Evaluate the extent to which socialists disagree over the question of human nature (24)
Socialism is an ideology characterised by a positive view of human nature. It is a diverse ideology that
grew out of the enlightenment. Divided into revolutionary socialists, democratic socialists, social
democrats and the third way which emerged from social democracy
Areas of agreement
Optimistic on Human Nature
• We are capable of good and possess a 'common humanity'
• We are largely rational, intrinsically social creatures- we gravitate towards cooperation
Human Nature is exible, not xed
• Socially conditioned- society can have both positive and negative effects on people
• If we are born into capitalism we have negative characteristics that come along with that- we
are greedy, competitive, sel sh
• False consciousness: the awed idea that we are born to be greedy
• A well run socialist state will bring out the positives of our human nature
Not all people are the same
• While all socialists believe in the notion of equality, they don't believe that we have identical
abilities/needs
Areas of disagreement
Revolutionary views- revolution is necessary to throw off false consciousness
• Capitalism has deformed us because it stops us from reaching our potential and discovering
who we truly are. Liberal democracies use religion, patriotism, the vote, social reforms as
ways of stopping people reaching class consciousness
• Marx and Engels believed we need to reach class consciousness and have a revolution to
rebuild as a socialist society- the state will dwindle away after this
• That society is going to based on a much more positively transformed human nature
• Luxembourg also believes revolution is essential for allowing us to understand our true nature
but disagrees with the idea that the socialist society created after the revolution will allow us to
be more collaborative
• Fears that a system where the power of leaders is not controlled (a vanguard elite) will see
those leaders making similar sorts of decisions to those made in a capitalist system that will
perpetuate inequality- Democracy is necessary so that power is not seized by the elite. The
capitalist state should be replaced with a socialist state.
• Luxembourg: "without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of the press and
assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies in every institution."
Evolutionary views- fundamental difference with revolutionaries
• Revolution is not necessary to show us our true human nature
• Altering the state and capitalism in a gradual way
• Capitalism can be positive
The changing of the state will provide the change needed to see our human nature
• Beatrice Webb (Democratic socialist)- gradual reform of the state can guide us back to our
natural position of cooperation
• Involves the state owning the means of production, distribution and exchange
fl fl fi fi
, Social democracy's belief that the state was not the answer- education was
• Antony Crosland: too much common ownership will infringe on individual liberty
• State should focus on trying to minimise the differences in our social class
• Wants to create an education system that levels the class system so that we have equality of
opportunity
Neo-revisionist belief in communities as a vehicle to see human nature at its best
• Giddens disagreed with Webb's belief in a strong state that controlled the economy
• The best way to promote the positives of our human nature was communitarianism to create a
classless society
• Protecting + promoting communities: you'll enhance people's wellbeing, give them a sense of
responsibility to others- the best of their human nature will show
Evaluation:
• There is limited agreement when it comes to an optimistic view of human nature and our
exibility for new ideas/equality.
• However, there is fundamental disagreement over revolution. Some want immediate revolution
to remove class consciousness and others believe in altering the capitalist state in a gradual
way.
• Webb thinks state ownership should own the means of production whereas Crosland believed
education is best way to bring out best human nature
• Luxembourg was concerned that a vanguard elite would create the same problems we have
under a capitalist system but Marx and Engels had different views.
24 marks
fl
Socialism is an ideology characterised by a positive view of human nature. It is a diverse ideology that
grew out of the enlightenment. Divided into revolutionary socialists, democratic socialists, social
democrats and the third way which emerged from social democracy
Areas of agreement
Optimistic on Human Nature
• We are capable of good and possess a 'common humanity'
• We are largely rational, intrinsically social creatures- we gravitate towards cooperation
Human Nature is exible, not xed
• Socially conditioned- society can have both positive and negative effects on people
• If we are born into capitalism we have negative characteristics that come along with that- we
are greedy, competitive, sel sh
• False consciousness: the awed idea that we are born to be greedy
• A well run socialist state will bring out the positives of our human nature
Not all people are the same
• While all socialists believe in the notion of equality, they don't believe that we have identical
abilities/needs
Areas of disagreement
Revolutionary views- revolution is necessary to throw off false consciousness
• Capitalism has deformed us because it stops us from reaching our potential and discovering
who we truly are. Liberal democracies use religion, patriotism, the vote, social reforms as
ways of stopping people reaching class consciousness
• Marx and Engels believed we need to reach class consciousness and have a revolution to
rebuild as a socialist society- the state will dwindle away after this
• That society is going to based on a much more positively transformed human nature
• Luxembourg also believes revolution is essential for allowing us to understand our true nature
but disagrees with the idea that the socialist society created after the revolution will allow us to
be more collaborative
• Fears that a system where the power of leaders is not controlled (a vanguard elite) will see
those leaders making similar sorts of decisions to those made in a capitalist system that will
perpetuate inequality- Democracy is necessary so that power is not seized by the elite. The
capitalist state should be replaced with a socialist state.
• Luxembourg: "without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of the press and
assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies in every institution."
Evolutionary views- fundamental difference with revolutionaries
• Revolution is not necessary to show us our true human nature
• Altering the state and capitalism in a gradual way
• Capitalism can be positive
The changing of the state will provide the change needed to see our human nature
• Beatrice Webb (Democratic socialist)- gradual reform of the state can guide us back to our
natural position of cooperation
• Involves the state owning the means of production, distribution and exchange
fl fl fi fi
, Social democracy's belief that the state was not the answer- education was
• Antony Crosland: too much common ownership will infringe on individual liberty
• State should focus on trying to minimise the differences in our social class
• Wants to create an education system that levels the class system so that we have equality of
opportunity
Neo-revisionist belief in communities as a vehicle to see human nature at its best
• Giddens disagreed with Webb's belief in a strong state that controlled the economy
• The best way to promote the positives of our human nature was communitarianism to create a
classless society
• Protecting + promoting communities: you'll enhance people's wellbeing, give them a sense of
responsibility to others- the best of their human nature will show
Evaluation:
• There is limited agreement when it comes to an optimistic view of human nature and our
exibility for new ideas/equality.
• However, there is fundamental disagreement over revolution. Some want immediate revolution
to remove class consciousness and others believe in altering the capitalist state in a gradual
way.
• Webb thinks state ownership should own the means of production whereas Crosland believed
education is best way to bring out best human nature
• Luxembourg was concerned that a vanguard elite would create the same problems we have
under a capitalist system but Marx and Engels had different views.
24 marks
fl
