p In nature, possibility turns into reality spontaneously, unconsciously. In society, on the other hand, the purposive, conscious activity of people is of decisive importance in the realisation of possibilities. Without the intervention of man, acting on the basis of cognised laws, possibility does not turn into reality. The possibility of preserving peace which exists at present is becoming reality as a result of the vigorous efforts of all the peace-loving forces.

p No task is more important today than that of uniting all people of good will for the struggle in defence of peace. The number of peace supporters and their prestige are growing on all the continents; the various trends and organisations working for peace are displaying greater unity and 149 coordination. The movement for peace is becoming more and more massive and international in character, and public opinion is playing an increasing role in the fight against those who sermonise the fatal inevitability of war and against the arms race, and in dispelling the myth about a “Soviet threat" and unmasking the aggressive manoeuvres of imperialism and neocolonialism.

p In the course of their practical activities, transforming the world, people discover the intrinsic possibilities and work to turn them into reality. In socialist conditions it is particularly important to take into account real possibilities and work for their realisation.

p The Soviet socialist system contains immense possibilities for economic, political and cultural progress. These possibilities are ably taken into account and realised in good time by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union which carefully supports and nurtures the shoots of the new, the progressive. Everyone is interested in the realisation of progressive possibilities and that is why in socialist society possibilities are being rapidly turned into reality.

p The possibility of building socialism, which arose as a result of the October Socialist Revolution, was realised by the Soviet people in a very brief period. The building of socialism gave rise to another possibility that is of the utmost importance for humanity—the real possibility of building communism.

p The Soviet Union now has all the possibilities for building communism. It has a social system of tremendous creative force; a powerful industry equipped with first-class machinery, a large-scale mechanised agriculture; the most advanced science; splendid, highly-qualified personnel capable of accomplishing the most complex tasks of communist construction; domination of the all-conquering Marxist-Leninist teaching; and leadership by the wise, battle-tested Party. The country’s natural wealth is vast and this is a prerequisite for unlimited economic development.

p Communism is built by the people, it is the fruit of their energy and intellect. And this means that in order to turn the possibilities of building communism into reality each Soviet citizen must assiduously perform his particular job. Communism is built directly at enterprises and construction sites, at collective and state farms and research institutions. 150 Reference to this, was made at the 25th CPSU Congress which was marked with great optimism, confidence and purposefulness. “This,” states the Report of the CPSU Central Committee to the Congress, “is the result of the feasibility of our plans, a result of their understanding that when the Party charts its goals relying on its collective wisdom, and sets itself and .the whole country tasks, these goals will be attained, these tasks will be fulfilled.”  [150•* 

An examination of the laws and categories of Marxist dialectics has given us an idea of universal development and connections of the material world. Our task now is to ascertain how this material world is cognised by man. For this we have to study the theory of knowledge of dialectical materialism.