Herr Eugen Dühring’s Revolution in Science [Anti-Dühring]

work by Engels

Also known as: “Anti-Dühring”, “Herrn Eugen Dührings Umwälzung der Wissenschaft”(Show More)

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June 29, 2026

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Herr Eugen Dühring's Revolution in Science, commonly known as Anti-Dühring, is a significant work by Friedrich Engels published in 1878. The book was written in response to criticisms of Marxist ideas by the German socialist Eugen Dühring.12

Anti-Dühring is structured into three parts: Philosophy, Political Economy, and Socialism. In the philosophy section, Engels applies the concept of materialistic dialectic to argue that observable reality is dialectical and that this method is applicable to the study of history and society. The Political Economy section serves as an introduction to Marx's core economic ideas, including value, labor, capital, and surplus value. The Socialism section critiques the capitalist system and outlines Engels' vision of a future socialist society where labor is directly social and a production plan coordinates the economy, leading to the disappearance of the division of labor and the separation of town and country.1

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Marxism
The contributions of Engels
…in Science, better known as Anti-Dühring), and an unfinished work, Dialektik und Natur (Dialectics of Nature), which he had begun around 1875–76. The importance of these writings to the subsequent development of Marxism can be seen from Lenin’s observation that Engels “developed, in a clear and often polemical style, the…
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…in Science, better known as Anti-Dühring), and an unfinished work, Dialektik und Natur (Dialectics of Nature), which he had begun around 1875–76. The importance of these writings to the subsequent development of Marxism can be seen from Lenin’s observation that Engels “developed, in a clear and often polemical style, the…
Read More

Friedrich Engels
Partnership with Marx
…in Science, better known as Anti-Dühring), the book that probably did most to promote Marxian thought. It destroyed the influence of Karl Eugen Dühring, a Berlin professor who threatened to supplant Marx’s position among German social democrats.
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…in Science, better known as Anti-Dühring), the book that probably did most to promote Marxian thought. It destroyed the influence of Karl Eugen Dühring, a Berlin professor who threatened to supplant Marx’s position among German social democrats.
Read More

historical materialism
…Dührings Umwälzung der Wissenschaft (Herr Eugen Dühring’s Revolution in Science, better known as Anti-Dühring). The book was written under Marx’s supervision and approved by him, so it may be inferred that Marx agreed with its contents. However, it is worth noting that Marx himself never explicitly described his theory…
Read More
…Dührings Umwälzung der Wissenschaft (Herr Eugen Dühring’s Revolution in Science, better known as Anti-Dühring). The book was written under Marx’s supervision and approved by him, so it may be inferred that Marx agreed with its contents. However, it is worth noting that Marx himself never explicitly described his theory…
Read More