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Obviously, Marx�s theory is rooted in the specific social and
historical circumstances of the society (Germany, to be specific) to where he
was writing. The same goes for Rizal�s theory in the sense that it is colored
by the colonial experience of the Philippine society. The theory�s ability to explain lies in the
possibility of its assumptions to be demonstrated across time and space. For
instance, in Marx�s theory, the universal truth about the world is the
existence of social classes. Naturally as observed for any social theory, the
assumption of human nature is universal. In this case, we can
draw the following to be of Rizal�s universal claim: 1) that human beings are
guided by moral ideals; 2) that the ability to employ the use of reasoning is
common to all men; 3) that human beings are affected by social and historical
circumstances as well as the physical make-up of their environment; and 4) that
human beings contain in themselves the ability to engage in collective action to
change their immediate worlds (San Juan, 1968; 1997; 2004).
(Of course, the fact that a theory cannot explain everything should be paid attention. In order to comprehend society, one must be able to synthesize competing perspectives.) |
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Copyright 2005.
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