Engels’ Conception of Dialectics in the Plan 1878 of Dialectics of Nature
Dr. Kaan KANGAL, Nanjing
Abstract
This presentation intends to offer an overview of Engels’ conception of dialectics in the Plan 1878 (MS 164) of Dialectics of Nature. Going against the grain of classical readings of Engels’ work, it firstly proposes to distinguish three larger and four smaller projects that make up what posthumously became to be known as ‘Dialectics of Nature’. It argues that what is commonly regarded as the plan of Dialectics of Nature was actually planned to be the plan of Engels’ second project. Then it goes on to elaborate on the (con)textual background and theoretical function of Engels’ definition of dialectics as ‘science of universal inter-connection’ in contradistinction to his previous and later manuscripts of Dialectics of Nature. The purpose of this take is to unfold the internal tensions of Engels’ contentions present throughout the entire writing process. For instance, Engels largely works with two parameters of opposition: metaphysics vs. dialectics, and idealism vs. materialism. The theoretical arena in which he defends dialectics and materialism against metaphysics and idealism is shaped by a third pair of opposites which he tries to overcome: natural sciences vs. philosophy. Read against the problem field in which Engels orients himself, this article defends that the content as well as intention of the Plan 1878 falls short of establishing a consistent ontology of nature, defending dialectics and materialism against metaphysics and idealism, and overcoming the divergence between philosophy and natural sciences. Engels’ shortcomings remained largely unresolved in the post-1878 period, an obvious fact which a significant number of researchers fail to take into account.
