“Legal relations as well as forms of state could neither be understood by themselves, nor explained by the so-called general progress of thehuman mind, but that they are rooted in the conditions of life." Who among the following said this ?

Correct option is A

The given statement reflects the historical materialism concept of Karl Marx. Marx believed that legal relations, political structures, and state forms are not independent entities but are shaped by the material conditions of life, i.e., the economic base of society.

According to Marx, society is fundamentally structured around the mode of production, which determines the superstructure, including laws, politics, and ideology. He argued that changes in economic structures (such as shifts from feudalism to capitalism) result in transformations of legal and political institutions.

This perspective forms the core of Marxist theory, emphasizing that economic forces drive historical and social developments, rather than ideas or individual decisions alone.

Information Booster:

1. Historical Materialism:

   • Marx introduced the idea that history is shaped by material (economic) conditions rather than abstract ideas.

2. Base and Superstructure:

   • The base (economic system, means of production) influences the superstructure (laws, politics, culture, and ideology).

3. Class Struggle:

   • Legal and political institutions protect the interests of the ruling class, leading to conflicts between bourgeoisie (capitalists) and proletariat (workers).

4. Role of the State:

   • The state is not neutral; it functions to preserve the dominance of the ruling economic class.

5. Critique of Idealism:

   • Marx opposed Hegelian idealism, which viewed history as driven by ideas, and instead emphasized material conditions as the driving force.

6. Revolution and Change:

   • As economic systems evolve (e.g., from feudalism to capitalism), legal and state structures change, leading to social revolutions.

7. Application in Modern Studies:

   • Marxist theory is widely used in political science, sociology, and economics to analyze capitalism, labor rights, and state functions.

    Additional Information:

Peter Kropotkin  – Incorrect. Kropotkin was an anarchist thinker who argued against the state and promoted mutual aid as the foundation of social organization. His views were different from Marx's, as he rejected state control in all forms.

John Maynard Keynes  – Incorrect. Keynes was an economist who developed Keynesian economics, emphasizing government intervention in markets to stabilize economies. He did not focus on historical materialism or class struggle.

Irving Fisher  – Incorrect. Fisher was an American economist known for his work on monetary theory, interest rates, and inflation, not on political or historical theories.