihilism' of socialism is intrinsic to its essence and cannot be separated from its positive ideals without committing an act of intellectual suicide. Ultimately, the work frames socialism as the logical conclusion of modern science applied to the facts of society, promising a richer literary and artistic life alongside economic justice.

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Categories

• Philosophy
• Politics