Dialectics or dialectical method is a philosophical view that knowledge derives from knowing reality as a whole that encompasses opposites or contradictions. Originally developed in Eastern mystical religion and philosophy as the "yin/yang" perspective, this dialectical approach most affected Western political thought in Hegel, Marxism, communism, and fascism.

The dialectical view or logic claims that reality or things include opposites. A single day, for example, includes daytime and nighttime, light and dark. So the whole consists of two different elements, which give definition to each other--man/woman; husband/wife; child/parent; student/teacher; and so on. No single thing can be completely known except by reference to its "other," or opposite. It is simply understanding the way things relate to other things within a comprehensive universe.

The German philosopher Hegel applied this Eastern religion to history, claiming that the clashing of opposites propelled civilization forward and that by understanding current "contradictions," we could see what was "becoming." This then becomes a kind of philosophical fortune telling or prophesy.

Karl Marx adapted this Hegelian dialectic to economic classes (master/slave; landlord/peasant; capitalist/worker) and claimed that social and political history is propelled by this conflict of economic classes that represent forces and relations of production. For Marxism, this "dialectical materialism" led history through various stages from feudalism to capitalism to socialism to communism. The process was an inevitable evolution, so the idea was to attach oneself to the "progressive" social class (in capitalism the proletariat or industrial workers). Finally, history would end in communism, a classless society of economic abundance and political liberation.

Fascist political theory (as in Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany in the 1930s) adopted the Hegelian dialectic in a different way. For fascist philosopher Giovanni Gentile, each individual has the opposites of a "particular will" and a "universal will" within them. The particular will is one's personal interests, desires, and talents; the universal will is one's culture, race, nationality, heritage, and language within one. Growing in "self-consciousness" is coming to know that universal (Germaness, Italianness) will that is embodied in the state (and the powerful state leader). So, Fascist countries subordinated individual citizens to the will of the state, claiming that dialectically this was fulfilling or "realizing" the individual. Dialectical fascist theory also justified aggressive warfare on the grounds that the dominating nations (such as Nazi Germany) dialectically "overcame" the "opposition" of the dominated nations (such as Poland). This rationalized brutal dictatorship and military aggression. Fascist countries claimed that they were only asserting their "rights" and that other (conquered) countries were in their way. The dialectic became more diabolical as the communist and fascist systems used it to justify all kinds of cruel and inhuman policies (such as attempted extermination of the Jews, oppression of foreign peoples, forced labor camps, etc.)

In later praxis-school Marxism, the dialectic was used to explain all social causes in terms of the "ideal" criticizing the "real" and leading to progressive human liberation and "self-realization." Seeing all social relations (as between classes, races, genders) in terms of conflict, the praxis Marxist "overcomes" oppression between men and women, blacks and whites, rich and poor, through revolutionary criticism of any group or individual who has power and "transforming" the dialectical conflict into "unity." This New left perspective informs much of sociology and neo-Marxist political philosophy.

In a different, purely logical Western perspective, the dialectic can also mean the use of opposing arguments in discussion (such as the Greek philosopher Socrates arriving at truth through a method of asking questions and revealing the internal contradictions in an opponent's opinions). The adversarial legal system in Anglo-American jurisprudence and clashing "free-marketplace-of-ideas" liberalism of John Stuart Mill are dialectical in this sense (as is free-market competition).

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Philosophy at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Philosophy and other relevant topics.