Single Idea 5281

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature]

Full Idea

Consciousness is from the very beginning a social product.

Gist of Idea

Consciousness is a social product

Source

K Marx / F Engels (The German Ideology [1846], §1.A)

Book Reference

Marx,K./Engels,F.: 'The German Ideology', ed/tr. Arthur,C.J. [Lawrence and Wishart 1985], p.51


A Reaction

This slogan has produced the sociological view of truth which has stood opposed to philosophy for the last 150 years. It would be silly to deny that there is a good point here, but equally silly to think that all consciousness is explicable in this way.

Related Idea

Idea 19745 The nature of people is decided by the government and politics of their society [Rousseau]