The Historical Process and Its Features

The Interconnection of the Objective and Subjective in the Historical Process

The definition of the historical process as a succession of objectively established historical events and states does not imply a diminishment or, even more so, a neglect of the human factor in its formation and progression. In fact, it is quite the opposite: without human agency and activity, the historical process cannot emerge or evolve. Here, one cannot help but agree with the conclusion reached many years ago by the founders of dialectical materialism, who noted that history is "nothing but the activity of human beings pursuing their goals."

As an immutable attribute and mode of existence of social matter, activity, as previously noted, constitutes a complex system. The fundamental elements of its structure comprise both material and spiritual activities. These concepts serve as specific categories within the broader notion of "activity."

It is worth noting that alongside the term "activity," researchers in social sciences, particularly adherents of dialectical materialism, actively employ the term "production," which, like the former, is interpreted broadly. Indeed, these concepts are closely related in their essence; however, it would be erroneous to assert their complete equivalence. The notion of "production" reflects merely one aspect of the phenomenon designated by the term "activity," albeit an important one. This conclusion is underscored by Karl Marx's analysis of social production, which he examined as a cohesive system within the interplay and interdependence of its constituent elements. "The result we arrived at," he observes, "is not that production, distribution, exchange, and consumption are identical, but that all of them constitute parts of a single whole, exhibiting differences within that unity."

This unified whole is precisely embodied in the material activity of humanity, understood as a social process that cannot be reduced to any singular structural element. One cannot limit material activity solely to production as a natural process: besides the production of material goods and the direct "production" of beings like themselves, it encompasses the "production of oneself," undertaken through successive generations, which necessitates consumption and exchange as essential elements of existence. Spiritual activity is similarly not confined to the production of ideas.

Upon entering life, new generations engage in activities to satisfy their needs. The nature and level of these needs are such that they cannot be fulfilled without relying on the results of the efforts of predecessors, particularly material activities that address fundamental needs.

This circumstance fosters the independence of the historical process from the will and consciousness of individuals, underscoring its objectivity. Emphasizing the interrelationship of the subjective and the objective in the historical process, and their dialectic, Marx wrote: "Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do so under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past."

Ultimately, the mode of production of material life conditions the social, political, and spiritual processes that characterize the existence of any given social organism at a particular stage of its historical development. The formation of new needs, which inevitably accompanies the life activities of each generation, compels them to adapt the mode of production itself, aligning it with the level of development of productive forces, thereby enhancing their capacity to satisfy increasing social demands. The realization of this task, being the decisive factor in the essential transformations of social organisms that characterize their historical states, occurs in various forms that collectively constitute historical activity.

Understanding the interplay of the objective and subjective in the historical process is a crucial aspect of investigating its dialectic and discerning its specific characteristics.