Marx Centenary

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scientific socialism is materialist. greatest thoroughness.

Marx devoted his life to transfor socialism into a realistic science and practice ¡by Programme of the People's Party and the petty bourgeois democracy' . The one instance of 'internationalism' is an abstract, ideological-political profession of the idea of the 'international brotherhood of peoples' (changed in the final version to the 'brotherhood of men'). • Karl Marx had devoted his ism from to transforming social- whole life La theoretical ideology and practical utopia into a realistic and material science and practice. It is not surprising that a programme like this deeply disappointed and dismayed him. This is why the whole letter on the Programme became one blazing indictment of what he explicitly stated to be a "thoroughly objectionable programme, which would demoralise the Party' in everything it said.

The theory and practice of Tha draft Dramamma is Inscal. lean - that is, ideological and utopian. Even if one were able and willing to ignore his, 'the Programme is worthless' taken in and for itself.

Marx therefore holds it to be his. 'duty' 'not to accept' such a theoretically and practically unprincipled Programme 'by a diplomatic silence'. '. He 'comments on' it and 'criticises' it with the We begin with the law of wages. First, let us mention Marx's critical remark in his letter that 'proceeds of labour' is a 'loose' (i.e. imprecise) idea which 'Lassalle has put in the place of definite economic concepts. The "definite economic concepts' Marx talks of here are obviously those of his theory of value and surplus value, and in particular a scientific discovery that is basic Middle Lane, London N8 add money for postage.

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Socialist Organiser no.128 April 21 1983 Page