Rules TBD.
Revolutionary optimism is an attitude adopted by revolutionaries, not optimism for revolution but optimism in service of revolution. More people are becoming revolutionary, but it's a gradual quantitative buildup until a qualitative shift.
I've linked my ML intro reading list before, what would be "fun" for you?
what about your method? is it okay you can demonstrate?
I don't know what you mean.
you said a little while ago that your method is taking each paragraph and writing them in simple terms. seriously!
Ah, for note taking, gotcha. Here are my notes from when I last read On Practice:
-Man's activity in production is the most fundamental practical activity. This production is what creates knowledge of relations, social and otherwise.
-Dogmatists tend to reject the importance of practice on knowledge, and empiricists tend to not be quite as bad as the dogmatists as though the empiricists are skeptical of theory, they still form their own knowledge through practice.
-Class Struggle in particular has a large influence on the ideas of someone, as the class one belongs to stamps their thinking in other aspects of life through forming the basis of their viewpoints as the primary mode of practice.
-Both production and knowledge move from simpler to more complex as time goes on, building on themselves. Previous production was small-scale, and thus so was knowledge, but the proletariat within large industry has an ever-expanding base for knowledge in particular, giving rise to Marxism.
-Dialectical Materialism has two outstanding characteristics:
-Knowledge is formed in steps, including a jump from quantitative perceptions to qualitative knowledge formation:
-Knowledge goes from shallower to deeper, from perceptual to logical, and incomplete to more complete, one-sided to many-sided.
-Perceptual and rational are qualitatively different but united.
-"All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience."
-Knowledge can be direct or indirect based on direct or indirect experience.
-The Proletariat as a whole was only in the first stage of knowledge when it attacked machinery, etc but through class struggle gained awareness of how best to organize.
-Data must be rich, ie not fragmentary, and connected to reality, ie not illusory, to provide correct bedrock for analysis to be made.
-2 important points to stress:
-It is important to reconstruct the data of sense perception in order to turn it into rational knowledge from perceptual.
-Those who despise theory and only uphold practice fail to analyze correctly and can steer comrades down the wrong path.
-Rational knowledge must return to practice, thus applying to revolutionary purpose.
-Processes can be completed, but the continuous dialectic is ever in motion, so to speak.
-In a revolution, the situation changes very rapidly, and thus must be grasped properly and flexibly to succeed.
-Those who grasp ideas too slowly, "die-hards," form Right deviationists. They grumble against progress and cannot lead humanity forward.
-Those who try to realize lofty future goals in the present conditions are often Left deviationists. They usually take on adventurism and are also dangerous.
-"The sum total of innumerable relative truths forms absolute truth."
Social practice and perceptual stimuli gradually builds up data to be converted into concepts, then rational knowledge upon reconstruction. This rational knowledge must then be used to guide practice, test it, and refine it endlessly in pursuit of attaining the aims of the Proletariat and achieving Communism.
See, it's not so bad!
i think your demonstration is good, but the problem i have is that i CAN'T find the right words to say whenever simplifying each paragraph, and i should expand my vocabulary. are there any tips on how to remedy this problem? can learning improv help?
The process of thinking about what you read and trying to rephrase it is where it really sticks. You can just try writing the key points.
do you have any other tips, and what do you mean by "key points"?
Kinda like what I did, compare my example with On Practice itself. I copied key quotes and summed up critical points.
can you explain this process?
I see a paragraph, try to figure out what the main idea of it is, and restate it in my own words.
here's my try on this, i used "general rules for independent study" by nadezhda krupskaya (spouse of the late vladimir lenin) as an example - i've restated each of the points (appropriately numbered, like in the original) in my own words (based on what i'd interpret the points):
if it's possible to educate yourself (but NEVER too much), it's possible to develop skills like read to yourself, NOT reading too slowly, and overall being less aliterate (being able to read, but also NOT reading often) - in other words, reading and studying accordingly without losing interest in such.
the skill of study requires rules - for example, the best time to study is when you're NOT too tired - that is during daytime or after you wake up. DON'T study in poorly-lit and overheated room. no distractions. enough material. recommended to study at a library.
it's okay, you can admit it if you have nothing to study about. think of something good to study (like differences between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat). good things happen at work (whether it be a collective farm, factory, restaurant, etc.) because people plan. in self-education, you CAN'T skip from one book to another. it's NOT that necessary in study. for example, start from let's say a book on the Party (or Parties, if you prefer pluralism), then on collective farms or businessess, then one on technology, then one on children's upbringing, and so on and so forth. some wants to do general education, some wants to go up to high school or college.
again, if you have nothing to study about, think of one that piques your interest and study that from a socialist perspective. however, it's NOT enough - a study plan is necessary for the most part. it may be hard at first (to beginners, at least) when it comes to the order, but it becomes super easy, as there are plenty of resources and lists of stuff that may be important to the subject you're studying (ie: socialism - DOESN'T have to be socialism, just anything). it's recommended that you talk to an expert, whether it be a teacher, librarian, etc. you can also talk to people in other fields for their perspective.
how the frick do i study? that's a great question: first, DON'T put any pressure on you when studying, and DON'T rush either. secondly, you have to clarify any phrases that you would get your head spinning. look up dictionaries or ask people who may know. thirdly, re-read the material you've studied. that would give you a refresher. fourthly, DON'T study for a long time at first. study often. and finally fifthly, it's best to jot down the important bits, as well as stuff about the confusing bits, etc. re-read your notes. DON'T waste your time figuring out what was written in the material.
it's recommended to use textbooks that provide aid in what you're studying. the general rules for independent study collectively describe the term 'study technology' a lot better than scientology's teaching methods called that, no?
so in summary then: 'it's important to study, as long as you have the right tools and also as long as you DON'T give up. go wow 'em, kid.'
what do you think?
That's a good start!
do you have any other short quick stuff to use for your study method?
Unfortunately, short and quick usually means 30 minutes to an hour when it comes to theory. You can check Red Sails and try to find shorter pieces.
what if i CAN'T figure out the main idea, and/or i also CAN'T really find the right words to restate?
Then try reading it with others.
i CAN'T go outside without permission. is there anything i can do?
Ask others online when you aren't sure what a section means.
can i ask people on this lemmy instance?
Sure.
are there any methods on studying socialist/communist theory that makes it easy and fun?
If you’re able to find an IRL Marxist / socialist reading group, those are pretty great.
For Capital specifically, I think working though companion pieces helps. I like the podcast Reading Capital with Comrades. Michael Heinrich’s companion book is good, though it only covers the first 7 chapters (the most important part).
i CAN'T go outside without permission. can online groups help?
Yes, definitely. I do think there’s something to in-person meeting but on Zoom or even just in a discussion group on something like Discord is great too.