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Rizal's Social and Economic Thoughts

Rizal's social and economic views were influenced by left-leaning ideologies like Marxism and socialism. He was introduced to these ideas through his mentors who were influenced by Proudhon's social philosophy. Rizal's works used Marxist rhetoric to depict how Spanish colonial rule exploited Filipino labor through systems like encomienda, reflecting the class struggles between the dominant Spanish group and inferior Filipinos. His concept of Filipino nationality reflected the oppressive characteristics of the upper colonial class that controlled the means of production. The Propaganda Movement pushed for reforms and promoted equality among Filipinos, reflecting growing nationalism and class consciousness that led to revolution.

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JM Noynay
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72 views10 pages

Rizal's Social and Economic Thoughts

Rizal's social and economic views were influenced by left-leaning ideologies like Marxism and socialism. He was introduced to these ideas through his mentors who were influenced by Proudhon's social philosophy. Rizal's works used Marxist rhetoric to depict how Spanish colonial rule exploited Filipino labor through systems like encomienda, reflecting the class struggles between the dominant Spanish group and inferior Filipinos. His concept of Filipino nationality reflected the oppressive characteristics of the upper colonial class that controlled the means of production. The Propaganda Movement pushed for reforms and promoted equality among Filipinos, reflecting growing nationalism and class consciousness that led to revolution.

Uploaded by

JM Noynay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOCIAL & ECONOMIC

THOUGHTS
Presented by: John Milo P. Noynay
Rizal's social and economic thought is intertwined with his political
thought which was more radical than moderate or liberalism,
embracing ideologies in the far left (Marxism, Socialism, Anarchism).
His mentor and friend, Miguel Morayta, a History professor at
Universidad Central de Madrid, and friend Francisco Pi y Margall, an
extreme republican and libertarian socialist, borrowed heavily from
Proudhon's Social Philosophy. Rizal's political views were influenced by
the writings of Marxism and Socialism, and his advocacy for autonomy.

Proudhon, the "father of anarchism," defined anarchy as the absence


of a master or sovereign. He believed that society seeks order in
anarchy, as man seeks justice in equality. Rizal may have been
introduced to Proudhon's ideas, as seen in his novel El Filibusterismo,
where Simoun exhibited an anarchist attitude, including his plot to kill
everyone, regardless of innocence, during a wedding reception.
Rizal's friendship with stateman Margall and admiration for Pi y Margall
may have influenced his thoughts. Rizal was friends with Margall's
daughter, and Margall's government's reform program aimed to pave
the way for the emancipation of the working classes through radical
reforms. Pi y Margall declared that the social question is the concern of
all.

Juan Luna, a friend of Rizal, sought guidance on socialism and was


enthused by "Le Socialisme Contemporain," a compilation of various
socialist thought schools. Rizal himself had a lengthy discussion with a
Russian Naturalist in November 1891 about the principles and
implications of Leo Tolstoy's socialism, which he described as a
"conflation" of various schools of thought.
Rizal's novels and works use Marxist rhetoric to analyze the Philippine
context during the Spanish colonial period. They depict how a group
with absolute power over production factors was challenged by an
inferior group of Filipinos who aimed to obtain the power themselves.
Rizal's works reveal the conditions of the Spanish colonial Philippines
and the struggles of the Filipinos to maintain their power.

The Spanish colonial rule utilized an Encomienda system, where native


inhabitants were entrusted to an Encomendero or trustee for their
service to the Spanish Crown. In return, the Encomendero was
authorized to collect tribute and recruit workers for the polos y
servicios, a system that was so extractive that it led to forced labor.
The Marxian perspective focuses on how Spaniards exploit Filipino
labor in exchange for supporting the upper class. Filipinos are
considered a class in Rizal's works. The American, French, and Russian
revolutions challenged divine rights, shifting the class paradigm from
monarchy to pluralism. The American Revolution led to independence
and a power shift. Marx's early conception of nationality is more radical
than other democratic concepts derived from the French and American
Revolutions. Rizal's works reflect these changes in class structure.

Rizal's concept of the "Filipino" as a nationality can be compared to


Marx's concept of Class, as Filipinos are a class heavily exploited and
oppressed by the dominating class, the Spaniards. This implies that
Rizal's concept of nationality can reflect the oppressive characteristics
of the upper class, which holds the means of production.
The Propaganda Movement of the
Philippines pushed for the abolition of
the polos y servicios and promoted
equality among “Filipinos”
The native Spaniards or Indians, the Creoles, and the
Indios. This points to the concept of nationalism,
where people who share a common language, history,
and culture should constitute a nation also related to
class. It signifies the conflicts between nationality and
nationality, specifically the awakening of the national
consciousness of the people under colonial rule.
Foreign domination or colonization in our history
always depicts exploitation and oppression.
Land grabbing
The Regalian doctrine & encomienda system, forced
labor, religion as a tool for repression, unequal rights,
and freedom, and repressive policies against the
colony would always make a distinction that this
colonial government and the imperial states are the
bourgeoisie in which Marx would pertain that they
could not retain their status and wealth without
exploiting the lower class. This lower class is the
natives living in the colonial territories. With or without
the knowledge of Marx, Rizal provided a framework
that uses the Marxian analysis for class struggle.
The economic system
Encomienda system and its exploitation of Filipino
workers; the social stratification between Filipinos and
Spaniards; the religious orders began retaking
Philippine parishes; the colonial rule eventually
showed its weaknesses and eventually gave up as it
sparked the revolution.
The influx of intellectuals such as
Rizal contributed to the consciousness
of the people
This consciousness was not just nationalism but also
class consciousness since people began to get tired
of the abuses and injustices of the Spanish Colonial
system. Together with the awakening of nationalism
and the spark of class consciousness of the Filipino
people, revolution was inevitable due to Rizal’s action
of providing the people with the truth.
THANK
YOU!

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