Glossary of Marxist Philosophy
Objective and Subjective Factors of History
Objective Factors are conditions which are independent of people
and determine the direction, the bounds of their activity. Such, for example,
are natural conditions, a given level of production, the historically urgent
tasks and requirements of material, political and spiritual development.
Subjective Factors are the activity of the masses, classes,
parties, states, and individuals; their consciousness, will, ability to act,
etc.
Objective Factors always play a determining part, but their
action is manifested only through the operation of Subjective Factors. The latter can play a decisive role only when
the objective conditions for them have been prepared. The influence of Subjective Factors on social
development rises with the transition from one socio-economic formation to
another, more progressive formation. The importance of Subjective Factors particularly increases during the phase of
formation of a classless society
when, for the first time in history, the possibility is created for planned
development in all spheres of social life and the mass of the people are drawn
into the building of the Classless Society.*
* “A Dictionary of Philosophy”, Edited by M. Rosenthal and P. Yudin,
Progress Publishers, Moscow 1967.