Socialism is a Science | Question 1 from "Dialectical Logics"

 Part I: Foundations

Question 1: What does it mean to say that socialism is a science?

What we mean when we say that socialism is a science is fundamentally the same as when one refers to biology, chemistry, or anthropology. We mean that the processes for developing socialism are rigorous, tested, and based in observation, experiment, and prediction of material reality.

We say that the process of realizing socialism in the world is a practice that follows the scientific method wherein practices and material are observed, predictions are made, practical experiments are conducted, and the results of those experiments are analyzed to continue the cycle over again.

To give an abstract example, say that there exist some objects $A$ and $B$ and that the success of $A$ is contingent upon the defeat of $B$— we would call this a “zero-sum game” or alternatively say that there is a contradiction between $A$ and $B$. We can denote this contradiction $\frac{A}{B}$ (pronounced: “A over B”). Say that this contradiction was discovered through an observation and analysis of the properties of $A$ and the properties of $B$. Like in a chemical mixture, the contradiction $\frac{A}{B}$ is unstable and must transform to stabilize itself. 

We experiment by materially changing the conditions that lead to the emergence of our contradiction. In doing so, we must exercise a degree of creativity to produce a new thing from the contradictory $\frac{A}{B}$ Say that in our experiment we add a new condition p and denote the whole experiment as $p \times \frac{A}{B}$. The change in the condition(s) changes the relation between $A$ and $B$ such that we may have either a different contradiction between the two (akin to $\frac{B}{A}$) or a new thing entirely (represented $(\frac{A}{B})’$ ; pronounced “A over B prime”). We then study the effects of the change in relation and generalize the results of that experiment to form a workable theory. At this point, we may apply this theory to other experiments, utilize it in our analysis, and continue this cycle in line with the scientific method.

From our previous example, if out of the transformation from contradiction, $\frac{A}{B}$, to synthesis, $(\frac{A}{B})’$, there may be some new thing, $C$, that is contradictory with our synthesis. We can then apply the theories we developed through our experiments with A and B and create a new synthesis from the contradiction between $C$ and $(\frac{A}{B})’$. This synthesis could be denoted $(\frac{(\frac{A}{B})’}{C})'$. We see through this notation that each new object developed from contradiction becomes more complex than what preceded or composes it. 

In fairness, this may seem dense and abstract philosophically, but it is directly applicable to the science of socio-political development. For another example, say that we have a dominant or oppressor group, and an oppressed group. The success of the oppressed group as a whole is contingent upon the defeat of their oppression and by proxy their oppressors. In our notation, this can be denoted $\frac{R}{D}$ where $R$ is the oppressor group and $D$ is the oppressed group. 

Our experimentation involves making changes in this present society through policy and direct action that  may change the relations between $D$ and $R$. The relations may change the dominant force in the system to something similar to $\frac{D}{R}$, or it may produce a new system entirely (a qualitative leap) that does away with domination of this form. That would be our $(\frac{R}{D})’$. However, because people will always be in relation with each other and new social challenges will emerge as society develops, there will always be some new thing that is contradictory with $(\frac{A}{B})’$ and the cycle will continue. 

To do with socialism specifically, this means that socialists are always seeking to experiment and test theories and develop new theories to resolve emergent contradictions. The end goal and highest stage of socialism is to end the domination of man by man and resolve the contradictions that emerge from economic exploitation. The end goal is to produce a society wherein the masses of the people may exercise their independence, creativity, and consciousness to the fullest extent of their capacities. 

Fundamentally, socialism is a science because socialists follow the scientific method of observation, hypothesis, experiment, analysis/theorization, and new observation. This method produces an objective socialism that constantly refines itself to produce new, people-first ideology that focuses on material benefit to the masses.