Socialism, scientific and humanistic
Dear Editors
Since January the Pathfinders page has been a valuable addition to the Socialist Standard. In discussing socialism it recognises that we need to be consciously working for something, not simply against something. In July I argued against the idea that voting and democracy would be significantly advanced by means of new technology. After reading the August Pathfinders I realise that my questioning of new technology developed within capitalism goes deeper than that. It is a matter of some interpretations of scientific socialism focusing on things and humanistic socialism (as I see it) focusing on people. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not against scientific socialism. I just think that Pathfinders puts too much emphasis on things and not enough on people.
“If capitalism fed, clothed and looked after its people in peace and without coercion, socialism would not be disproved but it would be unnecessary.” There is no evidence that capitalism can be changed to adequately feed and clothe all the world’s population without coercion. So the idea that it can do these things remains a doubtful hypothesis. But even if capitalism could change its spots in the ways outlined, would that be the end of the socialist campaign for system change? I think not. Socialism is not about changes to capitalism – it is about replacing capitalism with another system. It is about a world society based on giving and taking, not on buying and selling.
“. . . the ability to micro-produce with minimal waste and distribution costs remains one of the most exciting innovations socialist society could possibly inherit.” Pathfinders’ fire is obviously lit by socialist methods of producing and distributing things. My fire is lit by the prospect of socialist relations between people (which will, of course, lead to changes in production, distribution, and much else).
Stan Parker,
London N3
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