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Why Socialism?
“Is it advisable for one who is not an expert on economic and social issues to express views on the subject of socialism? I believe for a number of reasons that it is.” —Albert Einstein
12 pages
First published May 3, 1949
About the author
Albert Einstein
864 books9,384 followersSpecial and general theories of relativity of German-born American theoretical physicist Albert Einstein revolutionized modern thought on the nature of space and time and formed a base for the exploitation of atomic energy; he won a Nobel Prize of 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
His paper of 1905 formed the basis of electronics. His first paper, also published in 1905, changed the world.
He completed his Philosophiae Doctor at the University of Zurich before 1909.
Einstein, a pacifist during World War I, stayed a firm proponent of social justice and responsibility.
Einstein thought that Newtonion mechanics no longer enough reconciled the laws of classical mechanics with those of the electromagnetic field. This thought led to the development. He recognized, however, that he ably also extended the principle to gravitational fields and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916 published a paper. He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory, which led to his explanations of particle theory and the motion of molecules. He also investigated the thermal properties of light, which laid the foundation of the photon.
Best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, dubbed "the world's most famous equation," he received "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.
He visited the United States when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 and went not back to Germany. On the eve of World War II, he endorsed a letter, alerting Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president, to the potential development of "extremely powerful bombs of a new type" and recommending that the United States begin similar research. This recommendation eventually led to the Manhattan project. Einstein supported defending the Allied forces but largely denounced the idea of using the newly discovered nuclear fission as a weapon. Later, with Bertrand Russell–Einstein manifesto highlighted the danger of nuclear weapons.
After the rise of the Nazi party, Einstein made Princeton his permanent home as a citizen of United States in 1940. He chaired the emergency committee of atomic scientists, which organized to alert the public to the dangers of warfare.
At a symposium, he advised:
("Science, Philosophy and Religion, A Symposium," published by the Conference on Science, Philosophy and Religion in their Relation to the Democratic Way of Life, Inc., New York, 1941).
In a letter to philosopher Eric Gutkind, dated 3 January 1954, Einstein stated:
(The Guardian, "Childish superstition: Einstein's letter makes view of religion relatively clear," by James Randerson, May 13, 2008)
Great intellectual achievements and originality made the word "Einstein" synonymous with genius.
The institute for advanced study in Princeton, New Jersey, affiliated Einstein until his death in 1955.
More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_E...
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobe
His paper of 1905 formed the basis of electronics. His first paper, also published in 1905, changed the world.
He completed his Philosophiae Doctor at the University of Zurich before 1909.
Einstein, a pacifist during World War I, stayed a firm proponent of social justice and responsibility.
Einstein thought that Newtonion mechanics no longer enough reconciled the laws of classical mechanics with those of the electromagnetic field. This thought led to the development. He recognized, however, that he ably also extended the principle to gravitational fields and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916 published a paper. He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory, which led to his explanations of particle theory and the motion of molecules. He also investigated the thermal properties of light, which laid the foundation of the photon.
Best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, dubbed "the world's most famous equation," he received "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.
He visited the United States when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 and went not back to Germany. On the eve of World War II, he endorsed a letter, alerting Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president, to the potential development of "extremely powerful bombs of a new type" and recommending that the United States begin similar research. This recommendation eventually led to the Manhattan project. Einstein supported defending the Allied forces but largely denounced the idea of using the newly discovered nuclear fission as a weapon. Later, with Bertrand Russell–Einstein manifesto highlighted the danger of nuclear weapons.
After the rise of the Nazi party, Einstein made Princeton his permanent home as a citizen of United States in 1940. He chaired the emergency committee of atomic scientists, which organized to alert the public to the dangers of warfare.
At a symposium, he advised:
"In their struggle for the ethical good, teachers of religion must have the stature to give up the doctrine of a personal God, that is, give up that source of fear and hope which in the past placed such vast power in the hands of priests. In their labors they will have to avail themselves of those forces which are capable of cultivating the Good, the True, and the Beautiful in humanity itself. This is, to be sure a more difficult but an incomparably more worthy task... "
("Science, Philosophy and Religion, A Symposium," published by the Conference on Science, Philosophy and Religion in their Relation to the Democratic Way of Life, Inc., New York, 1941).
In a letter to philosopher Eric Gutkind, dated 3 January 1954, Einstein stated:
"The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."
(The Guardian, "Childish superstition: Einstein's letter makes view of religion relatively clear," by James Randerson, May 13, 2008)
Great intellectual achievements and originality made the word "Einstein" synonymous with genius.
The institute for advanced study in Princeton, New Jersey, affiliated Einstein until his death in 1955.
More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_E...
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobe
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August 8, 2012"Man is, at one and the same time, a solitary being and a social being. As a solitary being, he attempts to protect his own existence and that of those who are closest to him, to satisfy his personal desires, and to develop his innate abilities. As a social being, he seeks to gain the recognition and affection of his fellow human beings, to share in their pleasures, to comfort them in their sorrows, and to improve their conditions of life."
"If we ask ourselves how the structure of society and the cultural attitude of man should be changed in order to make human life as satisfying as possible, we should constantly be conscious of the fact that there are certain conditions which we are unable to modify. As mentioned before, the biological nature of man is, for all practical purposes, not subject to change. Furthermore, technological and demographic developments of the last few centuries have created conditions which are here to stay. In relatively densely settled populations with the goods which are indispensable to their continued existence, an extreme division of labor and a highly-centralized productive apparatus are absolutely necessary. The time—which, looking back, seems so idyllic—is gone forever when individuals or relatively small groups could be completely self-sufficient. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that mankind constitutes even now a planetary community of production and consumption."
"Unknowingly prisoners of their own egotism, they feel insecure, lonely, and deprived of the naive, simple, and unsophisticated enjoyment of life. Man can find meaning in life, short and perilous as it is, only through devoting himself to society."
"The result of these developments is an oligarchy of private capital the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked even by a democratically organized political society. This is true since the members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature. The consequence is that the representatives of the people do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population. Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights."
"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career."
"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. (...) The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society."
"Clarity about the aims and problems of socialism is of greatest significance in our age of transition. Since, under present circumstances, free and unhindered discussion of these problems has come under a powerful taboo, I consider the foundation of this magazine to be an important public service."
April 26, 2019
“Why Socialism?” is a short essay written by Albert Einstein for the socialist journal Monthly Review’s first issue. In it, Einstein briefly outlines his critique of capitalism, which borrows heavily from classical Marxism, and why a transition to socialism is essential for the survival of the human species.
Here are his major points:
The current laws of economics are derived from a capitalist society and thus only applicable to it. Socialism supersedes capitalism; it is a radical transformation of society. So current economic forces have no relevance for a future socialist society. Just because something cannot be done under capitalism does not mean it cannot be done under socialism.
The abolition of capitalism and a transition to socialism is an imperative for human survival in order to avert nuclear armageddon and ecological catastrophe.
Science is amoral; a tool; a means to an end. An ethical ideal like socialism is required to guide science toward the desirable end of liberating mankind from the dictates of nature. Or else science will be exploited for an unethical ideal like capitalism to enslave mankind and eventually destroy it.
The individual and society form a symbiotic relationship. A healthy individual needs a healthy society and a healthy society needs healthy individuals.
Human nature is two-dimensional: a fixed biological component and a flexible cultural one determined by environment. (Here Einstein is paraphrasing Marx)
Capitalism undermines democracy by concentrating wealth into the hands of an economic elite which funds a political elite to represent its interests in government. The ultra-rich also control the media and educational systems to manipulate public opinion and prevent free thought. (Here Einstein is prefiguring Thomas Ferguson’s investment theory and Noam Chomsky and Ed Herman’s propaganda model)
Capitalism’s profit motive entails human needs go unmet to satisfy human greed.
Socialism must be democratic if it is to ward off the danger of a totalitarian bureaucracy. (Here Einstein is alluding to Soviet totalitarianism and echoing Bakunin’s warning of a red bureaucracy)
Here are his major points:
The current laws of economics are derived from a capitalist society and thus only applicable to it. Socialism supersedes capitalism; it is a radical transformation of society. So current economic forces have no relevance for a future socialist society. Just because something cannot be done under capitalism does not mean it cannot be done under socialism.
The abolition of capitalism and a transition to socialism is an imperative for human survival in order to avert nuclear armageddon and ecological catastrophe.
Science is amoral; a tool; a means to an end. An ethical ideal like socialism is required to guide science toward the desirable end of liberating mankind from the dictates of nature. Or else science will be exploited for an unethical ideal like capitalism to enslave mankind and eventually destroy it.
The individual and society form a symbiotic relationship. A healthy individual needs a healthy society and a healthy society needs healthy individuals.
Human nature is two-dimensional: a fixed biological component and a flexible cultural one determined by environment. (Here Einstein is paraphrasing Marx)
Capitalism undermines democracy by concentrating wealth into the hands of an economic elite which funds a political elite to represent its interests in government. The ultra-rich also control the media and educational systems to manipulate public opinion and prevent free thought. (Here Einstein is prefiguring Thomas Ferguson’s investment theory and Noam Chomsky and Ed Herman’s propaganda model)
Capitalism’s profit motive entails human needs go unmet to satisfy human greed.
Socialism must be democratic if it is to ward off the danger of a totalitarian bureaucracy. (Here Einstein is alluding to Soviet totalitarianism and echoing Bakunin’s warning of a red bureaucracy)
February 16, 2019
Five stars because it is very concise and to the point. Nevertheless the content is very condensed that it might not be understood without a brief background on socialism and what problem it views in the capitalist means of production.
March 17, 2017
If this essay shows anything, it's that you have no business talking about economic orders when you don't understand economics. This insight is so trivial that it sounds silly when you type it out, but apparently, it was completely lost on Einstein. Why Socialism? was published in 1949, when the problems with central planning had already been laid out in great detail by such economists as Ludwig von Mises and F.A. Hayek, but Einstein doesn't lose a word on them. Neither does he actually justify his own narrative, he pretty much takes it as a given, as if there was no dispute whatsoever on such central issues as whether we even live under conditions approaching pure capitalism, as Einstein claims we do. The result is a clichéd mess that would be rightly forgotten if it wasn't for the great, but - to this topic - utterly irrelevant credentials of its author.
November 8, 2018
he snapped
March 31, 2019
4.5/5
"...human beings are not condemned, because of their biological constitution, to annihilate each other or to be at the mercy of a cruel, self-inflicted fate."
I was very surprised to find out Einstein was a socialist. A rather short essay, Why Socialism? gets it's point across in a very easy to understand and decluttered way. (something I wish more leftists would consider doing).
"...human beings are not condemned, because of their biological constitution, to annihilate each other or to be at the mercy of a cruel, self-inflicted fate."
I was very surprised to find out Einstein was a socialist. A rather short essay, Why Socialism? gets it's point across in a very easy to understand and decluttered way. (something I wish more leftists would consider doing).
February 21, 2021
Short and to-the-point, with a clarity of thought expected of a man of his intellect.
October 19, 2022
এই প্রবন্ধের নাম প্রথম শুনেছি 'সোভিয়েত রাশিয়া ভাঙল কেন' বই এ। কয়েকদিন আগেও কোথায় যেন এর রেফারেন্স পেলাম দেখে পড়তে নিলাম আজ।
আইনস্টাইন যে শুধু একজন মহাজ্ঞানধারী পদার্থবিজ্ঞানীই নন বরং সমাজবিজ্ঞান সম্বন্ধে যে অগাধ পড়াশুনা ছিল এ প্রবন্ধ পড়লে তা বোঝা যায়। লেখায় আমি সোশ্যালিজমের চাদরে যে ক্যাপিস্টালিজম নিয়ে মার্ক্সের কথাই পড়ছিলাম বলে মনে হচ্ছিল। তবে সোশ্যালিজমেও যে সমস্যার বীজ লুকিয়ে আছে তা আইনস্টাইন ঠিকই বলেছেন তবে এর সমাধানে তিনি যান নি।
এই সমস্যার সমাধান না করলে যে সোশ্যালিজম যে একটি পূর্ণ দাসত্ব ব্যবস্থায় পরিণত হবে এ হুশিয়ারি তিনি অবশ্য দিয়েছেন। এর সত্যাসত্য আমাদের সামনেই উদাহরণ হয়ে আছে।
এ ধরণের লেখা আমি আরও কয়েক জায়গায় পড়েছি। এই সময়ে এসে এমন লেখা পাওয়াটা খুব কমন। পলিটিকাল সাইন্সের অনেক পাঠ্য বইয়েই এমন লেখা পেয়ে যাবে পাঠক নিঃসন্দেহে। আপ্পাডোরাই এর 'দ্য সাবট্যান্স অফ পলিটিক্স' পড়ে দেখতে পারেন আমার ফেলো পাঠকেরা।
তবে এই লেখার সিগ্নিফিকেন্স অন্য জায়গায়।
যে সময়ে যে জায়গায় বসে তিনি এ প্রবন্ধ লিখেছিলেন তা মাথায় রাখা জরুরী। ১৯৪৯ এ প্রকাশিত এই প্রবন্ধটি আইনস্টাইন ইউএসেতে বসে লিখেছিলেন। ক্যাপিটালিস্টদের ঘাঁটি যেখানে ২য় বিশ্বযুদ্ধ পরবর্তী সময়ে এই শব্দ ব্যবহারও ছিল ট্যাবুর মত ব্যাপার। সেখানে তিনি ক্যাপিটালিজমকে কড়াঘাত করে সোশ্যালিজমের গান গেয়েছেন।
তাছাড়া আমি যেসব জায়গায় এমন লেখা তার সোর্স যে এই প্রবন্ধ না তা কে জানে?
আইনস্টাইন যে শুধু একজন মহাজ্ঞানধারী পদার্থবিজ্ঞানীই নন বরং সমাজবিজ্ঞান সম্বন্ধে যে অগাধ পড়াশুনা ছিল এ প্রবন্ধ পড়লে তা বোঝা যায়। লেখায় আমি সোশ্যালিজমের চাদরে যে ক্যাপিস্টালিজম নিয়ে মার্ক্সের কথাই পড়ছিলাম বলে মনে হচ্ছিল। তবে সোশ্যালিজমেও যে সমস্যার বীজ লুকিয়ে আছে তা আইনস্টাইন ঠিকই বলেছেন তবে এর সমাধানে তিনি যান নি।
এই সমস্যার সমাধান না করলে যে সোশ্যালিজম যে একটি পূর্ণ দাসত্ব ব্যবস্থায় পরিণত হবে এ হুশিয়ারি তিনি অবশ্য দিয়েছেন। এর সত্যাসত্য আমাদের সামনেই উদাহরণ হয়ে আছে।
এ ধরণের লেখা আমি আরও কয়েক জায়গায় পড়েছি। এই সময়ে এসে এমন লেখা পাওয়াটা খুব কমন। পলিটিকাল সাইন্সের অনেক পাঠ্য বইয়েই এমন লেখা পেয়ে যাবে পাঠক নিঃসন্দেহে। আপ্পাডোরাই এর 'দ্য সাবট্যান্স অফ পলিটিক্স' পড়ে দেখতে পারেন আমার ফেলো পাঠকেরা।
তবে এই লেখার সিগ্নিফিকেন্স অন্য জায়গায়।
যে সময়ে যে জায়গায় বসে তিনি এ প্রবন্ধ লিখেছিলেন তা মাথায় রাখা জরুরী। ১৯৪৯ এ প্রকাশিত এই প্রবন্ধটি আইনস্টাইন ইউএসেতে বসে লিখেছিলেন। ক্যাপিটালিস্টদের ঘাঁটি যেখানে ২য় বিশ্বযুদ্ধ পরবর্তী সময়ে এই শব্দ ব্যবহারও ছিল ট্যাবুর মত ব্যাপার। সেখানে তিনি ক্যাপিটালিজমকে কড়াঘাত করে সোশ্যালিজমের গান গেয়েছেন।
তাছাড়া আমি যেসব জায়গায় এমন লেখা তার সোর্স যে এই প্রবন্ধ না তা কে জানে?
August 13, 2016
El breve artículo de Einstein expone de forma muy básica los fallos del capitalismo y la necesidad del socialismo para superar la depredación entre humanos. Muchos de sus argumentos son simples y pueden resultar útiles en una discusión con aquellos que no tienen ni puta idea de lo que significa "socialismo".
October 2, 2019
This is a wonderful introductory article on Socialism, one that would help a novice to understand the crux of socialism. I shall attempt to summarise the key ideas that Einstein focuses on.
- He begins by highlighting the inherently oppressive nature of all of human civilisation and the role that conquests and religion played in it. His view that priests took over the education system to make the masses comply with, internalise and normalise the oppressive status-quo is very relevant even today.
- He opines that science can only provide the means to ends; and that those ends can only be shaped by human minds that are ethical.
- He then writes about the dual nature of humans - ie their biological constitution which cannot be altered and their cultural constitution that can be shaped to suit the interests of all human beings.
- Then, he dives into the individual v. collective debate by emphasing the role that society plays in the creation of the individual and how meaningless the existence of the individual would be without societal influences. He seems to say that the collective rights of mankind will always trump the rights of the individual and he is certainly right, especially when it comes to the ownership of private property.
- Capitalism, according to Einstein, is the biggest evil that exploits the free labour of the working classes. The profiteering nature of capitalism ensures that very little social value is created by the system. He also talks about the disproportionate influence that capitalists hold over democratic governments and how socialism can be an effective alternative. He also speaks about the media and education being used as puppets of the ruling classes - an issue that is of utmost relevance in today's societies across the world.
- Collective ownership, education that aims to fulfil the potential of the individual, and the balancing of societal interests with bureaucratic control form the crux of his suggestions to bring about a more equitable world order.
In short, this is a wonderful article that gives a novice the impetus to learn more about socialism and the evils of capitalism. It would have been nice if he had addressed the issue of transitioning from capitalism to socialism.
- He begins by highlighting the inherently oppressive nature of all of human civilisation and the role that conquests and religion played in it. His view that priests took over the education system to make the masses comply with, internalise and normalise the oppressive status-quo is very relevant even today.
- He opines that science can only provide the means to ends; and that those ends can only be shaped by human minds that are ethical.
- He then writes about the dual nature of humans - ie their biological constitution which cannot be altered and their cultural constitution that can be shaped to suit the interests of all human beings.
- Then, he dives into the individual v. collective debate by emphasing the role that society plays in the creation of the individual and how meaningless the existence of the individual would be without societal influences. He seems to say that the collective rights of mankind will always trump the rights of the individual and he is certainly right, especially when it comes to the ownership of private property.
- Capitalism, according to Einstein, is the biggest evil that exploits the free labour of the working classes. The profiteering nature of capitalism ensures that very little social value is created by the system. He also talks about the disproportionate influence that capitalists hold over democratic governments and how socialism can be an effective alternative. He also speaks about the media and education being used as puppets of the ruling classes - an issue that is of utmost relevance in today's societies across the world.
- Collective ownership, education that aims to fulfil the potential of the individual, and the balancing of societal interests with bureaucratic control form the crux of his suggestions to bring about a more equitable world order.
In short, this is a wonderful article that gives a novice the impetus to learn more about socialism and the evils of capitalism. It would have been nice if he had addressed the issue of transitioning from capitalism to socialism.
December 16, 2020
He leído este ensayo como cuatro o cinco veces y siempre me parece genial. No es un pilar del marxismo, ni mucho menos un complejo análisis de las fallas del capitalismo y lo que conlleva tanto cultural, social y psicológicamente. Está escrito con el corazón y la mirada rigurosa de un ciéntifico, más que con teoría política o económica. Einstein mismo declara: "¿Debe quién no es un experto en cuestiones económicas y sociales opinar sobre el socialismo? Por una serie de razones creo que sí". Así que es un poco estúpido criticarlo creyendo que se trata de un análisis profundo. No lo es ni pretende serlo. Resalto su intención y su atrevimiento al escribir sobre el tema. Ignora diversas cosas, sí; pero mucha de sus críticas, tristemente, mantienen actualidad.
July 30, 2016
At first I was not sure how to view this essay. Einstein starts off relating Economics to Science and the similarities between them and then dives into the "benefits of Socialism" and the "problems of Capitalism. Einstein points out many of the same issues Karl Marx pointed out in Wage, Labor, and Capital. The one difference between Einstein and Marx that I did like though was that Einstein did not end with the conclusion that Socialism did not have flaws. Although Einstein did not point out all of the many flaws that Socialism has that I have found, he at least addressed that it was not without problems and his system needed to be worked out to be made more flawless.
All in all this was a good quick essay to hear the viewpoint and the side of Socialism... And to say you have read an Einstein book!
All in all this was a good quick essay to hear the viewpoint and the side of Socialism... And to say you have read an Einstein book!
April 15, 2018
One of the smartest men to ever lived thought that socialism was the best option for governing people.
May 24, 2022
socjalizm jest dobry
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2021
Albert Einstein directly gets to the point. His essay underlines clearly and concisely the first critique of the capitalist economy, then from the fundamentals of Communism, and lastly explaining why Communism can work. This has been a great read.
April 10, 2021
This short article alluded how knowledgeable of a person Albert was. He clearly pointed out why the educational system of the society should be changed and formed towards accomplishing social goals.
March 29, 2022
although it is very repetitive with major marxist texts and especially engels’ principles of communism (almost perfectly paraphrasing it in some instances) it was still an extremely enlightening read
January 7, 2021
Question (1949) : Is it advisable for one who is not an expert on economic and social issues to express views on the subject of socialism?
Notes:
- Scientific method is not an end but a tool used to inspire people to envision what it means to live. The current approaches of observing economic phenomena proliferate a stagnant viewpoint that compartmentalises and ignores a range of factors outside strictly economic influence e.g. conquest.
- The west was built upon conquest, where one group seized a monopoly of land ownership and appointed people to power who directly served them (originally priests). These people were in control of education and created a system of values that guided people in their social behaviour.
- Reference to Thorstein Veblen and the predatory phase of human development. The current economic laws we have created proliferate a predatory phase, one must look at things with fresh & critical eyes. Those on the inside regurgitate common doctrine. Science alone cannot solve human problems, thinking about how we organise society must be imagined.
- People are feeling shattered, apathetic and yielding to the notion that humanity is doomed. This is because we are living in a world that hasn't evolved to the level of suitability for human life.
- Humans are both solitary and social, they want to protect their own existence and that of those closest to them, satisfy innate desires and abilities as well as gain the recognition and affection of fellow human beings, to comfort them and to improve their conditions of life. We must find an equilibrium between these two qualities.
- There are biological constraints, however we are all dependant on society and through society we can change each other, its not one or the other. What makes humans special is that we are able to develop in ways that go beyond biology because we are able to communicate, form memories and in turn interpret the world we live in. These gifts have lead to the creation of traditions, institutions, and organisations, literature, scientific and engineering accomplishments and works of art. In many ways we create our world.
- We acquire a cultural constitution that we get from the social environment we are in, which has varied dramatically across history and countries, showing that the individual is inherently linked with society. Human beings are therefore not condemned to annihilate each other because of their biological constitution.
- We have been taught to distance ourselves from out social needs and told that society is a violation of freedom. This makes us prisoners to egotism and leads to insecurity, loneliness and a lack of enjoyment of life that can only occur when one is devoted to themselves as well as society. This is one of the main reasons so many are cynical about the fate of humanity.
- The fundamental problem is economic anarchy (individuals constantly trying to deprive each other of the collective labor) as the means of production is determined by the individual by law. Therefore, the payment of the worker is characteristically not determined by the value of their product but by the minimum price of which the capitalist determines in relation to workers competing for jobs. Private capital often becomes concentrated in a few hands mainly because of the cutthroat competition between capitalists and technological advancements which encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of smaller ones.
- Oligarchies form and directly influence the democratically organised political society as members are aligned with parties that are funded by private capitalists. Elected people therefore for the most part do not represent the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population as that isn't in the interest of private capitalists who only aim to have a capable workforce who they can profit from.
- Private capitalists also control the sources of information (press, radio, education) making it difficult for citizens to educate themselves and feel empowered to understand their political rights.
- Production is carried out for profit, not for use. An army of unemployed is always present and keeps the workers in constant fear of losing their jobs, motivating them to push for productivity and not rebel.
- The profit motive leads to instability in the accumulation and utilisation of capital which leads to increasingly severe depressions.
- Our education system is a huge problem as it encourages predatory tactics.
- The only way forward is to create a socialist economy and an education system that is oriented towards social goals, where the means of production are owned by society and are utilised in a planned fashion. Centralised control is however something to be weary of.
Notes:
- Scientific method is not an end but a tool used to inspire people to envision what it means to live. The current approaches of observing economic phenomena proliferate a stagnant viewpoint that compartmentalises and ignores a range of factors outside strictly economic influence e.g. conquest.
- The west was built upon conquest, where one group seized a monopoly of land ownership and appointed people to power who directly served them (originally priests). These people were in control of education and created a system of values that guided people in their social behaviour.
- Reference to Thorstein Veblen and the predatory phase of human development. The current economic laws we have created proliferate a predatory phase, one must look at things with fresh & critical eyes. Those on the inside regurgitate common doctrine. Science alone cannot solve human problems, thinking about how we organise society must be imagined.
- People are feeling shattered, apathetic and yielding to the notion that humanity is doomed. This is because we are living in a world that hasn't evolved to the level of suitability for human life.
- Humans are both solitary and social, they want to protect their own existence and that of those closest to them, satisfy innate desires and abilities as well as gain the recognition and affection of fellow human beings, to comfort them and to improve their conditions of life. We must find an equilibrium between these two qualities.
- There are biological constraints, however we are all dependant on society and through society we can change each other, its not one or the other. What makes humans special is that we are able to develop in ways that go beyond biology because we are able to communicate, form memories and in turn interpret the world we live in. These gifts have lead to the creation of traditions, institutions, and organisations, literature, scientific and engineering accomplishments and works of art. In many ways we create our world.
- We acquire a cultural constitution that we get from the social environment we are in, which has varied dramatically across history and countries, showing that the individual is inherently linked with society. Human beings are therefore not condemned to annihilate each other because of their biological constitution.
- We have been taught to distance ourselves from out social needs and told that society is a violation of freedom. This makes us prisoners to egotism and leads to insecurity, loneliness and a lack of enjoyment of life that can only occur when one is devoted to themselves as well as society. This is one of the main reasons so many are cynical about the fate of humanity.
- The fundamental problem is economic anarchy (individuals constantly trying to deprive each other of the collective labor) as the means of production is determined by the individual by law. Therefore, the payment of the worker is characteristically not determined by the value of their product but by the minimum price of which the capitalist determines in relation to workers competing for jobs. Private capital often becomes concentrated in a few hands mainly because of the cutthroat competition between capitalists and technological advancements which encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of smaller ones.
- Oligarchies form and directly influence the democratically organised political society as members are aligned with parties that are funded by private capitalists. Elected people therefore for the most part do not represent the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population as that isn't in the interest of private capitalists who only aim to have a capable workforce who they can profit from.
- Private capitalists also control the sources of information (press, radio, education) making it difficult for citizens to educate themselves and feel empowered to understand their political rights.
- Production is carried out for profit, not for use. An army of unemployed is always present and keeps the workers in constant fear of losing their jobs, motivating them to push for productivity and not rebel.
- The profit motive leads to instability in the accumulation and utilisation of capital which leads to increasingly severe depressions.
- Our education system is a huge problem as it encourages predatory tactics.
- The only way forward is to create a socialist economy and an education system that is oriented towards social goals, where the means of production are owned by society and are utilised in a planned fashion. Centralised control is however something to be weary of.
January 15, 2024
"human beings are not condemned, because of their biological constitution, to annihilate each other or
to be at the mercy of a cruel, self-inflicted fate."
to be at the mercy of a cruel, self-inflicted fate."
January 29, 2020
"Private capital tends to become concentrated in few hands, partly because of competition among the capitalists, and partly because technological development and the increasing division of labor encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of smaller ones. The result of these developments is an oligarchy of private capital the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked even by a democratically organized political society. This is true since the members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature. The consequence is that the representatives of the people do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population. Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights."
January 19, 2024
Rating it as what it is - a simple essay - it's a great work, which starts with a legitimation of it's critiques based on problems in socio-economic and individual-level investigation in our current world system. It deals with the natural strivings in solitary and social contexts and the societal impact of capitalism on these. He then roughly outlines his thoughts on how socialism as a system could look like while still being aware of the many societal problems which need to be solved before such a system can be established.
Even if you don't agree on the socialism part - it addresses some roots of the problems a capitlist society faces.
Even if you don't agree on the socialism part - it addresses some roots of the problems a capitlist society faces.
May 3, 2021
Couldn't disagree with it anywhere. Marx's criticism on capitalism is so substantial and solid that it everyone who has read it adores socialism. This is a solid motivation for anyone towards socialism who has some questions about the present economic system in the World.
And this essay ends with a question which is still unresolved (in my view) even after 70 years it was written " How can the rights of the individual be protected (in a socialist state) and therewith a democratic counterweight to the power of bureaucracy be assured?"
And this essay ends with a question which is still unresolved (in my view) even after 70 years it was written " How can the rights of the individual be protected (in a socialist state) and therewith a democratic counterweight to the power of bureaucracy be assured?"
April 9, 2022
Clear and concise views expressed which when expounded will probably look something like Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered.
October 5, 2019
An excellent simplified answer to "Why Socialism". Would recommend to anyone starting to learn about socialism. This book and a bit of economic history is enough to potentially change core political beliefs
June 4, 2024
Pretty much just a summary of basic Marxist theory and ideas of capitalist contradictions and socialist perspectives.
Very interesting introduction read for those interested in Einstein's view on political systems and capitalism in particular.
Very interesting introduction read for those interested in Einstein's view on political systems and capitalism in particular.
February 17, 2018
Very good essay. Took the broad view on socialism, and was concise in its reasoning.
August 10, 2022
wünschte Einstein wäre noch tiefer in die Thematik eingestiegen, aber für einen kurzen Kommentar in einer Zeitschrift fasst er vieles kurz und gut zusammen und lässt kaum etwas aus.
klar gibt es einiges zu korrigieren, aber wie Einstein selbst sagt, er ist kein Ökonom, er ist Astro-Physiker und dafür ist es sehr gelungen und gibt ein tieferes Bild in den Kopf eines der schlausten Menschen der Welt.
klar gibt es einiges zu korrigieren, aber wie Einstein selbst sagt, er ist kein Ökonom, er ist Astro-Physiker und dafür ist es sehr gelungen und gibt ein tieferes Bild in den Kopf eines der schlausten Menschen der Welt.
December 9, 2020
Nella capacità di sintesi che il ben noto per altre ragioni Albert Einstein dimostra in questo conciso articolo si cela un'ottima conoscenza dei fondamenti della teoria marxista.
Il testo è accessibile, quasi del tutto privo di scorie positivistiche e, ben oltre l'essere semplicemente una piacevole lettura, rappresenta un benvenuto contributo alla causa socialista.
Il testo è accessibile, quasi del tutto privo di scorie positivistiche e, ben oltre l'essere semplicemente una piacevole lettura, rappresenta un benvenuto contributo alla causa socialista.
August 19, 2023
A short but holistic overview of the socialist argument.
Quite scientific in its approach towards the societal issue but that’s nothing less than you would expect from Einstein. The essay as a whole is very agreeable in nature yet does raise points that I had not previously considered such as the double being of man and the interdependency of society and the individual.
Quite scientific in its approach towards the societal issue but that’s nothing less than you would expect from Einstein. The essay as a whole is very agreeable in nature yet does raise points that I had not previously considered such as the double being of man and the interdependency of society and the individual.
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