Karl Marx

Question 1

Marx argues that commodities, while appearing as simple objects, conceal the social relations of production behind them.

Answer 1

How does Capitalism work?
1. Commodity Fetishism

Question 2

The value of commodities is ———- – — ——– ———, but this value is mystified, appearing as a property of the commodities themselves
rather than due to the human labor. (Marx)

Answer 2

determined by the socially necessary labor time

Question 3

Marx describes two different cycles of commodity exchange:

Answer 3

How does Capitalism work?
2. Transformation of Money into Capital

Question 4

C-M-C (Commodity-Money-Commodity), where a commodity is sold to purchase another
commodity. (Marx)

Answer 4

Proletariat: exchange labor (C) for money (M) to buy commodities (C).

Question 5

M-C-M (Money-Commodity-Money), where money is used to buy commodities for the
purpose of generating more money. (Marx)

Answer 5

Bourgeois: buy materials and labor to make commodities, then sell commodities for more than
cost of materials and labor.

Question 6

The core of ———- lies in the endless pursuit of profit, where money circulates for the
sake of producing more money. (Marx)

Answer 6

Capitalism

Question 7

The capitalist accumulates wealth by extracting surplus value from
labor. Workers sell their labor and are paid only the value needed to sustain their labor power, while any extra value they produce goes to the capitalist. This surplus value is the basis for capitalist profit and the continued accumulation of capital (Marx).

Answer 7

How does Capitalism work?
3. Surplus Value and Exploitation

Question 8

Technological advancements reduce the need for labor, leading to a
population of unemployed or underemployed workers. Keeps wages low and provides a pool of workers that can be drawn upon during periods of economic growth.

Answer 8

How does Capitalism work?
4. The Industrial Reserve Army:

Question 9

-Marx (and Engels) argue that the material conditions of a society
are the primary drivers of social development.
-Our social relations are determined by the mode of production (how commodities are produced, who controls production, and how labor is organized).
-Different modes of production create different social relations (e.g. slave/master; lord/serf;
proletariat/bourgeois).
-Social institutions emerge to support that mode of production (economic base): the family, the state, legal systems, etc.

Answer 9

The German Ideology
Where do our ideas about the world come from?
1. Historical Materialism

Question 10

-The dominant ideas in any given society are those
of the ruling class.
-Ideology serves to justify the existing social order and maintains the dominance of
the ruling class by presenting their interests as universal truths.
-“The ruling ideas are the ideas of the ruling class.”
-Produces what Marx called “False Consciousness.”

Answer 10

The German Ideology
2. Ideology and the Ruling Class:

Question 11

-“Religion is the opium of the people”
-Religious beliefs often arise as a response to material conditions, particularly hardship and oppression.
-During periods of intense poverty or exploitation, religious ideologies that emphasize submission, suffering, and the promise of reward in the afterlife become more widespread.

Answer 11

Religion

Question 12

To rationalize exploitation, ideologies that depicted non-European races as inferior and suited for enslavement or domination were propagated. These racist ideologies did not
arise independently—they were shaped and reinforced by the economic needs of colonialism and the material benefits it brought to the ruling classes.

Answer 12

Racism: divide and conquer

Question 13

According to Marx, what cycle of commodity exchange is associated with the Bourgeois?

Answer 13

MCM

Question 14

Estrangement and disconnection from the society in
which you live.

Answer 14

Alienation

Question 15

Worker’s labor produces wealth for
others but leads to poverty for themselves.

Answer 15

Alienation from the Product

Question 16

The act of production itself becomes
alienated, as work is coerced and forced rather than voluntary. Feels more at home outside of work than within it

Answer 16

Alienation from the Process

Question 17

In capitalism, people view each
other as alien, hostile, and powerful entities, furthering division and
conflict within society.

Answer 17

Alienation from other Humans

Question 18

Humans are prevented from fully
expressing their creativity, their sociality, and their ability to
transform the world around them.

Answer 18

Alienation from Species-Being

Question 19

Throughout history, society has been divided into
classes with conflicting interests, which leads to a new (synthesis) society.

Answer 19

Class struggle and history
The Communist Manifesto

Question 20

The bourgeoisie, emerged from the ruins of feudal society.
-Via new means of production, transforming small workshops into large factories and consolidating wealth and power in their hands.

Answer 20

Rise of the Bourgeoisie
The Communist Manifesto

Question 21

“Capitalism creates a world of its own image.”

Answer 21

Expansion of Global Markets
The Communist Manifesto

Question 22

The contradictions within capitalism, will eventually lead to its downfall.
-Overproduction
-Economic crises
-Concentration of wealth in fewer
hands (monopolies
-They become “their own grave-diggers.”

Answer 22

Inevitable Collapse of the Bourgeoisie
The Communist Manifesto

Question 23

The abolition of the capitalist system of private ownership of the means of production (factories, land, etc.).
-FYI, not personal property.

Answer 23

Abolition of private property
The Communist Manifesto

Question 24

challenges the idea that capitalist values are
universal or natural, asserting instead that they are historically contingent.

Answer 24

Critique of capitalist Ideology

Question 25

Offers 10 measures which limit the power of
the Bourgeoise.

Answer 25

How to jumpstart communism?

Question 26

Capitalism is a highly productive economic system that creates enormous inequality due to the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie.
-The material conditions of society—particularly how goods are produced and how labor is organized—determine the social, political, and ideological structures of that society.
-Capitalism foments alienation and estranges humans from their labor.
-Capitalism will collapse and lead to a new system (e.g. socialism and at some point, communism)

Answer 26

Arguments
Fundamental Arguments and Concepts

Question 27

Karl Popper:
-Is historical materialism falsifiable? How can we test it?
-Is it tautological?
-How accurate, applicable, and predictable is Marx’s
interpretation of history and class?
-Do the failed revolutions undermine historicism and
the predictability of Marxist theory?
-Karl Popper: “Even his mistaken theories are proof of his keen sociological insight into the conditions of his own time, and of his invincible humanitarianism and sense of justice”

Answer 27

Critiques of Marx

Question 28

“Modern Industry has converted the little workshop of the patriarchal master into the great factory of the industrial capitalist. Masses of laborers, crowded into the factory, are
organized like soldiers. As privates of the industrial army they are placed under the command of a perfect hierarchy of officers and sergeants.”

Answer 28

Capitalism has dramatically changed the way of life for most people