RE: Marx versus Engels--"utopian" socialism

["Mark Lause" <MLause@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm unfortunately neck deep in some tedious work this and next week, and
have little time for more than a short response....

I find the distinction between Engels and Marx less interesting than the
distinction between the early Marx and the later Marx.  Having outlived
Marx and carried the ball on his own, however, Engels was wont to
oversimplify what shouldn't be oversimplified.  In their earlier
writings (like the COMMUNIST MANIFESTO), Marx and Engels described as
kindred movements those of the radical British Chartists, the
Blanquists, and the American National Reformers.

However, Engels' ANTI-DUEHRING--which contains what became SOCIALISM,
UTOPIAN AND SCIENTIFIC took a short cut on such matters.  This was
Engels' attempt to distinguish between the "scientific" socialism
advocated by him and Marx and the "utopian" socialism of their
predecessors.  Engels opted to contrast their views with the "utopian"
ideas of Saint-Simon, Fourier, and Owen.  These earlier socialists
advocated the formation of communities, did not believe in class
conflict, and were not political, etc.

So, were the class-based socialist political movements that predated the
social democrats, "scientific" or "utopian"?   Addressing this in a more
complex way would have been helpful...particularly with the emergent of
non-Marxist labor parties, movements, etc.

After all, Lenin once described revisionism as the resurfacing of
utopian socialist ideas within the broader context of "Marxism."  So, we
know that if somebody pops up and proposes that we move to New Harmony,
we're dealing with a utopian and a revisionist.  However, it's usually
not that obvious, is it?

I really don't think it ever was.

Solidarity!
Mark L.

PS: And I really don't mean to disparage Engels.  He's entitled to have
gotten old.  We'll all get there.





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