From the point of view of this Socialist ma-
terialism, the monogamous family, the present
economic unit of society, ceases to be a divine
institution, and becomes the historical product
of certain definite economic conditions. It is
the form of the family peculiar to a society
based on private property in the means of pro-
duction, and the production of commodities for
sale. It is not crystallized and permanent, but,
like all other institutions, fluid and subject to
change. With the change in its economic
basis, the code of sexual morality and the
monogamous family are sure to be modified;
but, in the judgment of such socialists as Fried-
rich Engels and August Bebel, we shall prob-

^Marx in "Zur Kritik der Hegelschen Rechts Phil-
osophic."



98



THE NIHILISM OF SOCIALISM

ably remain monogamous, but monogamy will
cease to be compulsorily permanent.^

" What we may anticipate/' says Engels,
" about the adjustment of sexual relations after
the impending downfall of capitalist production
is mainly of a negative nature and mostly con-
fined to elements that will disappear. But what
will be added? That will be decided after a
new generation has come to maturity : a race of
men who never in their lives have had any oc-
casion for buying with money or other economic
means of power the Surrender of a woman; a
race of women who have never had any occasion
for surrendering to any man for any other rea-
son but love, or for refusing to surrender to
their lover from fear of economic consequences.
