Educating The Average Person (Scenario)

[RA89]

You awake on a different planet, which is almost identical to Earth. You are surrounded by the working class in their slum.

Capitalism is in full force, however nobody has ever heard of anything left related, communism/socialism are unheard of. These people aren't even aware that they are being exploited.

You are only allowed to give these people THREE books (or manuals etc). They have the intelligence of the average high school/secondary school graduate so it must be something they can comprehend.

Which books would you recommend and why?

[Sinister Intents]

Well considering the scenario (which seems impossible to me, or that there just isn't enough in it, idk) I would recommend these people to read Kropotkin's The State and It's Historic Role, Marx's Capital Vol. 1, and Kropotkin's Mutual Aid. I'm assuming these are really literature for you to read, so perhaps this thread needs moved?

These three I previously listed may be to advanced however.
To revision what I originally said:
The Communist Manifesto
The Principles of Communism
The Critique of the Gotha Programme

[tallguy]

You awake on a different planet, which is almost identical to Earth. You are surrounded by the working class in their slum.

Capitalism is in full force, however nobody has ever heard of anything left related, communism/socialism are unheard of. These people aren't even aware that they are being exploited.

You are only allowed to give these people THREE books (or manuals etc). They have the intelligence of the average high school/secondary school graduate so it must be something they can comprehend.

Which books would you recommend and why?

No need for a different planet. You've just described Earth. If we can't make it work here, we're not going to make it work elsewhere.

[tallguy]

Why have I got a banned notification suddenly appear on my avatar?

[tallguy]

And why can I still post if I'm banned?

[tallguy]

Oh....wait up....it's April 1st aint it....

hardi ha ha....

[Sinister Intents]

No need for a different planet. You've just described Earth. If we can't make it work here, we're not going to make it work elsewhere.

Indeed lol, he did basically describe the Earth though there are communists and other leftists

Why have I got a banned notification suddenly appear on my avatar?

Look at the date

And why can I still post if I'm banned?

We're all gonna die, 'tis the purge

[ArisVelouxiotis]

No matter how hypothetical this is.It's impossible.I mean what not one guy thought that the working class was being exploited.Anyway,I think it can be a really interesting thread so my 3
Communist Manifesto
Das Kapital(although it's really complicated for a man who has never heard of socialism and marxism)
Critique of the Gotha programme

[RA89]

Thanks for replies, I can see why the scenario is a little flawed but I was just trying to think of a more interesting way to ask which are the best books to introduce to average people.

I wouldn't say it is impossible though, tonnes of people hate their jobs and know that they work harder than the people at the top, yet they just believe that is the way things are, that if they work hard they can make it etc.

[Remus Bleys]

You do realize what the origin of the communist movement comes from, correct? This doesn't arise from the intellectualism of a handful of men and women nor is it even the brainchild of the mass of people who comprise the proletarian class. Communist Theory is the result of the struggle that is forced upon us by capital - the bourgeoisie, the agents of capital, and the proletariat - those who are without reserves (the truth is more nuanced but I prefer to keep it simple for this purpose). The conditions of capital are intolerant to the proletariat, for they have nothing but their labor to sell and maybe a few scraps thrown at them by the state in order to sedate them. During its struggle against capital (this presupposes capital forcing them into the mass bloc of the working class) they slowly learn what tactics, strategies, and eventually the final goal (the destruction of capitalism - which necessarily is the destruction of the barriers of communist society) was learned to a radical minority. It is this radical minority that exists, it is this radical minority that truly knows the real struggle of the proletariat.

This radical minority is the party. This party contains individuals with advanced enough conscious - emanating from the party, which was organically sprung from the class - that leads the class, that shows the class its true struggle. Thusly you have men like Marx, Engels or Lenin, who were not great men - rather they simply were able to see what was actually occurring in the proletarian movement, what this meant, and what they could do to increase this struggle. (Let us not be fooled into thinking that the parties of the bourgeoisie could not do the same to the class, that they have this ability is evident given the counterrevolutionary nature of the "masses" as they exist now.)

This is why I utterly, completely, totally and mercilessly reject your question, your scenario. You seem to be implying that it is the works of Marx that had created the proletarian movement, rather it is quite the opposite. The idea that the "masses" (please, why use rhetoric of "their slums"?) have to read Capital in order to be revolutionary - this revolutionary nature lies within the working class because the working class find capitalism so unbelievably unbearable - yet this may need some encouraging, some radicalization, propaganda and speeches by the party. It's not as if everyone has to rationally understand why socialism is superior - if that was required we'd never see socialism! - but that the class simply needs to be directed in the actions which it will perform, in continuous harmony with its Vanguard.

It is not that the working masses are too "dumb" "uneducated" or "stupid" to understand Marx, its that with many of his works there simply isn't time to, but if there is then we would surely encourage that the Party's Work (ie the whole of communist literature) be read by every single person - we just must acknowledge this is not a necessity, that over the course of the revolution, with their stomachs liberated, the people (and since the fed bellies of all the world implies communism, we can truly speak of the people) will then be able to have their minds liberated and open and themselves truly understand the marxist (the materialist) understanding of the world. We must necessarily acknowledge that simply if every proletarian read about Wage Labour this would not necessarily lead to revolution (though I cannot imagine a scenario that the entire class would do this if it was not revolutionary), it may perhaps help with the proper course of action if one was already revolutionary. We are not voluntarists, no Communist believes that one can simply announce "peoples war" and that the party work simply needs to be propagated and we will have revolution. The relationship of the influence and strength of the class is directly proportional to that of the party - without the party the class is nothing, and without the class the party is nothing.

[RA89]

You do realize what the origin of the communist movement comes from, correct? This doesn't arise from the intellectualism of a handful of men and women nor is it even the brainchild of the mass of people who compromise the proletarian class. Communist Theory is the result of the struggle that is forced upon us by capital - the bourgeoisie, the agents of capital, and the proletariat - those who are without reserves (the truth is more nuanced but I prefer to keep it simple for this purpose). The conditions of capital are intolerant to the proletariat, for they have nothing but their labor to sell and maybe a few scraps thrown at them by the state in order to sedate them. During its struggle against capital (this presupposes capital forcing them into the mass bloc of the working class) they slowly learn what tactics, strategies, and eventually the final goal (the destruction of capitalism - which necessarily is the destruction of the barriers of communist society) was learned to a radical minority. It is this radical minority that exists, it is this radical minority that truly knows the real struggle of the proletariat.

So you're saying that naturally any group who are victims of capitalism will eventually gravitate towards revolution/communism?

What if that just doesn't happen because things never get bad enough for the proletariat to rebel, with the capitalists maintaining a situation where they can keep people on the brink? Or at the very least what if it would take too long? Is it bad to want to speed up the process?

This is why I utterly, completely, totally and mercilessly reject your question, your scenario. You seem to be implying that it is the works of Marx that had created the proletarian movement, rather it is quite the opposite. The idea that the "masses" (please, why does rhetoric of "their slums"?) have to read Capital in order to be revolutionary - this revolutionary nature lies within the working class because the working class find capitalism so unbelievably unbearable - yet this may need some encouraging, some radicalization, propaganda and speeches by the party. It's not as if everyone has to rationally understand why socialism is superior - if that was required we'd never see socialism! - but that the class simply needs to be directed in the actions which it will perform, in continuous harmony with its Vanguard.

It is not that the working masses are too "dumb" "uneducated" or "stupid" to understand Marx, its that with many of his works there simply isn't time to, but if there is then we would surely encourage that the Party's Work (ie the whole of communist literature) be read by every single person - we just must acknowledge this is not a necessity, that over the course of the revolution, with their stomachs liberated, the people (and since the fed bellies of all the world implies communism, we can truly speak of the people) will then be able to have their minds liberated and open and themselves truly understand the marxist (the materialist) understanding of the world. We must necessarily acknowledge that simply if every proletarian read about Wage Labour this would not necessarily lead to revolution (though I cannot imagine a scenario that the entire class would do this if it was not revolutionary), it may perhaps help with the proper course of action if one was already revolutionary. We are not voluntarists, no Communist believes that one can simply announce "peoples war" and that the party work simply needs to be propagated and we will have revolution. The relationship of the influence and strength of the class is directly proportional to that of the party - without the party the class is nothing, and without the party the class is nothing.

Surely most people need to fully convinced of something - which will change their way of life- before they commit to it? And wouldn't the best way to guarantee that the most people possible take action be to attempt to educate as many as possible?

Isn't sitting back and waiting for people to see the light too passive? Why not be as proactive as possible?

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Those poor little average people, if only they had some enlightened PhD graduates to enlighten them on theories of surplus, labour theory of value and so on. If only they knew what was good for them, then they too could buy a high horse and sit on it!

Communism may be a theory that can be intellectually challenging, but tbh if you are just going to see yourself as some enlightened deity riding in to save the 'average' people then:

a) you clearly don't have that much real-life engagement with said 'average' people, and
b) you're probably going to crash and burn quite quickly.

[Psycho P and the Freight Train]

1. Distribute lsd

2. Present self as messiah

3. Become known as "the dear leader" and tell everyone you're building a utopia but then screw them over instead

[RA89]

Those poor little average people, if only they had some enlightened PhD graduates to enlighten them on theories of surplus, labour theory of value and so on. If only they knew what was good for them, then they too could buy a high horse and sit on it!

Communism may be a theory that can be intellectually challenging, but tbh if you are just going to see yourself as some enlightened deity riding in to save the 'average' people then:

a) you clearly don't have that much real-life engagement with said 'average' people, and
b) you're probably going to crash and burn quite quickly.

I'm working class mate. Just looking for ideas to learn and help others learn. But people are just seeing me as trying to condescend poor people.

What is the point in just preaching to the choir? The average person is surely the person needed onboard? What good is it banging on about stuff on here and then ignoring the person in the street? Makes things look very impractical IMO.

[AmilcarCabral]

Hello, the 3 main books that i would give them would be The Will to Power by Nietzsche (for self-power in order to have the necessary power and guts to destroy the capitalist army of the capitalist governments in a leftist revolution), The case for socialism by Alan Maass, and the state and revolution by Lenin.

On a side note and related to this specific topic and from my own perspective and point of view of what I've been observing in the last years in the behaviour patterns of the oppressed poor low-income sector of USA, I think that the left of America will have to create and invent a way to rise to power without having to wait for the poor people of USA to personally convert themselves to socialism ideology voluntarily. What I mean is that for many reasons most americans rich and poor are too glued to their own kind of thinking and to their own traditions

So if we would like to see socialism (a workers and citizens government) in USA in our near future, we have to find a new formula and new tactic on how can the left rise to power with a minority of the US poor population being converted to communism while the majority of poor americans would still be hardcore Democratic Party and Republican Party loyal voters. Because I don't really see most american joes and janes who work in Wal Marts, Mcdonalds and other corporations and jobs done by the low-wage poor workers of USA by their own free will being converted to communist ideology.

Right now most oppressed poor americans are too depressed, too suicidal and have many negative behavior patterns like alcoholism, food-addiction, social phobia, avoidant disorders, bystander effect disorder (not caring about what happens outside of their own selves), ultra-individualism, arrogance, an excess of pride, conformism, ultra-optimism, and many other behaviour scripts and patterns (probably learned from the mainstream media and from the ruling class )etc. that are impediments for a revolutionary objective situation and for a creation of a large united leftist political party.

Heck man poor people in USA don't even like to talk with other poor people about their economic problems

So we are gonna have to create a new tactic of rising to power, without the need of the great majority of redneck apathetic people who only care about their stupid personal lives and their narcissist families

.

You awake on a different planet, which is almost identical to Earth. You are surrounded by the working class in their slum.

Capitalism is in full force, however nobody has ever heard of anything left related, communism/socialism are unheard of. These people aren't even aware that they are being exploited.

You are only allowed to give these people THREE books (or manuals etc). They have the intelligence of the average high school/secondary school graduate so it must be something they can comprehend.

Which books would you recommend and why?

[Remus Bleys]

So you're saying that naturally any group who are victims of capitalism will eventually gravitate towards revolution/communism?

Yes and no. I would have to know what you mean by "victims of capitalism" as thats rather vague, unfortunately.

What if that just doesn't happen because things never get bad enough for the proletariat to rebel, with the capitalists maintaining a situation where they can keep people on the brink? Or at the very least what if it would take too long? Is it bad to want to speed up the process?

This tactic is called accelerationism, and it is where leftists try to make the conditions for the working class even worse for the proletariat. This should be rejected as a tactic because historically this has simply helped out the more "right wing" of the reaction (as opposed to social democracy, which benefits the "left wing" of the reaction). It's incorrect but please don't feel morally bad for thinking this is contemplative, I am positive that many many great communists at one point thought "if only the situation was worse." But why would the class side with those who would make an intolerable position worse, and have objectively stated that as their aim? In addition, it is not good that the working class lives in such horrible situations. In many cases "extra horrible" cases have led to a revolutionary situation, but in cases where the class party is dead - which it is now (why then be an activist of any type?) - the goal is to rebirth the class party, for historically if one looks at crises and the lack of any real communist movement one sees many great tragedies.

Surely most people need to fully convinced of something - which will change their way of life- before they commit to it? And wouldn't the best way to guarantee that the most people possible take action be to attempt to educate as many as possible?

Bordiga once stated:

Briefly, and in plain words, the law of economic determinism states that in each epoch the general prevailing opinions, the political, philosophical and religious ideas which are shared and followed by the great majority are those which correspond to the interests of a dominant minority who holds all power and privilege in its hands. Hence the priests and wisemen of the ancient oriental peoples justify despotism and human sacrifice, those of the pagan civilisations preach that slavery is just and beneficial, those of the christian age exalt property and monarchy, and those of the epoch of democracy and the Enlightenment canonise the economic and juridical systems suitable to capitalism.


When a particular type of society and production enters into a crisis and when forces arise in the technical and productive domain which tend to break its limits, class conflicts become more acute and are reflected in the rise of new doctrines of opposition and subversion which are condemned and attacked by the dominant institutions. When a society is in crisis, one of the characteristics of the phase which opens up is the continuous relative decrease in the number of those who benefit from the existing regime; nevertheless, the revolutionary ideology does not prevail in the masses but is crystallised only in a vanguard minority that is joined even by elements of the dominant class. The masses will change ideologically, philosophically and religiously through the force of inertia and through the formidable means utilised by every dominant class for the moulding of opinions, but this transformation will occur only after a long period following the collapse of the old structures of domination. We can even state that a revolution is truly mature when the actual physical fact of the inadequacy of the systems of production places these systems into conflict even with the material interests of a large section of the privileged class itself. And this is true in spite of the fact that the old traditional dictates of the dominant opinions, with their tremendous reactionary inertia, continue to be endlessly repeated by the mass which is the victim of it as well as by the superior layers which are the depositories of the regime.


Thus slavery definitively collapsed, in spite of an obstinate resistance on the level of ideology and that of force, when it proved to be a system which was scarcely profitable for the exploitation of labour and which was of little advantage for the slave-masters.


To say it briefly, the liberation of an oppressed class does not proceed first from the liberation of the spirit and then of the body but it must emancipate the stomach well before it can affect the brain.

Communism as a movement exists all around us and existed since capitalism - it simply isn't given a real independent voice. Through the revolution, the proletariat realizes its true struggle, the one unmasking all previous struggles it had had, as being part of its invariant program (the program being the abolition of the current state of things). To quote Luxemburg, "The true dialectic of revolutions, however, stands this wisdom of parliamentary moles on its head: not through a majority, but through revolutionary tactics to a majority – that’s the way the road runs."

Isn't sitting back and waiting for people to see the light too passive? Why not be as proactive as possible?

Please reread my post. I did not say any such thing such as "wait for them to see the light."

[PhoenixAsh]

RevLeft collectively needs to take a chill pill as we take things waaaay to serious.

I think that OP meant that we post the books that we feel would be most beneficial to increasing class consciousness.


* The Conquest of Bread
* Anarchism and Other Essays
* One-Dimensional Man

[RA89]

RevLeft collectively needs to take a chill pill as we take things waaaay to serious.

I think that OP meant that we post the books that we feel would be most beneficial to increasing class consciousness.


* The Conquest of Bread
* Anarchism and Other Essays
* One-Dimensional Man

That's what I meant, thanks. By no means was I trying to be Morpheus lol.

Next time I'll write questions more straight forward. But on the bright side some useful (for me) discussion still took place.

[reb]

You don't need to educate anyone about communism. All that Marxism is is just an explanation of what is going on in real life. It doesn't create anything in real life. The actual historical process and class struggle is what creates communist consciousness, it isn't brought in from out side and it also isn't just this innate thing within humanity either. I'm fairly certain that the majority of users here have barely read any Marx but that doesn't stop them from declaring themselves to be Marxists, so really, the only people who need to be schooled are these so-called Marxists.

[bropasaran]

1. The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

2. What is Anarchism? by Alexandar Berkman

and just in case

3. the last edition of Ian McKay's An Anarchist FAQ