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Karl Marx
Karl Marx was a German philosopher and historian (among many other things), and played a crucial role in the development of the modern idea of communism.
1,415 Questions
Did Europe experience the violent revolutions Karl Marx predicted would happen as capitalism grew?
There were some violent revolutions in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries, such as the Russian Revolution and the French Revolution. While they were not exactly as Karl Marx predicted, they did result in significant social and political changes. Marx's theories did influence some revolutionary movements, but the outcomes were shaped by various factors beyond his predictions.
Power is held by an economic elite the people who control the means of production is said by?
This statement is in line with the theory of Marxism, as proposed by Karl Marx. Marx argued that power in society is concentrated in the hands of the economic elite, known as the bourgeoisie, who own and control the means of production, such as factories and industries. According to Marx, this imbalance of power leads to exploitation and conflict between the bourgeoisie and the working class, or proletariat.
D. All of the above. Karl Marx believed that religion serves to impede social change, acts as an opiate to comfort the oppressed, and plays a role in maintaining the existing social order by legitimizing inequality.
Why is Karl Marx described as a conflict theorist?
Karl Marx's Conflict Theory is a highly studied concept in both the sociology and psychology worlds. Marx believed that capitalism would produce tension between people in a population and eventually lead to the downfall of society by it's own people.
According to Karl Marx who owned the means of production?
According to Karl Marx, the means of production were owned by the capitalist class, who used them to exploit the labor of the working class for profit. Marx believed this created a class struggle between the bourgeoisie (capitalists) and the proletariat (workers).
Frantz Fanon is famous for his work as a psychiatrist, philosopher, and revolutionary thinker. He was a prominent proponent of decolonization and wrote influential books such as "Black Skin, White Masks" and "The Wretched of the Earth," which explored the psychological and social impacts of colonization on both colonized and colonizer. His ideas on the effects of oppression and the quest for liberation continue to inspire scholars and activists worldwide.
What did Karl Marx call the American Civil War?
Karl Marx referred to the American Civil War as the "slaveholders' rebellion" in recognition of the conflict's central role in determining the future of slavery in the United States. Marx believed the war was fundamentally about the South's desire to preserve and expand its slave labor system.
"Marxism" neither precedes nor succeeds communism, since they are two different concepts. Marxism is an ideology based on all of the theories of Karl Marx. Communism is an economic and political system. According to Karl Marx, socialism precedes and eventually evolves into communism. The idea that socialism will evolve into communism is only one of the aspects of the ideology known as Marxism. There are many more aspects to "Marxism" than just socialism and communism.
Which of these statements would Karl Marx disagree?
Karl Marx would likely disagree with the statement that capitalism is the best economic system as he believed it perpetuated inequality and exploitation. He would also likely take issue with the idea that class struggle is not a key driver of historical change, as he believed in the importance of class conflict in shaping society.
Karl Marx is primarily known as a philosopher, economist, and social scientist. While he wrote some poems and lyrical pieces in his youth, his main contributions were in the fields of philosophy and economics, particularly in developing the theory of communism.
What were Karl Marx beliefs and thoughts of the Russia Revolution of 1917?
Karl Marx had no beliefs or thoughts of the Russian Revolution since it occurred many years after Marx died on March 14, 1883. The "Russian Revolution" was actually a series of three revolutions. One in 1905, which resulted in the creation of the Duva, a Russian style Parliament. The second was in February 1917, which resulted in the abdication of Czar Nicholas II, and one in October 1917 resulting in the ascension to power of the Bolsheviks under Lenin.
Although Marx obviously had no opinion of the revolutions, it is obvious from his writings that the Russian Revolutions were not the kind he predicted. Marx felt the working class of the industrial nations would unite and overthrow the upper class out of economic forces, then establish a socialist political system. The Russian Revolutions were supported by a non-industrialized agrarian economy which overthrew the political system in order to impose the new economic system. In other words, the Russian Revolution, although inspired by Marxian principles was not the revolution Marx had in mind.
What did Karl Marx mean by the 'means of production'?
Factors of production = means of production
I see it like this, the economy converts factor of production (non-money things) into money. And then this money is reinvested into factors of production
Factors of production(non-money) is converted to money
Factors of production in my definiton are:
raw materials
labor
technology
(the human brain) can also argued as a factor of production
Notice I did not say capital is a factor of production, because factors of production are first converted into capital (non-money) which is then sold for money
when non money things are converted into capital, their value rises.
Karl Marx predicted that the proletariat would overthrow the?
Particularly in Marx's day, there were terrible injustices inflicted upon working people by more affluent people, the bourgeoisie and the upper classes, and it seemed logical that such injustice must inevitably lead to a revolt. However, as it happens, that is not the only possible outcome. Sometimes there are less violent means of correcting injustice and creating a more equitable society. We now have things such as minumum wage laws, regulations requiring safe working conditions, child labor laws, etc., all of which are designed to prevent the abuse of workers.
"Taksh" is a derivative of the Sanskrit word "Taksha," which means carpenter or builder. The name symbolizes craftsmanship, creativity, and the ability to construct and create.
Note: this question calls for opinions, and here are some from our contributors. It should be noted that the term "racist" was not in common use when Marx lived. Some sources do acknowledge that he displayed certain prejudices, and those prejudices can be seen in some of his writings.
what our contributors said:
Yes, in at least one way. He despised the Jewish race, even though he himself was
born to Jewish parents (but baptized as a youth, when his family converted to Christianity). Marx would refer people who held theories and philosophies that were contrary to his as "dirty Jews." Marx also saw in Jews a love of religion that he himself thought was simply a tool for the upper class to use to oppress and suppress the lower classes. Marx despised virtually every religious denomination and the people who belonged to them.
* The person above me does not realize that Marx was basing his opinions on his own untested theory of Communism/socialism. The modern era of capitalism and neo-imperialist America has dawned upon us, a vast majority of Western Europe is atheist and the conclusive answer is that Marx was wrong in suggesting that Religion helped the upper class control the working class. Therefore modern day 'neo-marxism' can let go of the religious theories that Karl Marx enthused, Capitalism has proved much stronger and independent from other forms of authoritarianism. All the masses need for complete blind co-operation with the Imperialist world is a mass amount of commodities.
I conclude in suggesting that Karl Marx was not racist only hateful to capitalists, and to express this discontent he used typical and acceptable insults of his time. Neo-Marxism is not racist nor should it be anti religion unless it is deemed necessary.*
A Rejoinder:
Respectfully, speaking, the above answer in asterisks, fails to distinguish between the FACT of Marx's anti-Semitism and the partial REASON for his anti-Semitism. Take for example this quote from an article by James B. Whisker in the Journal of Historical Review entitled "Karl Marx Anti-Semite," and can be accessed via Related Links, below.
"Marx made specific charges against the Jews in his polemic. Jews worship Mammon, not God. Jews practice usury. Their true religion is predicated upon the acquisition of money through any and all means. The emancipation of all Europeans means the emancipation from Jewry: "emancipation from usury and money, that is, from practical, real Judaism, would constitute the emancipation of our time." Jews seek to control the world through the control of money: "What is the object of the Jew's worship in this world? Usury. What is his worldly god? Money. . . . What is the foundation of the Jew in this world? Practical necessity, private advantage. . . . The bill of exchange is the Jew's real God. His God is the illusory bill of exchange." Marx further alleges: "Money is the one zealous god of Israel, beside which no other god may stand. Money degrades all the gods of mankind and turns them into commodities. Money is the universal and self-constituted value set upon all things. It has therefore robbed the whole world, of both nature and man, of its original value. Money is the essence of man's life and work which have become alienated from him: this alien monster rules him and he worships it."
The author of the article describes Marx's views toward Jews in particular not just capitalists. Marx does not say Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, Muslim, Calvinist or any other specific religious capitalists, worship Mammon, practice usury or have a religion based on the acquisition of wealth. He states that "Jews" are guilty of these. He states that this is the Jew. The worship of Mammon (material wealth), practice of usury and preoccupation with wealth are charges that have been made all throughout history against Jews.
If Marx were simply commenting on capitalists in general, he would not have singled out Jews for particularly harsh treatment. In addition, if he were making comments on the nature of capitalists by likening them to Jews, there would be no doubt about his anti Semitism, since he would have had the anti Semitic opinion first and then apply it to capitalists to denigrate capitalists.
Marx also had anti-Semitic views wholly unrelated to capitalism. He disrespected them because of their devotion to religion as well, a commodity for which Marx had no use whatsoever.
Lastly, I would tale issue with the above statement that Marx should not be viewed as a racist because he simply used "typical and acceptable insults of his time." The use of typical and acceptable insults in vogue at the time does not absolve Marx of anti-Semite charges. It indicts the society as a whole for its ingrained racism.
Whatever his REASON for being anti-Semitic, the FACT is he WAS anti-Semitic. That makes him a racist.
Addenda:
He was also known to use the epithet, "Stupid Jew of negro blood." Any attack he could levy on the opponent was valid in his mind. Ad hominem was one of his preferred methods of "debate."
How does the class struggle in 19TH century differ from class struggles in previous eras?
Class struggle in the 19th century differed from earlier class struggles, this remains true today, in that the class struggle was between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, the capitalists and the wage-slaves. This fundamental fact changes everything, class struggle under feudalism is radically different from class struggle under all non-feudalist systems, same goes for capitalism and all other modes of production.
As laid out in his influential treatise, "The Communist Manifesto," Karl Marx believes that the force at the core of human progress is a great class struggle that has been ongoing since human beings organized themselves into civilizations. With control of the means of production as the central dynamic involved in this struggle, Marx predicts that in future it will be the "proletariat" -- the workers of human society -- who will eventually co-rule in more equitable social arrangements best described as "communistic."
What was Karl Marx's famous quote?
He has several, but likely the most famous is:
"Workingmen of all countries, unite." (The final sentence in "The Communist Manifesto" written with Friedrich Engels )
Additional quotes are:
"A specter is haunting Europe-the specter of communism." (The opening line in "The Communist Manifesto" written with Friedrich Engels.)
"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." (The first line of Section I of "The Communist Manifesto" written with Friedrich Engels.)
"Religion is the opium of the people." (In Gesamtausgabe by Marx and Engels) Note: Marx did not say "Religion is the opiate of the masses," even though they can be read as meaning the same thing. But we are talking quotes here and that is a closer translation from the original German text.
"From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."
(This quote is the motto of true communism from "Critique of the Gotha Programme")
"This I call the Fetishism which attaches itself to the products of labour, so soon as they are produced as commodities, and which is therefore inseparable from the production of commodities. This Fetishism of commodities has its origin, as the foregoing analysis has already shown, in the peculiar social character of the labour that produces them." - (Karl Marx, Capital Vol. 1, chapter 1 section 4)
exploited by a small elite. He argued for a classless society where resources were shared equally among all members, rather than being held privately by a few. Marx believed that this would create a more just and equitable society for all individuals.
Which two major ideas are contained in the writings of Karl Marx?
Two major ideas in Karl Marx's writings are the concept of historical materialism, which posits that economic factors drive social change, and the theory of alienation, which discusses how workers become disconnected from the products of their labor under capitalism.
What are the criticisms on the theory of marxism?
I will critique three aspects of Marxism; critiques of all theories which are called Marxist would be an unending task.
The material dialectic which Marx uses in his model of history has some merits, insofar as it does show us how much social arrangements depend on what is economically or just physically feasible. But his argument that this is fully or largely determinative of all apsects of society fails to account for the diversity of ways people possessing similar technologies use develop and share them within their cultures. For instance, despite a rough parity in population, technology and wealth, the people of the EU rely far more on trains than do citizens of the USA. Techonology and culture are mutually influencing, rather than simply culture resulting from technology.
Closely related is his assertion that people's morals, mores and general view of the world are determined by their material and social circumstance. It is today quite uncontroversial to say that these matter for the development of individuals' views. But to say that these views are products only of these ends conversation, and makes it difficult to advocate for proletarian revolution: one can hardly one the one hand revile a bourgeoisie for his oppression of the proletarians and claim that he should stop, but say that his own views - on which he is not really oppressing them economically but giving them no more than what they deserve - are equally valid, given his staion in life.
Finally, Marx's economics are a mixed bag. He is the intellectual descendant of Ricardo and other classical economists in many respects, but in others diverges sharply. His theory of value as derived from labor, and of capital as "dead labor" is intricately worked out, but is ultimately rejected by later economists. In most models today, value is found in the utility dreived from final goods by consumers, not in the amount of sweat put in by producers. The disutility from work matters for the determination of wages, which influence the cost at which goods are produced, but this disutility does not determine the value.
In historical practice, Marxist economics and economies tend to favor the production of goods over services; the latter are seen as skimming off the real value put in goods by laborers. Marixst nations have tended to underproduce consumer goods in favor of capital goods and military hardware, relative to other economies, but this can be attributed to later political strategic visions based on Marxism, rather than Marxism itself.
What significant historical event allowed the development of bourgeoisie and proletariat?
The Industrial Revolution created the economic conditions for the development of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. This is because the advent of the factory made production of goods possible by using unskilled workers who were essentially identical in terms of labor skills. This "pot" of unskilled laborers became the proletariat.
Karl Marx believed the key element in understanding human history is to understand?
the relationship between different economic classes and their struggle for power. Marx argued that throughout history, societies have been defined by the conflict between the ruling class (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat), with the eventual goal of achieving a classless society.
The concept of a classless society is most closely associated with which of these?
The concept of a classless society is most closely associated with communism, where there is no private ownership of the means of production and everyone is considered equal.
Why did the October manifesto fail?
The October Manifesto failed to fully address the concerns of various social groups in Russia, leading to continued dissatisfaction and unrest. It was seen as a superficial attempt by the Tsar to maintain power rather than a genuine reform effort. Additionally, the Tsar's failure to implement the promises made in the manifesto further eroded trust in the government.
