Hostility towards Dialectical Materialism

Hi all

I must say I am somewhat surprised that so many on RevLeft seem to be anti-dialectics. I'm from China and among the Chinese left dialectics is just almost always taken for granted, it's almost unimaginable to think that a Marxist could actually be anti-dialectical.

Of course, I believe in the freedom of thought and speech and I take the opinions of anti-dialecticians in a respectful way. Trouble is, while I think the debate between dialecticians and anti-dialecticians is largely a purely academic one, it seems those in the anti-dialectics camp get somewhat hostile in the debates, almost to the extent of accusing dialecticians for being "reactionary" in some way. I would appreciate it if anti-dialecticians can debate this issue in a more civil and calm manner and avoid throwing slurs and insults at people who subscribe to dialectical materialism. Frankly, in the objective sense, it isn't a big deal as such. It's not directly related to the struggles in China or Latin America or Africa or the West. It's just an useful and interesting intellectual discussion and debate. So I just don't understand the hostility towards dialectical materialism displayed on some among the Western left.

Yes it's strange. Dialectical materialism is at the core of all the theoretical advances from Marx to Mao to Huey P Newton. Newton eventually dropped the label 'Marxist' instead describing himself as a dialectical materialist, as he saw that as the theoretical engine of scientific socialism, and I agree with him. The anti-dialectics people don't seem to understand that dialectical reasoning exists in most great Marxist works..

I suspect Rosa is just a Marx-Engels' split enthusiast that has gone so far down that path she can't turn back. She's made it her 'life's project', which is both sad and amusing. Either she'll go away eventually, or she'll just die, and that will be the end.