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SOCIALISMTo what extent do socialists agree on human nature?
Into:
- Consensus over the potential for human nature to be positive, cooperative with common humanity.
- Fundamental divide over impact of capitalism and human nature between more orthodox socialists (Marx and DS) and
Revisionists (SD and TW).
Paragraph 1: human nature and common humanity (and impact of capitalism on it).
Consensus:
- positive view of human nature - support the idea that human nature is malleable and improvable – plastic, shaped by
society and the economy.
- They recognise that the society humans are raised in is very important and so to be fully ‘human’, attitudes like co-
operation, fraternity etc should be encouraged – common humanity.
- idea of common humanity – Revolutionaries support the idea total collectivism so everyone can work together while even
the third way believe a sense of community is important – communitarianism.
- unrestrained capitalism can cause problems for human nature – selfish, greed and exploitation.
Tension:
- Socialists disagree about the society within which common humanity can thrive.
- Marx believed that society has to go through revolution to fully achieve a situation where humans can thrive – capitalism
corrupts completely.
Tension within RS: Luxembourg – common humanity survives in working class communities despite capitalism.
Third Way thinkers such as Giddens believe humans can thrive under capitalism, while still embracing feelings
such as ‘fraternity.’
- Early Social Democrats - Webb believed that the damage caused to the human psyche by capitalism would be made
worse by a violent revolution but did believe humans would thrive in a more collectivist society.
no revolution. It can do more harm than good to human nature. Capitalism must be removed, but state must
survive, it is not only a tool of oppression.
- Third Way thinkers like Giddens are much more individualistic in their view of human nature than Revolutionary Socialists
and Social Democrats - The Third Way does move towards a Liberal view of human nature to an extent.
too simplistic to blame capitalism - can unlock positive features in human nature – innovation common aspiration,
productivity. Capitalism can be reformed and harnessed.
Paragraph 2: human nature, equality, and the role of the state.
Consensus:
- most socialists believe humans are naturally sociable and co-operative species, equality is a natural state because it is
fair, stops negative behaviour such as jealousy and leads to needs satisfaction.
Human nature is fraternal and cooperative nature – spirit of common ownership and collectivism.
Marxism sees collectivism in its purest form, communism.
Strands of ES reference collectivism too, in terms of cooperative federalism, Webb,
- different strands have tried to make society more equal to fit their view of common humanity using the state.
RS: the abolition of private property
SD: idea of progressive taxation redistributing wealth
TW: ‘strong’ support for universal healthcare and education – see an important role for the state to provide equal
opportunity and enhance human rights.
Tension:
- different socialists support differing levels of equality, and therefore support different levels of state interference.
- absolute equality – Marx. RS: state must be removed – tool of oppression.
Tension within, Luxembourg: democracy needed to prevent human nature being corrupted by power (totalitarian
dictatorship).
However, DS: Webb – ‘revolutions are chaotic, inefficient, and counterproductive.
to relative equality - Social Democrats - increasing tax, progressively, wealth redistribution through welfare.
who moved towards strong equality of opportunity under Crosland.
to a rejection of equality of outcome in favour equality of opportunity by the Third Way – Giddens - except HN has
adapted to capitalist society – Keynesianism economy, changed capitalism for the better. atomised and
individualistic – promotes communitarianism – the freedom to become wealthy but with a social responsibility to
provide opportunity for all.
Favour progressive taxation and public spending – state guaranteed public services.
Conclusion:
- Greatest consensus – all strands naturally possess features of human nature and common humanity, and all agree HN is
malleable, not fixed, and with differing abilities.
- Significant tension – how far capitalism damages HN (within Marxism) and between the rest.
- Some consensuses within evolutionary socialists – role of state being a force for good – enabling humans to demonstrate
their desire to cooperate in collectivist way – public sector workers.
- Tensions over the nature of the state (within Marxism) and with evolutionary socialists about the state restricting on
individualism – dependency culture. TW – individualism is now a feature of HN in a society where class is less relevant.
,To what extent do socialists agree over the economy.
P1: relationship with capitalism
Consensus:
- All Socialists, including the Third Way, are uneasy with the atomistic view of capitalism put forward by neo-
liberals such as Rand or Nozick.
- They all believe there must be some reform/intervention.
- Marx - Capitalism exploited, alienated workers, and got them to ignore their social side.
- Webb - capitalism caused physiological damage.
- Social Democrats like Crosland believed that capitalism needed to be managed to stop its more destructive
elements.
- Even the Third Way rejected total free market neo-liberal capitalism, putting huge investment into healthcare
and education.
Tension:
- RS – capitalism corrupts completely – must be removed through revolution.
- Early SD’s such as Webb saw the eventual abolition of capitalism although this would happen slowly.
- Ultimately, there is similarity with Revolutionaries in that they both envisaged an economy without capitalism
BUT at totally different speeds.
- Social Democrats - Crosland saw capitalism being tamed through Keynesian economic management so
it didn’t need to be abolished.
o They saw some benefits to capitalism and the dynamism it brings to society.
o He also believed capitalism could provide wealth to support a strong welfare state.
- Third Way - accept free market capitalism but also tame its more extreme elements through support for
infrastructure, schools, NHS in UK - showing partial agreement with later SD’s.
P2: economic equality
Consensus:
- All socialists believe the economy should be aimed at making society more equal - through wholescale control
of resources and abolition of private property (RS’s) or support for equality of opportunity.
- most support an economy which enforces equality of outcome because: it is fair, ensures needs satisfaction
and fits with socialists view of human nature.
- each strands sees the economy as having this role to different degrees.
Tension:
- there is division about how far socialists agree about how equal the economy should be.
- Marx argues that private property should be abolished, and the state should control economic distribution
according to ‘need’.
- Social Democrats - economy should encourage a move towards equality of outcome through progressive
taxation redistributing wealth from the wealthiest to those who need it the most, as well as funding a strong
welfare state.
- The Third Way rejects economic engineering to achieve equality of outcome but supports some economic
involvement to support strong equality of opportunity – welfare state.
, To what extent are socialists committed to ‘equality of outcome’.
P1: equality of outcome
Consensus:
- Equality of outcome rather than just formal equality/equality of opportunity.
o Satisfy the basic needs to increase freedom.
o Opposition to inequality and class divides.
- Seen in both RS and ES pursuing policies – abolition of private property or a stronger welfare state.
o Marx – ‘from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.’
Tensions:
- Revolutionaries disagree with SD as they support absolute equality – SD support relative equality.
o Represents a fundamental and irreconcilable difference in their view of how far equality should be
extended.
- TW, Giddens, disagree with Marxists and SDs on equality of outcome, favouring equality of opportunity – full
potential.
o Legitimises social inequality – raises questions to whether TW is even a socialist strand.
- SDs do not share desire for strong equality of outcome.
P2: Society and human nature.
Consensus:
- Inequality creates social conflict and instability.
- Inequality driven by capitalism must be opposed.
- Human nature is social, equality of outcome allows for potential development and growth.
- Because of their belief in common humanity and the fact that human nature is plastic, e.g., formed by the
society it grows up in, all socialists agree that improving society (by making it more equal) is crucial because
equality is fair, collective and leads to needs being met.
Tension:
- Disagreement on how to achieve it – between revolution vs gradualisms.
- Explain how there is division about how far socialists agree about how equal society should be and how fast
society should change.
- Marx argues that private property should be abolished, and the society should become equal very quickly
through revolution and the dictatorship of the proletariat.
- Webb rejects this, supporting the invertibility of gradualism and that society should move more slowly towards
equality of outcome.
- Crosland and later Social Democrats agree but see increasing importance in a society that supports strong
equality of outcome.
- Later SD’s accept society will never be totally equal but support relative equality by the state shrinking the gap
between rich and poor. T
- The Third Way supports a society which allows equality of opportunity.
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