The concept of capitalism is complex and contradictory when studied using an historical approach. However, in order to completely understand the contemporary social structures, it is important to consider how materialism was historically understood and practiced. The modes of production and exchange define the existing social order. This paper particularly focuses upon the excerpt from Anti-Duhring entitled "Theoretical,"" in which Friedrich Engels discusses the historical materialism and the contradictions in the concept of capitalism. By explaining historical materialism and contradictions in capitalism, this paper will further discuss the conflicts that arise from capitalist mode of production. Furthermore, this paper will provide explanation on Engels' vision of the outcome of the historical development of capitalism.
Historically, it was considered that the causes of social and political changes in society were based on changes in the mode of production and exchange. Materialism largely established the foundation of social structure. As Engels argued, the basis of every social order "is determined by what is produced and how it is produced, and how the product is exchanged" "(292). According to Engels, the concept of historical materialism explains that the tools of production and labour belonged to the producer. However, this changed as the social orders began to adapt to the capitalist modes of production. Capitalism "was incompatible with the local privileges.the bourgeoisie shattered the feudal system, and on its ruins established the bourgeois social order.equal rights for commodity owners"" (Engels, 292-93).
The fundamental contradiction in the apparently free and equal capitalist social order occurs between the bourgeoisie and the working class. The large scale mode of production takes away the rights of ownership of the product from those who put in the labor to produce it.