Single Idea 5298

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

Full Idea

The human essence is no abstraction inherent in each single individual; in its reality it is the ensemble of the social relations.

Gist of Idea

The human essence is not found in individuals but in social relations

Source

Karl Marx (Theses on Feuerbach [1846], §VI)

Book Reference

Marx,K./Engels,F.: 'The German Ideology', ed/tr. Arthur,C.J. [Lawrence and Wishart 1985], p.122


A Reaction

This is a key Marxist doctrine, and the central difference from Aristotle. Personally I am more with Aristotle, but the truth obviously lies somewhere in between. Man must be a 'social being', or there wouldn't be any social relations.