Premises of Communism
I have just finished reading The Naked Communist by W. Cleon Skousen. I think this book does a good job of introducing what Communism is and also gives brief histories of the people who influenced and promoted Communism. One of the areas that I have been pondering a bit more is the ‘Major Premises of Communism’ from the author’s point of view using the writings of those that promoted it (I won’t provide the quoted source below, just the premise. if you would like to know who said each statement, please see the book for more information).
Major Premises of Communism:
I think that another premise should be included, or maybe it fits under #2, and that is the belief in human nature. This worldview believes that humans should start as a blank slate. I have been listening to the book: The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature by Steven Pinker. If you believe that man is born as a blank slate than that would also mean that you can fill that slate with information or experiences that will program the mind to create a perfect society; A classless society that promotes universal peace and prosperity. It would make creating the perfect mind, child, or society a little bit easier if we were just trained to be what is wanted or needed. Having a complex innate human nature means that not everything is trainable. Society could / would have flaws that demand correction by the Dictator of the Proletariat; therefore, there would always be a need for government. Can Communism ever reach its goals without blank slates?
I have just finished reading The Naked Communist by W. Cleon Skousen. I think this book does a good job of introducing what Communism is and also gives brief histories of the people who influenced and promoted Communism. One of the areas that I have been pondering a bit more is the ‘Major Premises of Communism’ from the author’s point of view using the writings of those that promoted it (I won’t provide the quoted source below, just the premise. if you would like to know who said each statement, please see the book for more information).
Major Premises of Communism:
- Everything in existence came about as a result of ceaseless motion among the forces of nature.
- Human beings are only graduate beasts.
- There is no such thing as innate right or wrong
- That all religion must be overthrown because it inhibits the spirit of world revolution.
I think that another premise should be included, or maybe it fits under #2, and that is the belief in human nature. This worldview believes that humans should start as a blank slate. I have been listening to the book: The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature by Steven Pinker. If you believe that man is born as a blank slate than that would also mean that you can fill that slate with information or experiences that will program the mind to create a perfect society; A classless society that promotes universal peace and prosperity. It would make creating the perfect mind, child, or society a little bit easier if we were just trained to be what is wanted or needed. Having a complex innate human nature means that not everything is trainable. Society could / would have flaws that demand correction by the Dictator of the Proletariat; therefore, there would always be a need for government. Can Communism ever reach its goals without blank slates?
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