Australian Left Review
Article Title
The Development of Consciousness
Abstract
A GROWING EMPHASIS in the left is on the priority to be given to the development of consciousness as the key factor in the revolutionary process, and, within this, the building of a body of ideas challenging those prevailing in our society. “Revolutionary culture” , “counter-hegemony” , “counter-consensus” are various terms used. Acceptance of the key place of consciousness in the development of revolution directs attention to the processes by which consciousness develops or may be developed in large numbers of people. It is, clearly, a most intricate subject. Tt involves physiology, psychology, philosophy. It involves the reaction of human beings on each other individually and as “classes” , politically and culturally; the role of social institutions and structures. It involves the different ways in which the process might take place in different groups of people.