Principle of partiality

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The principle of partiality is a postulate introduced by Lenin in his treatise Materialism and Empirio-Criticism (1908) , according to which an objective and value-free observation and interpretation of reality is not possible. In the context of a Marxist interpretation of history and the world, according to Lenin, one must always strictly take a stand in the interests of the working class . Later this principle was understood in the Soviet Union and in the GDR in such a way that the CPSU or the SED had to be granted interpretative sovereignty over what should be considered true (" The party, the party, which is always right ... " ).

The principle of partiality is closely related to the fundamental question within the philosophy of science , which requirements a statement must meet so that it can be recognized as a " scientific statement". A newer variant of this "principle" stands behind the positivism dispute in the 1960s. Within this dispute, one side, the representatives of the " dialectical position" ( Adorno et al.), Denied that there can be factual assertions formulated without judgment. Two scientific conceptions collided here: Above all, the supporters of a theory of truth coming from the natural sciences and formal logic rely on the empirical verifiability of statements based on the method ideal of mathematics and natural sciences (see the positions of logical empiricism ), while the other side wants to bring the ethical responsibility of scientists into scientific research.

A "denunciation of the striving for objectivity" (Karl Acham) associated with the principle of partiality can also be found among other names among right-wing conservative thinkers, such as the legal theorist Carl Schmitt , who assumed that only those who are a member of the "right-creating community" are who can correctly recognize reality and use the language that describes reality correctly.

See also

literature

  • Hans-Joachim Dahms: Positivism Controversy. The Frankfurt School's struggles with logical positivism, American pragmatism and critical rationalism . Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt a. M. 1994
  • Gunnar Skirbekk (Ed.): Theories of Truth. A selection from the discussions about truth in the 20th century . Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt a. M. 1977 (latest edition 2006)

Web links