"Antagonism" and "Antagonistic Contradictions"
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An Attempt to Discuss "Antagonism" and "Antagonistic Contradictions" Shan Hong [山虹] Philosophical Research [哲学研究 ], 1957, no. 2, pp. 128 - 132. This unusual article raises important questions about the conventional explanations of so- called “non-antagonistic” contradictions. The author, whose name appears to be pseudonym, defines an “antagonistic contradiction” as a one in which “the two sides do not give in and do not compromise,” not merely a contradiction in which the two sides show antagonism at some time or other. He claims that this uncompromising character of an antagonistic contradiction is pre- sent in a contradiction in which “both sides are predetermined to take on an antagonistic form of struggle in order to be resolved.” He admits that a contradiction can change from an antagonis- tic to a non-antagonistic character, or vice-versa, but this change involves a much more funda- mental and less frequent change in a contradiction than merely displaying or not displaying an- tagonism. This article's aim is to inquire briefly relation of the forms of struggle which they into the following questions: What is an "an- inevitably take on. tagonistic contradiction?" Are "antagonistic I think that "antagonistic contradic- contradiction" and "antagonism" the same tion" and "antagonism" are two different but concepts or not? If they are not, then what closely related concepts. "Antagonism" con- kind of relationship is there between them? cerns a scientific generalization about the How can an antagonistic contradiction trans- form of struggle of one kind of contradiction. form into a non-antagonistic contradiction? In the natural or social realm, we can always catch sight of the existence of some contra- ONE dictions in which an external form of conflict arises at the time of their final resolution. "Antagonism" is one kind of form of Appearances of this kind of external conflict the struggle of a contradiction---the form of are quite varied, and each is different. There external conflict. This form of struggle mainly are bomb explosions and eruptions of vol- indicates the form which the contradiction canoes, and there are also armed uprisings takes on at the time of its final resolution. and wars that last a comparatively long time. [Mao Zedong's] "On Contradiction" points Even though these differ in a thousand ways, out, in class opposition society, "...it is nec- however, they still have a common charac- essary that in the development of the con- teristic, and this is precisely external conflict. tradiction of two classes up to a certain The concept of "antagonism" is only formed stage, both sides take on an external an- by giving a scientific generalization about tagonistic form, and develop into revolution." these various different phenomena which Certainly in the process of development of have the common characteristic of an exter- some contradictions, external conflict can nally conflicting form of struggle of a contra- also arise many times, and this is also "an- diction. "Antagonism" merely indicates a tagonism." Nevertheless we should begin to characteristic of one kind of form of struggle examine these contradictions with regard to of a contradiction, not what determines the the period of their final resolution and the content of this kind of struggle form. 1 If it is said that "antagonism" is a re- sides do not give in and do not compromise. flection of one kind of form of struggle of a This kind of contradiction contains the fol- contradiction [and not what determines the lowing real possibility (or maximum possibil- content of this form of struggle], then "an- ity): its final resolution must pass through tagonistic contradiction" reflects the content the form of external conflict. Some antago- of those contradictions which inevitably take nistic contradictions also must pass through on an antagonistic form to obtain final reso- many external conflicts in order to be finally lution. "Antagonistic contradiction" and "an- resolved. tagonism" are related as content to form, The two sides of an antagonistic con- and the former determines the latter; there is tradiction therefore do not give in and do not a close, inseparable relation between them, compromise because it is a condition of this but their distinction must not be obscured. It contradiction's existence, which is deter- is like the relation of use value and ex- mined by the characteristics of both sides of change value. If there were no exchange the contradiction, the relation between them, value then value would not exist. If the final and other factors. For example, a chick is period of resolution did not take on an an- situated in an eggshell. On one side, the tagonistic form, then antagonistic contradic- chick depends on the eggshell, and on the tions also would not exist. other side, at a certain period of time it "Antagonistic contradiction" is an needs to break through the eggshell. If not, it equally scientific concept, but is not a syno- cannot develop and cannot live. As for the nym for "class exploitation." Since the natu- eggshell itself, on one side it sets up a pro- ral and social domains always have a num- tection of the chick's life, and the other side, ber of contradictions which take on an ex- it also sets up restrictions which affect the ternal, antagonistic form of struggle at the chick's development. Neither side of the moment of final resolution [but do not have contradiction concedes to the other or class exploitation], why must they take on compromises with the other. In this kind of struggle form and not another contradictions like this, the initial stage struggle form in order to be able to strive for moves toward a zone which has an resolution? Certainly, it is necessary took for antagonistic character, because its their inherent causes. The specific [129] resolution must include the real possibility of causes corresponding to the complex con- taking on an antagonistic form. Under tent of contradictions in the natural, social, certain conditions, the chick breaks the shell and intellectual realms are not the same. and comes out, and the contradiction is However they also have a common charac- finally resolved. Also inside class society, for teristic; as a result of a scientific generaliza- instance, in the contradiction between ex- tion, this kind of common characteristic re- ploiting and exploited classes, in the initial sults in a scientific concept, which is pre- stage, both sides of a contradiction move cisely the concept of "antagonistic contra- toward the obvious occurrence of un- diction". compromising and non-conceding qualities. Now we must go a step further and Under normal circumstances, the final reso- study what is the content of "antagonistic lution of this kind of contradiction, only exists contradiction." In other words, we need to by taking on the real possibility of an an- study just how a contradiction can be an an- tagonistic form. This certainly has something tagonistic contradiction. I think that a so- to do with the opposite basic interests of the called "antagonistic contradiction", is pre- two sides of the contradiction, but in the cisely a struggle of both sides of some study of this sense of "antagonistic contra- thing's internal contradiction in which the two diction," the more important aspect is that the mass of laboring people absolutely will 2 not willingly endure exploitation and oppres- class contradiction in new conditions of final sion without rising up in revolution, and the resolution. exploiting class absolutely will not surrender For example, in the epoch of bour- unconditionally to the laboring people. geois revolution, some countries took up the This is what must still be explained: form of armed struggle and abolished the an antagonistic contradiction depends on a feudal system. Can this be the opposition of certain condition and this condition makes it the basic interests of the capitalist class and take on the real possibility of an antagonistic landlord class or not? If it can be explained form of resolution of the contradiction; but if this way, then how is it to be explained that this kind real possibility requires having a some countries also have not taken up the change into external conflict, then new con- form of armed struggle, because they have ditions must still arise. For example, for a adopted more or less improved forms of bomb explosion, an ignition condition must resolution of contradictions? arise and for a war to break out, the condi- Again, war inevitably erupts between tion that political struggle turn white hot must imperialists. Certainly, regardless of new emerge. In normal circumstances, however, conditions which may not have appeared the emergence of this kind of condition is before, contradictions between them also inevitable and cannot be avoided, therefore must undergo warfare in order to become this kind of possibility can be real possibility. resolved. In that case, aren't the class inter- Antagonistic contradiction is absolutely not ests between each imperialist group to be explained as always in a condition of basically opposed but still basically identical? external conflict. Naturally, in the process of Are all their contradictions antagonistic and development of an antagonistic contradiction, also non-antagonistic? another kind of condition can also appear, Next we consider briefly whether the which sufficiently changes the characteris- formulation that antagonistic contradictions tics or relationship of the two sides of the are "contradictions of