Essential Distinctions Between Mental and Physical Labour, attributable to the first phase of communist society socio- economic differences in the character and conditions of labour and in the cultural and technical level of most of workers, peasants and intellectuals. Socialist society forever abolishes the opposition of mental and physical labour inherent in capitalism, and ensures the community of the basic vital interests of all the working people. However, the standards of the productive forces attained under socialism do not yet make it possible to do without manual, uncreative labour in production, or to ensure the organic fusion of mental and physical activity in all production operations. Essential distinctions between the labour of workers, peasants and intellectuals are being overcome gradually, in the course of creating the material and technical base of communism, and in moulding communist social relations and bringing up the new and harmoniously developed man. Crucial to this process is the extensive introduction of scientific and technological advance, the implementation of the results of the scientific and technological revolution, the completion of the processes of comprehensive mechanisation of production and automation of production, overall electrification and use of chemicals in the economy, and on this basis the attaining of a higher labour productivity than capitalism can boast of. These conditions make it possible to transform the material base of physical and mental labour and create conditions for their organic fusion into communist labour. Also essential is a change in the nature and forms of the social division of labour and the creation of socio-economic conditions for the all-round development of the human personality, higher living standards for the entire population, a substantially shorter working day, and the expanded development of the system of education and professional training. The combination of general and polytechnical education with productive labour is a necessary condition for eliminating the essential distinctions between mental and physical labour. Also important are factors like the involvement of the working people in the movement for a communist attitude towards labour, and the initiation and refinement of other forms of socialist emulation. With the attainment of the higher phase of communism, socio- economic differences in the labour of the workers, peasants and intellectuals will be completely erased, and all classes and strata of the population will merge into one classless association of the toilers of communist society.