The Dialectic

Abstract

In philosophic writings the word ‘dialectic’ has four distinct meanings. First of all it refers to the art of discussion and, in Plato, to metaphysics as well; thus it acquires the meaning ‘logic’, logic of probability (with Aristotle) and logic in general (in the Renaissance); for Kant the word represents the sum of natural and nevertheless fallacious deductions; finally, Hegel defines dialectic as follows: it is “the very nature of thinking”¹; as, however, with Hegel, the laws of thinking and of being coincide, dialectic is for him “the specific and true nature of rational definitions, of things and of the finite in general”.² In other words, Hegel sees in dialectic the totality of laws which determine the evolution of being. Judin and Rozen- tal’ agree with Hegel when they declare: “The dialectic is the science of the general laws of evolution in nature, in human society and in thought.” ³ This dialectic plays an exceedingly significant part in Dialectical Materialism; Stalin calls it the “soul of Marxism”.⁴ Lenin, when he grew older, summoned the Soviet philosophers to study Hegel’s dialectic with zeal.