I’ve heard it said before, though I can’t remember where, that Marx regarded capitalism as a necessary stage in social development. Does this imply that capitalism is inevitable, along with all its exploitation? Maybe I’m misinterpreting something, but I don’t really like the idea. I understand that communism refers to a post-capitalist society rather than a non-capitalist society, making capitalism “necessary” for the creation of socialism, but I don’t think it follows to argue that capitalism is something every society must move through. Thoughts?
I don’t think the social / political system is necessary or historically inevitable, but the production system makes certain forms more likely.
IE industrialism can be arranged cooperatively (look at socialist states that did and do this), and cultivated agriculture can also be cooperative, and doesn’t necessarily need feudal arrangements.
IE, it’s not capitalism that must be passed through, but machine industry / industrialism.