Karl Marx Flashcards
Who were the Young Hegalians?
A group of German intellectuals (including Marx) who built on the ideas of philosopher Georg Hegel. They believed that the promise of history was the elimination of all obstacles to freedom and reason. They rejected anti-utopian areas of Hegel that some interpreted to mean the world had already reached perfection
Who were the Communist League?
The first Marxist political party, established in London on June 1, 1847, in an attempt to unite fledgling movements in England and Germany. Called for the overthrow of the bourgeoisie, the rule of the proletariat, and the construction of a new society free from private property and social classes
What were the Revolutions of 1848?
A wave of democratic uprisings that swept across Europe, with the aim of dismantling monarchies and establishing independent nation-states. Triggered by demands for economic rights, coalitions often included workers and reformers. Most revolutions were quickly suppressed, but their legacy was large
What did Marx view as facilitating the rise of the bourgeoisie?
Marx sees the modern bourgeoisie as the product of a series of technological and social advances
With events such as the industrial revolution, production has become more mechanised, specialised and centralised
It has become easier to classify (and utilise) society in purely economic terms – which has also allowed the bourgeoisie to exploit them
What did Marx think about the division of labour?
The consequence of the industrial era is to dehumanise working people
By the nature of their simplified tasks, labourers become more efficient – but also far more easy to be replaced
This allows the capitalist producer to pay workers just enough to stay alive
Why did Marx advocate for the abolishment of private property?
Marx identifies capital as money which is used to buy something only to sell it again – and identifies it as the goal of all capitalist production
Property is generated under this system – labourers are paid far less than the value of their production, and the difference is used to generate capital which is then used to purchase property
Private property is thus the result of a process of exploitation
How did Marx classify different labourers?
Marx views labourers as defined by their relationship to industry and the bourgeoisie class
All other classes will ultimately be consumed by capitalism – the proletariat is the product of capitalism because it has no ownership of the means of production, and can only survive by selling its labour
Marx believed that the progression of history is in favour of the proletariat
What was the impact of Marx’s methodological approach?
Speaks to the manifesto aspect of Marx’s writings – his work is a call to action
Representative of a shift in the economic methodology – an address to working people, but providing them with agency
The tonic to the self-interest expressed by Smith, and the belief that workers are better when unified
What did Marx think of the Utopian Socialists?
Marx admires the aims of utopian socialists to advance the interests of the working class – but in attempting to appeal to all, they fail to recognise class
Because the bourgeoisie has a vested interest to oppress the proletariat, transition by peaceful means will never occur
