Veber A.B. The Concept of “Development” and Its Evolution in the Writings of Marx

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Abstract

The 200 anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx once again attracted the attention of the public to his ideological heritage. The article discusses Marx’s concept of the actual driving forces of human society development. The diffi cult way of formation and evolution of his views on the problems of development is traced, his ascent from the earlier perceived philosophical anthropology in its rather abstract categories to a more concrete and large-scale vision of world history. The actual importance of his criticism of bourgeois society, of inherent to capitalism cultivation of human private existence and private material interests in contrast and to the detriment of common interests is underlined. In its deepest essence, Marx’s teaching contains important starting points for the modern sociology of development: in relation to the driving forces of social development, the interests of various social groups, human development, the search for an optimal connection between private and the common interests, awareness of spontaneous prerequisites of development, their threatening consequences and necessity of conscious control of social processes, especially in the light of today’s unprecedented global challenges. To paraphrase Marx’s known words, we have the right to say that the case is still a great dispute between the blind domination of the law of supply and demand, i.e., spontaneous development, and social development, guided by public foresight.