Components of a Communist's Worldview based on Martin's Four Subsidiary Philosophical Questions
Discerning the
components of a worldview can be challenging at times. However, the time spent doing so is
definitely advantageous when one recognizes how it affects our view of every
part of our lives. The objective of this
essay is to identify the standpoints of a communist’s worldview based on the
“Four Simple, Subsidiary Philosophical Questions” (Questions on Ontology,
Epistemology, Axiology, and Teleology) from Glenn Martin’s book, Prevailing Worldviews.
Communism almost
by definition asserts a naturalistic ontology. This worldview, being the, "Vision of
man's mind displacing God as the intelligence of the world," (Chambers,
1987), denies the existence of any force or power greater than the progressive capabilities
of the human mind. This belief is not
only a preference to communism but is virtually indispensable to it. As one of the most prominent communist
thinkers, Vladimir Lenin, said in his book Religion;
"Atheism is a natural and inseparable part of Marxism, of the theory and
practice of scientific socialism."
The epistemological
standpoint of communism can be found by looking at the fundamental basis for
the ultimate source of the knowledge which it consists of. To the communist this source is the
autonomous thought of the human mind itself; "(Communism) is the vision of
man's liberated mind, by the sole force of its natural intelligence,
redirecting man's destiny and reorganizing man's life and the world."
(Chambers, 1987). Because of this vital
dependence on rationality, rationality is absolutized and becomes rationalism,
or in other words, a rationalistic ontology.
When discussing
the axiology of the communist's worldview, one could argue that it is
humanistic considering the emphasis on the rational mind of man. However, this is not the case, as man is only
seen as a means to greater materialistic social productivity. The challenge of the communist's vision is to
"Impose on (nature) his rational will to order, abundance, security, and
peace. It is the vision of materialism." (Chambers,
1987). The predominance of materialism
in the communist's worldview was also expressed by the founder of communist
thought, Karl Marx. In the 1859 preface
to his book, A Contribution to the
Critique of Political Economy, he said, "The mode of production of
material life conditions the general process of social, political and
intellectual life."
The final aspect
of the communist's worldview to consider is the teleological aspect. The main two categories, in a very
generalized form, are the Kingdom of God teleology and the Kingdom of earth
teleology. Deciding the correct option
between the two is simple when taking a look back at how the answers to the other
questions inform this one. In this case
for instance, when someone believes in a naturalistic ontology which denies the
existence of a supernatural creator, how could they believe in a Kingdom of God
ontology? Communism’s intrinsic
grounding on the Kingdom of earth and not the Kingdom of God can be quickly
detected; "Communism restores man to his sovereignty by the simple method
of denying God." (Chambers, 1987)
In short, a
Communist believes in a naturalistic ontology based on the knowledge derived
from a rationalistic epistemology, and is in pursuit of a materialistic
axiology to the culmination of a Kingdom of Earth teleology. As Christians, the dynamic of our worldview
is distinctively different because we see God as the ultimate source of truth. Our worldview is ultimately based on our
understanding and relationship with God.
Psalm 25:11(ESV) says, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are
the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”
References
Chambers, Whittaker, Witness,
(1987)
Lenin, Vladimir IIyich, Religion,
(1933)
Martin, Glenn R., Prevailing
Worldviews of Western Society Since 1950, (2006)
Marx, Karl, A
Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, (1859)
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