the origin of the family private property and the state by friedrich engels

A comprehensive work summarizing our present knowledge of the development of social institutions is, therefore, a timely contribution to socialist propaganda. The capitalist system has progressed so far, that all farther progress must bring danger to it and to those who are supreme through it.īut the forces, which have brought about the ent social order, continue their work regardless of the wishes of a few exploiters. Their message is dangerous to the existing order, and it will not do to give it publicity at a time when further intellectual progress of large bodies of men means the doom of the ruling class. Only a few of them are accessible to a few individuals on the dusty shelves of some public libraries. Their books are either out of print, as is the case with the fundamental works of Morgan, or they are not translated into English. In the United States the names of these men are practically unknown. But this message never reached the great mass of humanity. Such is the message which the works of men like Bachofen, Morgan, Marx, Darwin, and others, brought to the human race. As organic life on earth assumes different shapes, the result of a succession of chemical changes, so the group life of human beings develops different social institutions as a result of increasing control over environment, especially of production of food, clothing and shelter.

Scientific investigation has revealed long ago that human society is not cast in a stereotyped mould. 'An eternal being created human society as it is today, and submission to 'superiors' and 'authority' is imposed on the 'lower' classes by divine will.' This suggestion, coming from pulpit, platform and press, has hypnotized the minds of men and proves to be one of the strongest pillars of exploitation.

The origin of the family private property and the state by friedrich engels