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Principles of Socialism

The document summarizes some key aspects of socialism, including: 1) Socialism believes that people are inherently good-natured and capable of cooperation, and seeks to end class differences and promote equality, community, and collective control of the workplace. 2) Socialists view capitalism as corrupt and believe it prevents humans from reaching their true potential, which can only be achieved through socialism. 3) Socialism promotes principles like collectivism, common humanity, equality, and workers' control in order to establish a more just society with less competition and more cooperation.

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Muhammed Abbas
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92 views

Principles of Socialism

The document summarizes some key aspects of socialism, including: 1) Socialism believes that people are inherently good-natured and capable of cooperation, and seeks to end class differences and promote equality, community, and collective control of the workplace. 2) Socialists view capitalism as corrupt and believe it prevents humans from reaching their true potential, which can only be achieved through socialism. 3) Socialism promotes principles like collectivism, common humanity, equality, and workers' control in order to establish a more just society with less competition and more cooperation.

Uploaded by

Muhammed Abbas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Socialism

Socialism – The belief that people are inherently good-natured and capable of
cooperation and therefore seeks to end class differences in society and in its place
promote equality, community, cooperation, and collective control of the workplace.
Socialism is mostly about opposing capitalism, claiming it is corrupt and stops
humans from reaching their true potential, which can only be achieved via
socialism.

Socialist views on human nature:


- People are inherently good: People naturally want to seek good for others and thus
cooperate well with each other, don’t like competition and are selfless.
- People are social creatures: Individuals cannot be separated from society because
they are not self-sufficient and develop by interacting with others.
- Nurture shapes nature: People’s behaviours are shaped by the structure of society
thus a society can change the way people
Revolutionary socialism Social democracy
Human behaviour is the result of historical Human behaviour is less deterministic than implied
circumstances, particularly the relationship to the by revolutionary socialism. Humans can alter their
means of production such as the economic activity behaviour even with major economic change, state
humans are involved in. action can help this.

are.

Revolutionary socialism Social democracy The third way


-Aims to abolish capitalism -Accepts capitalism -No nationalism
-Redistributes wealth
-Intervention of state -Promotes nationalism to -Community needs one
-No private property promotes collectivism and another
-Promotes competition for cooperation.
-Focused to thrive
collectivism and cooperation

The 5 main principles of socialism:


Can commoners equally class workers?
Collectivism, common humanity, equality, social class, workers control

What is Collectivism?
- Community > Individual.
- This means decisions and choices are completed in a group (at a community level) rather
than individually.
- Community coming to a decision is more efficient than individuals doing so.
- This belief is upheld by people being inherently good and selfless, which allows them to
cooperate well with each other.
- Cooperation: Working together so all members of the group benefit, working towards a
similar goal,

What are benefits of collectivism?


Morality is improved (social ties and social responsibility will be improved)

Equality is strengthened (everyone is involved and equally organised)

efficiency is increased (competition is wasteful and so cooperation is more beneficial)

Socialists blame capitalism for the lack of collectivism because it encourages competition, looking
out for one's own personal interests and seeking rewards only for oneself.

How can collectivism be applied?


- The State : It will intervene in the economy to reduce competition & inequality, provide
welfare to ensure that all people benefit from collective efforts and rewards for labour
- Society : Will set common goals for its members to work together to improve cohesion
between people and foster cooperative behaviour
- The economy : Will be controlled and directed by the state in order to remove competition
so it will be able to best serve people. Private property ill be limited or removed.

Criticisms of collectivism
- A focus on collective action diminishes individuality, innovation and diversity
- State intervention restrict freedom of the individual
- Provision of welfare will make people overly dependent and lazy

Replies to the criticisms


The first 2 criticisms are based on individual outlook which socialists believe people do not
want (by their nature), rather they want the goodness of the entire society. The third
criticism is refuted by the socialist belief of the positive view of human nature – people
would not want to take advantage of such a system.
What is common humanity?
- Belief that peoples are naturally sociable & caring
- Everyone is involved in society no one is left out
- People are naturally considerate of others
- Belief that peoples are motivated by morals, not money
- Strong link between collectivism and common humanity

What are the benefits of collectivism?


Human development (due to people working together and not fighting over rewards, we achieve
more in terms of what we develop)

Decrease in mental health issues (because everyone has an equal position in the work side and social
aspect of society)

Piety in people (due to wanting to help others a lot of skills are achieved such as compassion,
empathy etc…)

Capitalism is an enemy to common humanity as it encourages competition and people not to work
together but rather against one another. This contradicts fundamental socialist principles.

How can common humanity be applied?


The state: Helps those in need, ensure good quality of life and makes people feel represented in
state.

Society: Based on mutual assistance and aims to include all members so no one feels left out.

The Economy: Based on common action rather than competition, because humanity seeks to work
together.

Criticisms of common humanity


- Overly optimistic, it assumes that people have such good intentions when in reality they
most likely don’t.

Replies to the criticisms


- Can become reality if properly implemented by the state to teach youth good morals rather
than make them focus on their career
What is equality?

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