Free Will vis-à-vis economic determinism: against reductionism and revisionism in defense of Marxism

Abstract

The base-superstructure metaphor stands as a central hypothesis in Marxism: the economy determines ideology. Economic reductionists misinterpret the base-superstructure theory as a unilateral relation of absolute causation (economic conditions absolutely determine ideological conditions): leaving no room for free will or even any autonomous action. Revisionists, to preserve free will, refute this theory and thus refute the precedence of the economy over ideology in determining the development of society. In this paper, I will be arguing against both. I will argue that ideology determines the economy but not as much as the economy determines ideology. The relation between the base and the superstructure is bilateral but asymmetrical in favor of the economy. Individuals’ ideas, and by extension actions, are determined by the economic conditions however the economy doesn’t absolutely determine human ideas, and by extension actions; humans enjoy a margin of autonomy for free actions. Both reductionists and revisionists conceive of economic determinism as a unilateral relation of absolute determinism. The former verifies this as true while the latter refutes it as false. I will argue that economic determinism is more nuanced. Economic conditions are the chief determining factor of the development of human society. They don't determine everything, but they do determine most things.