Socialism
Human Nature - Optimistic
- Before the influence of economic+ political systems people's nature was
1. Fraternal: Generous feeling towards others, desire to work together (see each other as
siblings)
2. Solidarity: Naturally people don't compete and people concentrate on collective survival
rather than individual. Thinking as a group and people take different roles but based on
survival as whole
3. People are altruistic ‘pack animals’: They naturally think of others first (differs from
liberals who think of themselves)
Socialists believe human nature is plastic (not fixed and therefore can be improved), although
some don't live up to the description of human nature this does not mean they won't in the
future
- Socialism places great focus on creating the right environment for people eg, economic
systems + equality of outcome such as the education system
Marx + Engles:
● Human Nature has been damaged by capitalist values which encouraged greed +
selfishness + competition that are not natural human traits
● People were naturally fraternal, selfless, and cooperative
● Capitalism created a false consciousness
● Human nature would return to its natural state during revolutionary socialism.
Other socialist thinkers share the idea that human nature has been damaged but to different
extents
Rosa Luxemburg: Agreed w/marx that capitalism was at odds with human nature + strong levels
of fraternity in w/c communities
Anthony Crossland: Believed people retained a strong sense of fairness + disliked inequality
however did not believe capitalism needed removing
Giddens: Agreed that capitalism had a ‘corrosive’ effect on human nature but capitalism +
individualism were well established beyond change - Believed public ownership is not the way
forward
Possible future for human nature
Socialist disagree on different routes to restoring human nature
Marx + Luxembourg- Revolution
Webb- Gradual change to a more cooperative society
, Crossland- Comprehensive education (w/the comprehensive system society was divided up
however he advocated for everyone to have the same opportunity) - Help return to cooperation
Overall socialists believe human nature can improve + same speak of the possibility of a future
utopia (marx) with no state
Socialism and Society- Society is central to the ideas of socialism
For socialists, society has to be equal for the world to progress + for everyone to meet their full
potential Socialists believe society shapes individuals (people are shaped by the society they
grow up in)Eg
- The type of society you grow up in has an impact
- The type of economy you grow up in has an impact
- A person's position in society will have an impact
If there is inequality in a society, individuals will develop differently, however, in an equal society
the majority of people in socialism will reach their potential
In an unequal society, the people at the top of society will do well but those who are
disadvantaged will be damaged and receive less such as education/economic opportunities
CONCEPTS IN SOCIETY
Class
➔ Socialists believe that society is made up of distinct social groups called classes
➔ Class is linked to the profession, wealth and level of education
➔ (Hierarchy of society)
People’s position of society will have an impact on their chances/op no opportunities
Socialists disagree over the implications of class distinctions + whether they need to be
narrowed or destroyed eg, social democrats focus less on class divisions
Destroy all class division -(Revolutionary socialism/early Marxism) - Marx/engels
Narrow class division - Modern Forms of socialism eg, Social democrats + Third Way
Class struggle
Traditional socialist's ideas - Higher classes exploit lower classes for their labour
The division between rich and poor increases (particularly in industrial societies)
Revolutionary Talk about the w/c create a class consciousness and overthrow capitalism once they realise
Socialism the extent of their exploitation (socialist revolution) - Which is caused by capitalist economy
Marx + Engles which they reject
Marx described how society moved through epochs in history until reaching communism -
historical materialism
Evolutionary Agree with marx on the view that capitalism is exploitative + creates class division, however
socialists they argue you can use the superstructure of capitalism AKA Parliament to reform and
humanise to shrink the gap between the rich and the poor
Human Nature - Optimistic
- Before the influence of economic+ political systems people's nature was
1. Fraternal: Generous feeling towards others, desire to work together (see each other as
siblings)
2. Solidarity: Naturally people don't compete and people concentrate on collective survival
rather than individual. Thinking as a group and people take different roles but based on
survival as whole
3. People are altruistic ‘pack animals’: They naturally think of others first (differs from
liberals who think of themselves)
Socialists believe human nature is plastic (not fixed and therefore can be improved), although
some don't live up to the description of human nature this does not mean they won't in the
future
- Socialism places great focus on creating the right environment for people eg, economic
systems + equality of outcome such as the education system
Marx + Engles:
● Human Nature has been damaged by capitalist values which encouraged greed +
selfishness + competition that are not natural human traits
● People were naturally fraternal, selfless, and cooperative
● Capitalism created a false consciousness
● Human nature would return to its natural state during revolutionary socialism.
Other socialist thinkers share the idea that human nature has been damaged but to different
extents
Rosa Luxemburg: Agreed w/marx that capitalism was at odds with human nature + strong levels
of fraternity in w/c communities
Anthony Crossland: Believed people retained a strong sense of fairness + disliked inequality
however did not believe capitalism needed removing
Giddens: Agreed that capitalism had a ‘corrosive’ effect on human nature but capitalism +
individualism were well established beyond change - Believed public ownership is not the way
forward
Possible future for human nature
Socialist disagree on different routes to restoring human nature
Marx + Luxembourg- Revolution
Webb- Gradual change to a more cooperative society
, Crossland- Comprehensive education (w/the comprehensive system society was divided up
however he advocated for everyone to have the same opportunity) - Help return to cooperation
Overall socialists believe human nature can improve + same speak of the possibility of a future
utopia (marx) with no state
Socialism and Society- Society is central to the ideas of socialism
For socialists, society has to be equal for the world to progress + for everyone to meet their full
potential Socialists believe society shapes individuals (people are shaped by the society they
grow up in)Eg
- The type of society you grow up in has an impact
- The type of economy you grow up in has an impact
- A person's position in society will have an impact
If there is inequality in a society, individuals will develop differently, however, in an equal society
the majority of people in socialism will reach their potential
In an unequal society, the people at the top of society will do well but those who are
disadvantaged will be damaged and receive less such as education/economic opportunities
CONCEPTS IN SOCIETY
Class
➔ Socialists believe that society is made up of distinct social groups called classes
➔ Class is linked to the profession, wealth and level of education
➔ (Hierarchy of society)
People’s position of society will have an impact on their chances/op no opportunities
Socialists disagree over the implications of class distinctions + whether they need to be
narrowed or destroyed eg, social democrats focus less on class divisions
Destroy all class division -(Revolutionary socialism/early Marxism) - Marx/engels
Narrow class division - Modern Forms of socialism eg, Social democrats + Third Way
Class struggle
Traditional socialist's ideas - Higher classes exploit lower classes for their labour
The division between rich and poor increases (particularly in industrial societies)
Revolutionary Talk about the w/c create a class consciousness and overthrow capitalism once they realise
Socialism the extent of their exploitation (socialist revolution) - Which is caused by capitalist economy
Marx + Engles which they reject
Marx described how society moved through epochs in history until reaching communism -
historical materialism
Evolutionary Agree with marx on the view that capitalism is exploitative + creates class division, however
socialists they argue you can use the superstructure of capitalism AKA Parliament to reform and
humanise to shrink the gap between the rich and the poor
