[Siena Dreaming]

And you still have not explained how Darwin influenced Marx in 1848 with a book that appeared in 1859.

Granted, I understand the timeline. If true, it seems that Marx could not have read Origen of Species before writing his book.

However, it does not seem possible that there is NO connection between evolution and marxism as Marx himself says in the quote that evolutionary ideas are the basis of natural history for his views.

[orionblamblam]

> it does not seem possible that there is NO connection between evolution and marxism as Marx himself says in the quote that evolutionary ideas are the basis of natural history for his views.

Here's a thought: maybe Marx was *lying*?

[CarolinaGuitarman]

" Granted, I understand the timeline. If true, it seems that Marx could not have read Origen of Species before writing his book."

*If* true? lol BTW, it's the Origin, not Origen. :)

"However, it does not seem possible that there is NO connection between evolution and marxism as Marx himself says in the quote that evolutionary ideas are the basis of natural history for his views."

He's attaching his ideas to a popular scientific theory of the day to give his more prestige. You have not shown HOW he would have adapted natural selection and descent with modification into his ideology. It takes more than just saying it to make it so.

It should also be realized that at this time, Marx was a second tier socialist at best; he didn't become a household name until the 20th century. Darwin was a conventional free market, antislavery whig of the time.

[Ichneumon]

However, it does not seem possible that there is NO connection between evolution and marxism as Marx himself says in the quote that evolutionary ideas are the basis of natural history for his views.

The "connection" was explained in post #6. Marx was grasping for rationalizations.

The fact remains that evolution is not and could not be the "basis" for Communism, since Communism was conceived and described in detail *before* evolution.

Furthermore, anyone with even the slightest grasp of evolution has no trouble at all grasping that evolution is a far better "basis" for laissez faire *capitalism* than any form of communism. The parallels between evolutionary processes and capitalism are uncanny, actually.

Meanwhile, it's amusing to note that *creationism* is actually a better match for communism, because both involve systems created and managed by a central "planning commission", and both involve the "central planner" being the writer of "the rules" and the arbiter of who deserves to get what, and what is required of them.

Frankly, only an idiot could conclude that evolutionary biology in any way supports communism. I suppose that's why so many creationists swallow such a foolish notion so uncritically, and show no signs whatsoever of having given it even a moment of real thought.