Joseph Dietzgen and the Socialist Politics of the Working-class

Abstract

Joseph Dietzgen (1828–1888) occupies an important place in the history of socialism. According to Frederick Engels, Dietzgen discovered the philosophy of dialectical materialism independently of Karl Marx, himself, and even of G.W.F. Hegel. This is all the more significant because Dietzgen was not middle class or university educated, as were most who contributed to the Marxist theoretical tradition. He was of working-class origin, a tanner by profession, and self-educated. The founders of Marxism thought highly of this proletarian philosopher. In 1867, after reading a fragment of his work, Marx wrote, in agreement with Engels, that “the autodidactic philosophy – pursued by the workers themselves – has made great progress in the case of this tanner”. A year later, he described Dietzgen as “one of the most gifted workers I know”. His writings “contained much that was excellent, and – as the independent product of a