p There are many kinds and forms of motion. Drawing on the achievements of natural science, dialectical materialism classifies the kinds of motion, singling out from their diversity the basic forms. Engels gave the first scientific classification of the forms of motion of matter. In the basic forms he included: mechanical, physical, chemical, biological and social; moreover, he associated each one with a definite form of matter—mechanical, with celestial and terrestrial bodies; physical, with molecules, etc.

p Engels’ classification of the main forms of motion still retains its scientific value, but the latest achievements of science have substantially enriched our knowledge of these forms.

p In the 19th century mechanical motion, for example, was chiefly understood as the displacement of macroscopic bodies in space. Now, however, it has been established that spatial displacement is inherent in all material formations, from elementary particles to a living organism. Mechanical motion must not be associated only with one form of matter, macroscopic, that is, visible bodies. This motion is inherent in any kind of matter, in any other form of motion, although in other, non-mechanical forms, it is of a subordinate, auxiliary character.

p Our ideas concerning the physical form of motion of matter have been substantially enriched, above all due to the profound penetration of physics into the atom. Scientists have discovered and studied such hitherto unknown kinds of physical motion as intra-atomic and intra-nuclear motion. Engels associated the physical form of motion chiefly with molecular processes. In the light of contemporary data, however, this form of motion embraces thermal, electrical, magnetic, intra-atomic and intra-nuclear processes as well as numerous other processes occurring in solid, liquid and gaseous bodies due to the movement of elementary particles.

p The chemical form of motion of matter is connected with the combination or separation of atoms, with the resultant formation or break-up of molecules, of which all chemical compounds consist. Chemical processes are accompanied by the motion of electrons forming the outer shell of 49 atoms. Chemical transmutations are widespread in both inorganic and organic nature.

p Biological mo tion is one of the most complex forms of motion of matter, encompassing all the diverse processes occurring in living organisms. These processes are associated with protein bodies, the carriers of life, which maintain continuous metabolic change with their environment. This metabolism results in a constant self-regeneration of the chemical composition of the protein bodies, which is the chief characteristic of any living thing.

p Social life, the history of human society, is an even higher form of motion of matter, which differs essentially and qualitatively from all the preceding ones. It appeared with the rise of human society and its major distinction is the process of material production, determining all other aspects of social life.

p The forms of motion of matter are interconnected and inseparable. Their unity and interconnection is based on the material unity of the world. One form of motion, given appropriate conditions, can turn into another. Mechanical motion, for example, may cause heat, sound, light, electricity and other kinds of physical motion. The interaction of physical processes leads to chemical transformations, while chemical processes in certain conditions give rise to organic life.

p The lower forms are necessarily included in the higher form of motion of matter. For example, biological motion is connected with definite mechanical, physical and chemical processes. But higher forms of motion cannot be reduced to lower ones. The higher form of motion possesses its own particular laws, which distinguish it from the lower and determine its qualitative specific features. Thus, the laws of metabolism set organic life apart from inorganic nature. The mechanical, physical and chemical processes inherent in organisms have no independent significance and are subordinated to the chief process in the organismmetabolism.

Recognition of the absolute and universal character of motion, with necessary account of the qualitative distinction of each form, the ’ability of these forms to become mutually transformed, and the impossibility of reducing the higher forms to lower ones—this is the essence of the dialectical-materialist concept of motion.