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dialectical materialism

(19th century- )

Term coined by German philosopher JOSEF DIETZGEN (1820-1888) and developed by Marx's successors.

History moved forward as a result of 'argument' between different material features of human society.

Dialectical materialism was an ambitious and almost abstract attempt by Karl Marx's successors to give an account of all human and natural events, and was subsequently largely discarded.

Also see: historical materialism

Source:
Tom Bottomore, A Dictionary of Marxist Thought, 2nd edn (Oxford, 1991)

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