BOOK REVIEW: Materialism and the Dialectical Method by Maurice Cornforth

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HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

I believe it was originally published in the late 1940s, early 1950s. It was published as the first book of a trilogy — the second book on historical materialism and the third book on the theory of knowledge — and Cornforth was given a grant by the CPB to write these books.

I read the first edition of this book available via Red Star Publishers and published by N8PH. The first edition was certainly published before the 20th congress in 1956; in latter revisions, Cornforth capitulates and compromises the theoretical vigour and validity of the book in favour of an embarrassing and obsequious allegiance to Khrushchevism, prefacing any time he references Stalin in the book with unfounded, ad-hominem slander. But nevertheless, the first edition is free from such restraints.

SUMMARY:

Materialism and the Dialectical Method is split into two parts. The first part concerns itself more with a general introduction on why dialectical materialism is important as the “party philosophy”, the difference between materialism and idealism and an evaluation of mechanical materialism and metaphysics.

The second part explains in dialectics in decent depth, explaining contradictions, the negation of the negation, quality into quantity, the new and the old and finally criticism and self-criticism.

AUTHORSHIP: 8/10

The authorship of this book is very good. For this reason, it is definitely recommendable to a beginner. Whilst its relatively long length may be daunting, it is very concise and no paragraph is superfluous.

The sentence structure and language used is certainly understandable and very easy to read — Cornforth does not utilise overly verbose language or lapse into obscura and complexity for the sake of it at any part of this book.

Cornforth also implies concrete examples in order to supplement the advanced theoretical points on dialectics and materialism which is particularly useful to a new reader in order to conceptualise and begin to apply dialectical materialism themselves.

The authorship I presume at this very good level since it was originally written in English anyway so there is no factor of clunkiness or mistranslation. However, I would say that, perhaps innately owing to the subject of the book, there isn’t really anything innately interesting, agitational or unique about his writing style so I have reserved a 10/10 rating for authorship.

CURRENT IMPORTANCE: 9/10

This is self-evident. Dialectical materialism will always remain of integral importance. As discussed in the book as well, anyone who tries to argue the contrary, to claim that dialectical materialism or theory is not necessary or is antiquated, is anti-Marxist and an enemy of the revolution.

However, one could argue that the opinions, idealist and mechanical materialist Cornforth refutes are not as specifically relevant today. Obviously, whilst the bourgeoisie still rely on mechanistic materialism and idealism in content, they less so rely on the specific forms Cornforth discusses. This book could be greatly advanced in the current era if one added a detailed philosophical analysis and refutation of the new emergent forms of bourgeois reaction like postmodernism and such.

THEORETICAL MERIT: 9/10

This book has extreme theoretical merit. In a very introductory and easy to follow manner, it summarises very detailed and complex points of philosophy. It seldom lapses into errors or confusion and Cornforth was evidently a very astute dialectician.

However, this book could have been even more theoretically advanced if Cornforth spent time on discussing and repudiating dissident and erroneous trends that dwell under the label of dialectics such as Bogdanov and Buhkarin’s theory of equillibrium and the Deborin school.

OVERALL EVALUATION: 26/30

Incredible read. An underrated hood classic which is slept on so much. Buy this for your close friends and family members.