Contradiction

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The modern Yin-yang is a illustration of contradiction.

The contradiction is the fundamental mechanism behind dialectics. A contradiction is a coexistent diametrical link between two forces. Contradictions exist when two requirements are met:

1. Two forces must be diametrically opposed and
2. one cannot exist without the other.

In dialectics, a contradiction is the engine of motion, which moves itself in the process of self-transformation of the conditions in which it exists. This transformation then creates new contradictions, called negation of the negation, this entails the process of intrinsic contradictions within all that exists. The science of dialectics is the science of process itself i.e. understanding how and what motion entails within material conditions.

For example, the bourgeoisie form a contradiction to the proletariat. The former wants to make their workers work greater surplus yield from the latter, while the latter wants to maximize the amount paid in wage-labor. The contradiction cannot be "moved past" because the very structural compulsions of capital, the drive to maximize profit entail wage suppression; the contradiction thus produces antagonisms between classes, birthing both reactionary and revolutionary moments, both co-constituting each other in their existence as opposed to each other.

Primary and secondary contradictions

Contradictions are separated into primary and secondary categories. Secondary contradictions stand on on primary ones as their ground for existence or rather, primary contradictions being causal structure secondary contradictions which operate with their own internal structure but in tandem with all other contradictions.

Secondary contradictions are not "resolved through resolving primary contradictions" as vulgar materialists suggest, rather the resolution of secondary contradictions allow for the capacity to systematically address primary contradictions. Consider the secondary contradiction of race, it is structured by class society and economic modes of production whilst simultaneously having its own internal logic and operational structure that doesn't reduce to "just class". Racial supremacy and capital exist in a symbiotic relationship, where capital is the ground on which racial supremacy entrenches itself.

In combatting capital, we combat racial supremacy, and in combatting racialism, we combat capital itself. By resolving the primary contradiction, we unentrench racial supermacy and thus gain the capacity to combat it effectively.

Solving contradictions

A contradiction is resolved when the struggle gives form to new relations whilst the decaying relata are made irrelevant to the motion of the totality; i.e. when the conditions in which the contradiction constitutes itself stop existing, through its own very struggle to end the contradiction can we say the contradiction was resolved.

The proletariat, in being the class that encompasses most of humanity unlike past classes which were themselves gradations in a multi-hierarchical structure, is the class posed to resolve not just the contradiction of proletarian-bourgeois, but of class society itself. In annihilating the basis for private ownership and socializing the means of production, the proletarian class negates the very basis of class society, i.e. surplus. With no class with privileged ownership of the means of production, class as viable existent dissolves itself leading to classless society, or communism.

However, the communist stage of society is not the end of process, but the end of antagonistic contradictions. In its place non-antagonistic contradictionstake place as the engine of motion. These contradictions require synthesis, and not the domination or annihilation of one relata over another.

An example can be the non-antagonistic contradiction between humans and nature. We are part of the nature, and it is in our interest to simultaneously extract from it and preserve it. The goal becoming to find a synthetic and active manner to deal with the non-antagonistic contradiction, which becomes the basis for societal development.

Universality

The fact that contradiction is universal necessitates two prerequisites; these being that all things posses within them, internal contradiction and secondly, the contradiction exists through the whole of the process.

Contradiction is universal and absolute, it is present in the process of development of all things and permeates every process from beginning to end.

— Mao Zedong, On contradiction, The Universality of Contradiction

Particularity

The particularity of contradictions refer to a contradiction that forms the distinct process of a thing, within a larger totality. Mao noted that it is important to study the particular contradictions of a thing to qualitatively distinguish it from other things. Humans study the particular contradiction of a process to distinguish it from other processes. This leads to common knowledge of a set of processes, which in turn aids in the study of particularities. Our knowledge of the cosmos for example, is a study of the particularity of the extra-earth conditions, and the particularity itself stems from other process such spectroscopy (study of wavelengths of light) or photometry (analysis of visual brightness, structures etc to determine particular phenomena within the cosmos), demonstrating interconnection.

Mao and Lenin warned against viewing only part of a contradiction (or one-sidedness), as this leads to misunderstanding the contradiction. Mao also warned against superficiality, which is not viewing both the totality and the individuality of a contradiction. The result of applying both superficiality and one-sidedness is the loss of the holistic analysis which understands the motion of the whole.

Principality

A principal contradiction is the sole contradiction in a thing that determines the existence and development of other contradictions.

A principal force (or aspect) is the dominant force in a contradiction. The principality of forces in a contradiction can change.

Identity

Identity refers to the material linked coexistence of both aspects in a contradiction and that the contradictory aspects conditionally transform into their opposites. Identity exists conditionally.

Contradictions in the class struggle

In Europe, before the bourgeoisie was opposed to the proletariat, they were opposed to the nobility. The bourgeoisie was born out of the material conditions of the late Middle Ages: in free cities, artisans hired workers by the day and bought their labour power. This was a different relation to labour from the feudal lord and his serfs, as the serfs were not "free" to choose their employer or the nature of their work; the serf was locked to his lord's land, unable to freely travel or choose his occupation.

The bourgeoisie thus wanted to have more free workers available to expand their businesses (and have people to sell their products to), while nobles and lords wanted more serfs to increase their power and personal wealth. This lead to many violent uprisings and clashes, including the wars of religion in Europe (Catholic leaders were mostly feudal lords and Protestants were by and large bourgeois).

Eventually, after several centuries, the bourgeoisie won over the feudal lords and became the dominant class in society, controlling the state and able to pass laws favouring them (e.g. putting an end to the serf system). This slowly created a proletariat, and phased out the noble class over time who either became part of the bourgeoisie or were executed. Today, the contradiction is not between feudal lords and the bourgeoisie anymore, but between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.

As the proletariat will themselves become the dominant class in society, they will naturally phase out the bourgeoisie and create new contradictions out of this qualitative change and the class struggle will continue.

Other examples

• Saturation and starvation form a contradiction; saturation is diametrically opposed to starvation, as one cannot be saturated and starved at the same time. Starvation also must coexist with saturation, otherwise it would be impossible to starve without the need for saturation.
• In warfare, attack and defence form a contradiction; defence is the diametrical opposite of the attack (rule 1) and there is no need for defence if there is no attack (rule 2).
• Life and death. Life is diametrically opposed to death and something is either dead or alive, but never both at once.
• Void versus phenomena. This plays out in several ways. Darkness and light. Heat and cold. Darkness is the absence of light. Cold is the absence of heat.

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