‘DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21220, 17 September 1940, Page 7

‘DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM

(To the Editor) Sir, —Dialectical materialism? Mark Twain said of classical music, “It’s not so bad as it sounds.” Bernard Shaw said of dialectics, the rational method of investigation, “Just common sense, tested by every practical act of your life”! Motion is constant in all things, but varied aspects of motion are numerous, therefore limitations of space exclude anything but a particular aspect of this subject. The philosopher Hegel arrived at certain conclusions, said to have increased the awareness of the scientific investigator, and they are embodied in the following principle: “The importance of conflict as an essential to movement, the continual developing and resolving of contradictions or conflicts between opposites.” The conflict between Mr Warburton’s and the writer’s appetite for lettuce salad and the appetite of the garden pests for the succulent plant is resolved by the application of a dose of lime. “Why,” exclaims Mr Warburton, “this is just common sense, applicable to any of our problems!” Well, then, it will be just common sense that will compel the great productive forces of Europe to resolve the contradiction between Capital and Labour by a rational system of planned production and control, and again necessity will be the driving force. The shaft of ridicule directed against those ideas, institutions and habits which are a positive hindrance to human welfare is quite in order, but, aimed at that method of thinking which is indeed helpful, is apt to move like a boomerang.—l am, etc., T. HARRIS. Frankton, September 16.