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What did Luxemburg think of historicism?

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Final answer:

Rosa Luxemburg would likely have been critical of historicism for its linear and deterministic view of history, advocating for the recognition of class struggle as an essential driver of societal change.

Step-by-step explanation:

Philosopher Rosa Luxemburg's views on historicism were critical, as she, like other Marxist theorists, sought not to solve social problems directly but to address the underlying economic system perpetuating those problems. Luxemburg would have likely viewed historicism, particularly the progressive history that saw society's evolution as a linear and inevitable march toward greater democracy and European-style republicanism, with skepticism. From Luxemburg's Marxist perspective, the contradictions and class struggles inherent in the capitalist system, detailed by Marx, were the central elements for driving change towards a classless society.

She would likely argue that historicism, with its tendency to frame history as predetermined or teleological advancement, does not fully account for the dialectical and material conflicts that propel societal change. Moreover, the Frankfurt School and proponents of critical theory would contend that knowledge, including historical understanding, consists of awareness of the structures of our social world. These structures shape what individuals believe to be facts, challenging the traditional Enlightenment view of history as static and factual.

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