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[introduction.]

p We pointed out earlier that a change in quantity within certain limits does not lead to a change in the qualitative state of an object. But as soon as these limits are overstepped and the “measure” is upset, the seemingly inessential quantitative changes inevitably bring about a radical qualitative transformation: quantity passes into quality. In the process of development, Marx wrote, “merely quantitative differences beyond a certain point pass into qualitative changes”.  [98•* 

p The passage of quantitative into qualitative changes is a universal law of development of the material world.

p Moreover, development itself is, above all, a conversion of quantitative changes into qualitative ones, inasmuch as the movement of objects and phenomena from the lower to the higher, from the old to the new takes place in the course of this conversion.

p In order to reveal the universal character of this law let us see how it operates in different spheres of reality.

p Modern physics has proved that some elementary particles can be transmuted into other, qualitatively different ones. The process of their transmutation is always connected with a certain quantitative accumulation: it takes place 99 only if the particles possess a certain, sufficiently high level of energy.

p The numerous changes of substances from one state to another (from solid to liquid, from liquid to gas, etc.) are also manifestations of the law of the passage of quantitative into qualitative changes. When water, for example, is heated above 100°C it is transformed into a different quality, steam. The properties of steam are distinct from those of water. Salts and sugar, for example, do not dissolve in steam whereas they do in water.

p The law of the passage of quantitative into qualitative changes is strikingly apparent in chemical processes. Mendeleyev’s periodic law shows that the quality of chemical elements depends on the quantity of the positive charge of their atomic nucleus. Within certain limits a quantitative change in the charge causes no qualitative changes in the chemical element, but at a definite stage these quantitative changes lead to the formation of a new element. Thus, during radioactive disintegration, as the uranium nucleus loses atomic weight and charge, it is ultimately transmuted into a qualitatively new element, lead.

p In general, chemistry is the science that studies qualitative transformations of substances resulting from quantitative changes. A molecule of oxygen, for example, contains two atoms, but as soon as one more atom of oxygen is added it becomes ozone, a qualitatively new chemical substance.

In the organic world too quantitative changes pass into qualitative ones. One can daily perceive the dependence of the changes in quality on quantitative accumulations by observing the cyclical development of plants and animals whose passage from one stage into another takes place in keeping with the laws of the biological rhythm which has strict chronological limits and is caused by changes in the quantity of light, heat, moisture, etc. Under the influence of a certain amount of moisture and heat, a seed turns into a stalk; but a different quantitative proportion of these natural components is needed for an ear to emerge and mature. A chicklet or a nestling will develop and hatch from an egg only if the latter receives a definite quantity of heat of a certain temperature and over a definite quantity of time (knowledge of these quantitative proportions is applied in

100 incubators which replace a sitting hen).

p The. passage of quantitative into qualitative changes takes place in social development as well. Thus, the transition from capitalism to socialism, effected by the socialist revolution, has definite quantitative prerequisites: growth of the productive forces under capitalism, growth of the social character of production, and an increase in the number of revolutionary proletariat, etc.

p In objective reality we witness not only the development of quantitative changes into qualitative ones, but also the reverse process of an increase in quantity under the influence of qualitative changes. The radical qualitative change in the social system, the replacement of capitalism by socialism, entails a substantial change in various quantities: increase in the volume of industrial and agricultural output, more rapid rates of economic and cultural development, growth of the national income, the wellbeing of the people, etc.

Quantitative and qualitative changes are thus interconnected and influence each other.

The Unity of Continuity and Discontinuity (Leap)
in Development

p Quantitative changes are relatively slow and continuous, while qualitative transformations are discontinuous, leaplike. Development therefore appears as the unity of two differing but interconnected forms or stages—continuity and discontinuity (leap).   [100•* 

p Continuity in development is the stage of slow, imperceptible quantitative accumulation. It does not affect the quality of an object, but introduces insignificant quantitative changes in it; it is a process of increasing or decreasing of what exists.

p Discontinuity, or leap, is a stage of radical qualitative change in an object, a moment or period when the old quality passes into a new one. In contrast to the concealed, slow - quantitative changes, a leap is a more or less open, relatively swift change in the quality of an object. This 101 change occurs in a relatively rapid manner, even when the qualitative transformations assume the form of a gradual transition.

p Leaps in the development of the material world may be: formation of some elementary particles from others, a change in the state of a substance, the birth of a new chemical element, of a previously non-existent species of plant or animal, of a new social system, etc. Each one of them results from definite quantitative accumulation.

p Since a leap results in destruction of the old and development of what is new and progressive, leaps are of tremendous importance in development.

p Leaps are particularly significant in the development ol society, where they often acquire the nature of social revolutions abolishing the old and establishing a new social system, thereby removing obstacles to social progress. Such a leap is national democratic revolution currently under way in some socialist-oriented states. It has put an end to the monarchy where it existed, to the archaic, autocratic monarchical rule, and nationalised the land, industry and insurance companies. These and other revolutionary measures are designed to set up a new society—a people’s democratic republic led by the party of the working class.

p Since development always appears as a unity of quantitative (continuous) and qualitative (leap-like) changes, in practice and in cognition it is necessary to take both these stages of development into account. To ignore any one of them means to distort the process of development, to lapse into metaphysics.

p It is most typical of metaphysicians to deny that qualitative changes take place, and to reduce development to imperceptible quantitative accumulation. The theory of preformation is an example of such understanding of development in the field of biology. The proponents of this theory maintain that the embryo is a fully developed, mature organism, but on a microscopic scale. Development of the organism, from their point of view, is simple growth, an increase in the embryo’s size. In reality, however, the embryo undergoes deep qualitative changes in the course of its development.

p Bourgeois ideologists follow this metaphysical line of thought in seeking to explain social development. They 102 understand social development as pure continuity without leaps or revolutions. By doing so they deny the need for a socialist revolution and try to perpetuate the capitalist system.

p The metaphysical denial of leaps in social development is inherent in revisionism. Just as bourgeois ideologists, revisionists deny the need of qualitative changes in society. They oppose the Marxist-Leninist theory of socialist revolution with the idea of the gradual transformation of capitalism into socialism. By doing so they divert the working class from revolutionary struggle which alone can bring about socialist change.

p It is similarly wrong to ignore quantitative changes, to reduce development merely to leaps, to a break in continuity, as was done, for example, by the French 19th-century scientist Georges Cuvier. He claimed that some kind of catastrophes occurred on Earth one after another, as a result of which old species of plants and animals were fully replaced by new ones. Moreover, Cuvier denied any connection between the new and the vanished species.

p Denial of quantitative changes serves as the theoretical basis of anarchism, a petty-bourgeois trend hostile to Marxism. Anarchists scoff at the prolonged, painstaking work to accumulate forces, organise the people and gradually prepare them for revolutionary action. Recklessness and conspiratorial activities are typical anarchist tactics which have seriously harmed the working-class movement.

p Marxist dialectics demands a competent analysis of continuous and leap-like forms of development, particularly of their unity in social development. Since a leap or revolution is decisive in the development of society, the transition from capitalism to socialism can be effected neither through slow, quantitative changes nor through reforms, but only through a qualitative transformation of the capitalist system, through a socialist revolution.

p The CPSU is a consistently revolutionary party. This is borne out by its heroic history. From the very outset it embarked on the course of effecting a revolutionary transformation of society and undeviatingly pursued it by leading the struggle of the working people for the destruction of capitalism and the victory of the qualitatively new, socialist, system.

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p But a revolution cannot win if it is not thoroughly prepared. Therefore, the Party painstakingly raised the class army of the revolution, assembled forces and created the necessary conditions for the revolution. A brilliant example of this is the preparation for, and the consummation of, the Great October Socialist Revolution. Working in extremely difficult conditions of tsarist rule the Party organised and ideologically tempered the workers, accumulated forces and gained influence among the broad sections of the working people. And when the conditions for revolutionary action became ripe it boldly led the working class and its allies into an assault against capitalism, along the road of the revolutionary reorganisation of society.

p And so, quantitative and qualitative definiteness, quantity and quality are inherent in all objects and phenomena. Quantity and quality are interconnected; in the process of development imperceptible, gradual quantitative changes pass into basic, qualitative changes. This passage takes the form of a leap.

p This is the essence of the dialectical law of the passage of quantitative into qualitative changes.

A leap is a universal, indispensable form by which quantitative changes pass into qualitative changes. Since, however, the most diverse objects and phenomena exist in the world, leaps too are diverse. Let us examine this question in greater detail.