In the second half of the 19th century, it is said that Darwin and Marx played a pivotal role for the fall of communism. Their scientific ideas as well as those of evolution shaped the understanding of man in different ways. Marx is very popular for his scientific and philosophic ideas and Darwin majored in the study of evolution in order to explain some of the observations in plant and animal species. Marx is said to have discovered the propelling force which was the source of social development. These two individuals tried to explain and give theories of the great political revolutions in Europe as well as their various classes that helped contribute to evolution.
Marx and His Ideologies
During the great political revolution of Europe, there were three main classes of people who had different struggles and ambitions as categorized by Marx. First, a class that struggled for supremacy in French revolution was waged by the bourgeois in opposition to nobility and royalty. Manufacturing capitalists in opposition to the landowners in England was also another class. The third was the revolting of the working class against the bourgeoisie. Marx was able to prove that the classes were different from one another owing to the fact that they played separate functions in the production process. Marx formulated that the productive process is the origin of all the classes. He further noted that this process determined which class everyone belonged to. He defined production as the social labor process by which everyone gets hold of their means of survival from nature. It is this process that determines the social struggles and the political relations. This meant that the occurrence of the social events and history are not something irregular but a continual process in a regular development in a definite direction.
It is through this theory of evolution that a number of leaders based their understanding in the 19th century. This resulted in a number of historical evolutions such as the fall of communism. Marx’s theory came as a wakeup call for the proletarian class which was struggling against capitalism. He noted that capitalism was a temporary form since social movements are considered to be in a continuous flow. It is believed that the society bases its survival on the development of technique and therefore any form of social class was prone to change with time. The proletarian who were struggling against the capitalists were given a new concept from Marx’s theory and hoped that capitalism would come to an end at some point. This will bring to an end their oppression. It is through this perception that he war against communist countries and organizations was won and resulted to the fall of communism in the Soviet Union. Marx’s popularity advanced in this era as he is considered the genius of his time to have theorized different aspects of the society’s evolution.
It is speculated that the scopes trial in Tennessee was not intended to help work out the civil liberties and issues that were involved at their time but to the aim of Darrow and his group was to attack religion. It was not a proof against the teaching of evolution in schools but an attempt to control what the students are taught. The reaction against evolution was not as a result of rebellion against religion but an attempt to remove the teachings of religion from schools.
Darwin and His Ideologies
Darwin contributed much in the development of the theory of evolution. In his scientific understanding, Darwin drew major conclusions from the observation of nature and how species related to each other. He concluded that species of plants and animals undergo changes that are brought about the environment they live in. conditions make the species adapt new methods or mechanisms of survival. The Darwinian Theory had a place in the political world. It served as a tool in the struggle of classes against those who were considered as to stand on their way. An example is the bourgeoisie who struggled against the clergy-rights, the feudal class, and the feudal lords and against the nobility. Their struggle was different from the struggle of religion abolitionist.
Darwinism theory is said to have come at a desired time. It is believed that the theory of Darwin that man was a descendant of a lower animal sparked revolution that saw the degradation of Christianity. Christianity was now viewed as an escape for those who wanted to rule others. The importance of Darwinian Theory is that it played a pivotal role in accomplishing the task of promoting equality and the end of discrimination against some sections of people in the society. The scopes trial in Tennessee was also rooted in Darwin’s theories that all men are equal since they descended from one lower animal. This helped work out the civil liberties and issues that were involved at their time. It was a proof that religion was baseless in giving some sections of people power while depriving others.
Bibliography
Perry, Marvin. An intellectual history of modern Europe. New York, NY: 1993
Rand, Ayn. Anthem. Mundus Publishing, 1964.
Larson, Edward J. Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate over Science and Religion. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2008.
