Ask Prof Wolff: Defining Historical and Dialectical Materialism

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Күн бұрын

A patron of Economic Update asks: "Can you breakdown historical materialism and dialectics."
This is Professor Richard Wolff's video response.
Submit your own question to be considered for a video response by Prof. Wolff on Patreon: / community .
Ask Prof Wolff is a @democracyatwrk production. We are committed to providing these videos to you free of ads. Please consider supporting us on Patreon.com/economicupdate. Become a part of the growing Patreon community and gain access to exclusive patron-only content, along with the ability to ask Prof. Wolff questions like this one! Your support also helps keep this content free to the public. Spreading Prof. Wolff's message is more important than ever. Help us continue to make this possible.
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Learn more about Prof Wolff's new book, "The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself," available now at www.democracyatwork.info/books
“A magnificent source of hope and insight.” Yanis Varoufakis, Greek economist, academic, philosopher, politician, author of Talking to my daughter about the economy.
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Пікірлер: 512

@franciswong3330 3 жыл бұрын

Professor Wolff , you are the most prolific teacher I have ever come across. Please don't ever retire. Im 80 years old.

@meowwwww6350 3 жыл бұрын

He is a legend

@Sincerely_MrX 3 жыл бұрын

He’s a doofus, I wish he’d debate Thomas Sowell

@patriciafarrow9586 3 жыл бұрын

@@Sincerely_MrX It would be an interesting discussion - but I disagree with your opinion of Wolff.

@Sincerely_MrX 3 жыл бұрын

@@patriciafarrow9586 My issue with him is the lack of evidence for any claim he makes. He’s essentially made of rhetoric, and I don’t think his reputation would survive an encounter with Thomas Sowell or Larry Elder for that matter.

@IosuamacaMhadaidh 3 жыл бұрын

@@Sincerely_MrX which claims do you speak of? Maybe someone can help point you in the right directions for answers to your questions. Also, if you disagree with Wolff, that's ok, but he's not a doofus just because he reaches different conclusions than you.

@franciscofrancesco7844 3 жыл бұрын

This is the first time I understand what "dialectical materialism" is. Great explanation and examples! Thank you, Proff Wolff.

@TrichordoKostas 3 жыл бұрын

You'll never see the world the same way again man, you see it in literally every field of science

@thebrainsquid 2 жыл бұрын

Same here. I always got the feeling most people online screaming the phrase "DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM" all the time have either a poor understanding of what it is or none at all, because they're never able to actually define it. Instead they just opt to use a lot of nominalizations and jargon to make it sound like you're just not smart enough to understand.

@pelothewitness 2 жыл бұрын

He explains like I'm 5 and I needed that

@NoahBodze 2 жыл бұрын

It’s just further proof Hayek was right - that if socialists understood economics they wouldn’t be socialists. How do you not see the complexity of a production on market enough to think NO ONE - not a dictator, nor a vanguard - can even understand it much less control it.

@mrzack888 2 жыл бұрын

@@TrichordoKostas Wachowski siblings studied philosophy of german idealism and marxism I bet. The movie trilogy Matrix and Jupiter ascending go into such topics but the average layman audience cant spot it due to their lack of education.

@MarvinRoman 3 жыл бұрын

Never heard from it explained this way before. Dialectical materialism has so far been a hard concept to grasp.

@meowwwww6350 3 жыл бұрын

You can read the book by Maurice conforth named materialism and the dialectical method the book is so simple and easy to grasp and available in PDF format in Marxist. Org

@intiillimani8673 2 жыл бұрын

I recommend you to watch the video "how to think like s vietnamese communist" by Luna Oi. Explains dialectical materialism in a more fun way

@memeking8734 3 жыл бұрын

Prof Wolff is truly the GOAT, explains things simply and eloquently. no need for any extra fluff

@clarestucki5151 3 жыл бұрын

memeking AND, occasionally he actually gets one right!

@VerdantSerpents 3 жыл бұрын

Kinda wish some of that simplicity and eloquence were present during the Destiny debate

@PalaeoJoe 3 жыл бұрын

He is pretty great, but don't restrict your education about Socialism to one person.

@ColorMatching 3 жыл бұрын

@@VerdantSerpents "debate"

@stephendavis5530 3 жыл бұрын

@@VerdantSerpents It was on one side. Certainly not on Destiny's side.

@meowwwww6350 3 жыл бұрын

I think Mr Richard wolff must write a book on dialectics and historical materialism cause his explanation contains the real essence of it and also a simplicity in explaining things.

@NathanDudani 3 жыл бұрын

Nice Engels photo

@meowwwww6350 3 жыл бұрын

@@NathanDudani thanks

@meowwwww6350 3 жыл бұрын

@Rich H may be a book is a deep and concrete analysis 😏

@jameshall4598 2 жыл бұрын

The Science of Revolution contains much on the two concepts

@oscarstrokosz2986 2 жыл бұрын

Stalin's book on the topic is pretty much that; definitely recommend listening to Dialectical and Historical Materialism as an audiobook on youtube

@loiswilcken1758 3 жыл бұрын

Wow! It takes a lot of talent to communicate big ideas in such a straightforward way. With gratitude, Prof. Wolff.

@alanfriesen9837 3 жыл бұрын

That's kind of the point of being a professor.

@carcar97 2 жыл бұрын

@@alanfriesen9837 Not all do such thing however

@TM-ut7sj Жыл бұрын

🙏 Professor Wolff, the 5 minute I spent on this video was more productive than reading many books on the subject.

@alokekumarbanerjee9175 3 жыл бұрын

whenever i listen to you i feel the absence of a teacher like you here in our country , india

@chivalrous_chevy1163 3 жыл бұрын

I was stoned when I listened to this, so this episode hit especially hard when I listened to it.

@SyncrisisVideos 3 жыл бұрын

that's the idea

@Music34897 Жыл бұрын

Richard Wolff always hits harder when you're stoned. Especially in school haha

@pudsla9427 6 ай бұрын

Nothin like marxism and weed, the brilliant analyses presented by marxist thinkers past and present blow your fuckin mind when you're off an edible

@ruelow 3 жыл бұрын

Having had it broken down this clearly, I’m nearly wondering why I was struggling to grasp this before. Thank you.

@geekymedia1614 3 жыл бұрын

Professor, Could you please talk about the works of Murray Bookchin and your opinion of him if possible? And your opinion of the rise in cooperatives in the European Union

@kosherwhitewine5879 3 жыл бұрын

yes!

@emhu2594 3 жыл бұрын

You have be on patreon to ask a question.

@geekymedia1614 3 жыл бұрын

@@emhu2594 I'm not :(

@MonoFrutti 3 жыл бұрын

EU should really do more to incentivize cooperatives, as of now there is no fund that would provide capital investments exclusively for cooperatives.

@geekymedia1614 3 жыл бұрын

@@MonoFrutti Its still gaining considerable steam in the housing and retail sector

@remediossantos9847 3 жыл бұрын

Wow! What a great and profound response to a very equally great question. Prof Wolf, you have connected the dots for me between these two ideas. Very much a yin (materialism) and a yang (idealism/spirituality) aspects of life!

@minimenon8109 2 жыл бұрын

I've been trying to really understand Dialectical Materialism for months now, and finally I did. You've broken it down in a way that even someone like me could make sense. Thank you so much!

@itzenormous 3 жыл бұрын

If you want to understand these terms, then read Joseph Stalin's pamphlet by the same name "Dialectical and Historical Materialism." He quite succinctly lays it all out and defines it so that the layman can understand it.

@JohnT.4321 3 жыл бұрын

The article can be found here: www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1938/09.htm

@user-rq4jz3or4t Жыл бұрын

That was the most precise and simple explanation I have ever seen , thanks professor

@razerone49 2 жыл бұрын

I get better educated from Prof. Wolf’s KZfaq videos than I get from all of my other sources of online information combined. Thank you for taking the time to create these videos and educate us in such a clear, concise and easy to understand fashion (especially for those of us who aren’t at all familiar with these topics).

@MonoFrutti 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you prof. Wolff. I have studied philosophy and sociology in an ex-YU country and these concepts are sidelined to metaphysics. You are combining them with economics again, as they should have been applied.

@blessygeorge9769 2 жыл бұрын

The first time I was actually able to understand dialectical materialism and historical materialism. A huge thank you. You are a great tutor.

@TennesseeJed 3 жыл бұрын

Astute explanation as usual sir! It is wonderful to have the lecture time of such a learned person available to a proletariat like myself! Professor Wolf is changing the world one mind at a time.

@jimmytimmy3680 3 жыл бұрын

Superb explanation! Thanks Prof.Wolff

@realdanrusso 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, simply put! Would love to hear you discuss the Western Marxist (post-WWI and post-WII) development of the dialectic into one that may or may not have lost touch with the intended focus on material analyses. You know, the Frankfurt School, neo-Marxist, cultural-focused people and the post-structuralists.

@dinnerwithfranklin2451 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent question very clear answer. Thank you

@leomiri1 2 жыл бұрын

what an awesome explanation, so simply put and eloquent

@bewitched9408 Ай бұрын

I’m amazed how Professor Wolff can explain complex philosophical concepts in a straightforward and easy to understand manner. Thank you Professor!

@donjohnstone3707 3 жыл бұрын

Very well explained. Thank you Professor Wolff. Keep up your good work.

@catherinegoodsett-wein3313 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you ,Dr. Wolff for your much needed discussion about the dialectics of debate. Hopefully reality will catch up with us and we will be able to question, critically the choices that we make in order to maintain an inhabitable planet.

@gwenkelly1654 3 жыл бұрын

I love the way he disect and get to the subject matter. Very intelligent and informative.

@plumjade4584 2 жыл бұрын

Bravo! Professor Wolff your answer is extremely helpful and thanks to the person who raised the question that has perplexed so many. The asker certainly knew who and what to ask.

@NEdumpling 3 жыл бұрын

thank you so much for making this so much easier to understand!

@sandanista2002 4 ай бұрын

Breaking down complex theories in under 10 minutes that is easily understood. This was a master class in teaching. Thank you so much

@phishback 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for that concise and insightful lesson!

@nestorespaillat9204 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Prof. Wolff, I’ve heard many people try to define Dialectic Materialism, but only now thanks to your explanation I finally have a confident understanding.

@ernestinaowusu-ansah937 2 жыл бұрын

I love how you explained everything ❤I have watched several videos to get understanding but I wasn't getting it.Thank you so much

@davidball7712 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent! Dead to center. A superb explainer of which it was 45 years ago it was taught to me with such beauty and simplicity by one lone professor eventually fired by the college for so called indoctrinating his students with quote" ideology ".

@josephschaumberg4136 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the wonderful lesson.

@zionwoniaye7198 27 күн бұрын

Thank you

@pratisthapathak3534 5 ай бұрын

Thankyou so much professor for making me understand this hard concept of dialectical materialism very easily in just 9 minutes of video.

@ivanoech 3 жыл бұрын

Professor Wolff you are a marvell in explaining concepts and theories, etc that has to do with marxismo, what have to do with today events, economic, materialism and what is happening today world. I thanks very much to you for all you have done to make as understand why, what and how things happens in the world we live in. Also thanks to my brother who recommended to watch your videos. I am an avid reader and I have been all my life since I learn how to read. When I was young I read the most famous authors and the best like Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Also there is a Chilean writer who wrote about the land and the mine. His books more known are "Sub terra" about mine and "Sub sole" about the land. His name was Baldomero Lillo All of these authors and more had taught me about the life of the working class, the poor and the world where they live. Karl Marx live in England so he could see with his own eyes about the conditions of workplace and the place where they lived.

@johnconnors4508 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Professor Wolff! I had a hard time following but I think I got it.

@DeElSendero 3 жыл бұрын

A truly great teacher!

@kosherwhitewine5879 3 жыл бұрын

based

@sethshaffer681 3 жыл бұрын

This was great, I've heard dialectical materialism defined/explained probably a dozen times before and never really got it until now.

@AdityapratapBiswas 2 жыл бұрын

Sir the way you made it so clear I'm extremely thankful to you and I just wish I had you as my Political Science Professor and could've learnt in person from you

@lutherdean6922 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this

@kapilchaudaha9679 Жыл бұрын

Excellent explanation: brief, simple, comprehensive.

@lycahtorres4226 Жыл бұрын

I have a report and this really helped me out! Thank you Prof Wolff!

@geraldmeehan8942 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for clarifying sir

@Caleb-ek4fx 7 ай бұрын

Incredible teaching skills

@InMyRestlessDreams2048 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this very clear explanation. There are many attempts to explain dialectical materialism on youtube and most of them aren't very effective.

@jerryjones7293 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for making these terms more accessible.

@Gigika313 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@marioestrada2233 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, this is the first time I really understand those concepts. Now I am a bit less ignorant! Keep up the great work!

@davepuxley7387 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@renatanovato9460 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, it clarified a lot the concept for me.

@premiumteacher742 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Prof this was a great insightful explanation.

@wbarreguy 9 ай бұрын

Thank you, Professor Wolff. I have never heard this explained so clearly and effectively.

@anthonycarbonaro7890 Жыл бұрын

Very excellent presentation. Thank You 🙏

@Dsonsee 3 жыл бұрын

Great and very accessible explanation

@HLSimon 8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@tomasgunka1691 Жыл бұрын

The best explanation I ever heard! Thank you prof Wolff!

@wilsonperalta7521 2 жыл бұрын

Very precise explanation.

@mohamedkhrarba3691 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the question and thanks to this great teacher thinker mister wolf. Very good explication. Merci

@alanalam5597 2 жыл бұрын

Cannot thank you enough Professor Wolff! I had never understood what was meant by dialectical!

@xxyy6369 Жыл бұрын

Excellent explanation!

@saddoro4138 3 жыл бұрын

Very good breakdown

@cliffordmaxwell9802 3 жыл бұрын

Cant get the Madonna song out of my head now after watching this episode. You rock Professor Wolff!

@lentoperoavanzo4007 3 жыл бұрын

Making that joke is a necessary step in the development of class consciousness that all western Marxists have gone through since the mid 80s.

@ambroshdev7737 7 ай бұрын

Thank you ,Proff Wolff. What an explanation

@yashpradhan9232 3 жыл бұрын

The ideas come from the mind , mind exists in the body and the body needs to satisfy its material needs to exist .

@rebeccafullver 2 жыл бұрын

Very clear explanation!

@Lilassyjr Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir.

@maxstrawn3788 3 жыл бұрын

Another great video by Prof Wolff

@tjohn6echo 5 ай бұрын

Thank you sir, for your succinct explanation in a way that a lay person not trained in deep philosophical ideas like me can understand.

@FireflySA 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you professor

@stellaanuoluwa2397 Жыл бұрын

Never heard any better explanation thank you so much Prof Wolff

@OrElseEllipsis1945 8 ай бұрын

An excellent and concise explanation of historical and dialectic materialism!

@ajaykc004 Жыл бұрын

Best lecture i have listened to in my life

@russtaylor2122 3 жыл бұрын

I think i understood it when he explained it, but if you asked me to summarise it ten seconds later, i couldn't. I'll have another go. Thanks Prof....!

@jc6226 3 жыл бұрын

there are dilemmas between our ideas and our material conditions, even though our material conditions shape our ideas, and our ideas shape our material conditions but usually to a lesser extent. people disagree on what is the main shaping force in what circumstances even though what i said generally seems clear to me and other materialists versus idealists who would have it the other way. that is all he said if you want to save 9 minutes.

@russtaylor2122 3 жыл бұрын

@@jc6226 Thanks JC! Now i'm going to have to read your summary a few times...! ; )

@adeshchaudhary6111 2 жыл бұрын

Best explanation

@bellaf5684 2 жыл бұрын

such a gifted teacher

@Complexchristian Жыл бұрын

You are an amazing teacher ❤️

@nafeesyoutube9996 Жыл бұрын

Thank uou

@handhikaramadhan Жыл бұрын

Superb, prof!

@federkleid0 4 ай бұрын

Very consice explanation.As a 17 year old i had trouble understanding complex ones.Thanks a lot prof:)

@bundleofperceptions1397 3 жыл бұрын

It seems like the material creates reality, and ideas shape and change the parts of reality we have the power to shape and change.

@safi.uh_ 3 жыл бұрын

this video really helped me omg

@aisuryam Жыл бұрын

This is the clearest explanation I've got on this topic. 👍

@sudamlenka1547 4 ай бұрын

The best and simple explanation ever

@mauibill7233 3 жыл бұрын

From a Buddhist's point of view (mine) there is no difference between the material world and the mind. They are one and the same. Mind cannot exist without the material world. During that era, the German philosophers were being highly influenced by eastern philosophies. Most of them mis-interpreted them, unfortunately.

@ScottDavis-nu5uu 3 жыл бұрын

Important concepts to formulate arguments. The respectful part is lost through emotions, though. People are tightly backed into their corners.

@jc6226 3 жыл бұрын

some people. maybe most people. but that is only because a lot of people are dumb and/or numb, and are not open to discussion or critique of their ideas and beliefs whether stemming from themselves or others. this is why material is more fundamental than ideals. your ideas can tell you to think and act one way but this conflicts with contraindicating material situations which will point out any conflicts, often painfully, physically and/or psychically, everytime.

@colinbrigham8253 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks prof wollf 😊

@MisanthropicAndOutOfCoffee8380 3 жыл бұрын

Dr. Richard Wolff 2024! please

@MonoFrutti 3 жыл бұрын

If you throw a stone at a wall, it bounces back. The stone had kinetic energy to start but once it hit a static object a part of the kinetic energy it possessed transferred back to it and a part of it dissipated in the wall.

@krzysztofbroda5376 3 жыл бұрын

that's the first time i've understood what diamat is. Usually when trying to explain it people just throw dialectical logics straight away, and i always wondered what the fuss is about, didn't we have logic and reason already?

@maxheadrom3088 Жыл бұрын

A good example of (non-Hegelian) dialectics is the Ecclesiastes found on the Old Testamennt. The writer (Kohelet) says "too much knowledge causes too much suffering". Later he will say "I have observed, however, that the one who has knowledge walks under the light while the one who doesn't have walks in the dark". Kohelet, in these two lines expressed ideas that are contradictory in a way - a dialectic. (di means 2). Kohelet will then make a synthesis from these opposing ideas. Unfortunately my memory is not that good and the book is worth reading (at least the first pages). The final systhesis Kohelet makes is so famous it became a great 1960s pop song: The Byrds - Turn, Turn, Turn kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b7amq6SArL_OiWQ.html