“It is absolutely impossible to transcend the laws of nature. What can change in historically different circumstances is only the form in which these laws expose themselves.”
- May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883
- Born in the Kingdom of Prussia (Germany)
- Philosopher, economist, political thinker
- Wrote Das Kapital and laid the foundations for socialist and communist thought
Quote
“It is absolutely impossible to transcend the laws of nature. What can change in historically different circumstances is only the form in which these laws expose themselves.”
Explanation
In this quote, Marx emphasizes the immutability of the laws of nature, arguing that these laws are unchanging and cannot be transcended by human action. What can change, however, is the way these laws manifest themselves within different historical or social contexts. Marx believed that while the natural world operates according to immutable laws, human societies evolve and develop in response to these natural laws, and the forms these laws take in society are shaped by the specific historical conditions in which people live. This reflects his broader materialist conception of history, where social structures and economic systems are seen as evolving out of the material conditions of a given time and place.
Historically, Marx’s view stands in contrast to idealist or metaphysical philosophies that believe human society could transcend the limitations imposed by nature, or that human will alone could overcome natural forces. Instead, Marx saw nature as a foundational force, but one that interacts with and is shaped by human society. For example, the way human labor interacts with the natural world to produce goods and services is shaped by historical, technological, and social conditions—what Marx referred to as “the forces of production” and the “relations of production.” Thus, while humans cannot escape the basic laws of nature, the way society organizes itself around these laws can change over time.
In modern terms, this quote can be applied to discussions about technology and sustainability. For example, industrialization has changed the ways in which human societies interact with the natural world, but it has not transcended nature’s laws—such as the law of conservation of energy or the limits of natural resources. What has changed is the technological form and social organization in which these natural laws are expressed, as seen in the growing impact of human activity on climate change and environmental degradation. The forms in which natural laws expose themselves are not static; they are shaped by historical circumstances and the material choices humans make, underscoring the importance of understanding and working with natural systems in a way that does not exceed their limits. Marx’s quote serves as a reminder that while human societies can influence how nature is used, they cannot escape the basic natural constraints that govern life on Earth.
