Marxism and the Crisis in Modern Biology

Abstract

Modern biology, especially biomedical research, is currently embroiled in crisis. This crisis is not unsurprising considering the bourgeois culture and philosophy that has guided scientific research since the Molecular Biology revolution and aided by the increasing public-private partnerships. The resolution of this crisis can only be achieved through a radical shift in how we understand and practice science, and the Marxist philosophy of dialectical materialism can provide us with the necessary tools to do so. In this paper, I provide a brief overview of the development of dialectical materialism and its application over the years to understanding the natural world. I also show that biologists have also independently adopted similar views as research has progressed over the years. Lastly, I argue that the epistemological crisis and the subsequent crisis observed in the practice in science are two sides of the same coin, and that Marxist philosophy can help break out of this vicious cycle.