Following is the eleventh part of a twelve-part series of study columns on the theory of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought.
The study series was originally developed for study groups conducted by the League of Revolutionary Struggle (M-L) and is the product of a number of years of practice in leading study groups in Marxism-Leninism among workers and students.
Mao Zedong, “On Contradiction,” Selected Readings, pp. 85-133.
(Supplementary Readings: Mao Zedong, On the Ten Major Relationships and “Where do Correct Ideas Come From?,” Selected Readings, pp. 502-504)
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In study session 10, we read Mao Zedong’s explanation of the dialectical materialist view of the dependency of human thought upon practice. In this session we will study further the dialectics of cognition – the human comprehension of the objective world.
Mao’s essay “On Contradiction” analyzes the laws of contradiction in things. His insights provide lessons on how to observe and assess the movement of opposites in processes, and on the basis of such analysis, how to resolve contradictions.
Mao evaluates the various facets of contradiction, such as the universality of contradiction, that is, that opposing aspects are found in all things and throughout their entire existence. He also emphasizes the particularity of contradiction – each process, though it may share common qualities with other processes, has its own special features which must be understood in order to distinguish it from other things.
Mao stressed the importance of grasping the particularity of contradiction. One cannot substitute general understanding for particular understanding. Rather, scientific cognition should proceed in an upward spiral from understanding the particular to the general (or universal) and then back again to better understand the particular.
For example, many people who are new to revolution know of the concrete injustices of U.S. society – they know of the particular contradiction of racism or job insecurity from their own experiences. Through study, discussion and analysis, one learns that these experiences are not unique, but are shared by millions of other people in the U.S. And through studying Marxist-Leninist literature one can find that such experiences are common to all capitalist societies.
Understanding these truths, one is confronted with the question of how to change the situation, how to resolve he contradictions of capitalist society. It is evident from the experience of past communists and through study of the current situation that the socialist revolution is necessary. But while all this is general and valid truth, one is till confronted with the question of how does one go about making this revolution.
This is where Mao’s essay is especially instructive. It is not enough to have knowledge of other societies and past evolutionary experiences. Rather, revolutionaries must delve deeper and grasp the special characteristics of their own revolutions. Thus, Mao elaborates on the need to determine the particularity of contradiction by understanding the principal and non-principal aspects of a contradiction, the identity and struggle of opposites and the role of antagonism in contradiction.
The closer one develops a correct view of the objective facets of a process, the better one will be able to command the situation. Such a task is not simple, as with a complex process like making revolution. But through the constant effort of practice, study, thought, testing and evaluation, one can gain a better and better comprehension of the revolution in the U.S.
A basic lesson in these essays by Mao is simply summarized by Lenin’s statement that the “living soul of Marxism” is the “concrete analysis of concrete conditions.”
It has been the objective of this study series to provide an introduction to Marxist theory in order to help summarize some of our particular experiences and gain an overview on the socialist revolution in the U.S. All of us need to utilize our theoretical lessons to guide our investigation of things and do a better job of transforming U.S. monopoly capitalism. Sections of UNITY newspaper are examples of concrete analysis of concrete conditions, and we plan that future study columns will cover issues of U.S. history and society.
The next session will be the last in this series. It will summarize some thoughts on revolutionary attitudes and methods.
1. Mao discusses “two world outlooks” in the first section of “On Contradiction.” In your own words, describe the two outlooks (metaphysical and dialectical) and their basic differences, using examples from your own experiences and study to illustrate your points.
2. Marxism understands that “in the general development of history, the material determines the mental, and social being determines social consciousness.” Marxism also recognizes that in certain circumstances the mental (ideas, policies, theories) plays a decisive role in social transformation. What is meant by these statements and what meaning do they have for making revolution?
3. Dialectical materialism recognizes quantitative and qualitative changes and that under certain conditions, quantitative change must give way to qualitative transformation. What examples of these points are there in nature and society? What is the significance of these points to revolution?
4. The struggle of opposites, the resolution of contradictions is what pushes everything forward. Explain this point and illustrate it with examples from your own experiences with an individual, an organization or a political struggle. Utilize Mao’s insights on understanding the particularity of a contradiction (principal contradiction, principal aspect of a contradiction, etc.) to guide your analysis.