Date: 01 Dec 95 03:59:35 EST
From: "Chris, London" <100423.2040-AT-compuserve.com>
Subject: Why the proletariat


Engels argued that for the majority of human history,

"for the whole period of simple commodity
production -- that is, up to the time when the latter suffers a
modification through the appearance of the capitalist form of
production ....The merchant was the revolutionary element in this society ..."

At the time of emerging capitalism, the bourgeoisie were the most 
revolutionary element. 

The arguments given for the proletariat being the most revolutionary
element, are

a) concrete

b) related to an understand of how the contradictions are probably going
to develop

They are not fixed for all time in words written at the beginning of 
1848.

Hence the subject does come up every so often about whether the mantle has
fallen to the lumpen proletariat, or a section of the intelligentsia. 

The bets are off. Who will call the odds?

Chris, London.






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