Karl Marx 1818-83 and Fredrich Engels 1820-95 Flashcards
Books
The Communist manifesto 1848 and Das Kapital 1867
Views on Human nature
Human nature had been contaminated by capitalism which encouraged selfishness, ruthlessness add greed. Capitalism had installed a “ false consciousness” far removed from man’s original nature- which was cooperative, and fraternal. The task was to create an economic system which would revive these characteristics.
Social class
Capitalism created two conflicting economic classes: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. There were harsh inequalities of wealth and power and the exploitation of the proletariat. For this reason capitalist societies were unstable and would eventually be overthrown by a “ historically inevitable” revolution of the proletariat
what had capitalism instilled?
“false concouisness”
what was mankind’s original nature like?
Cooperative, selfless and fraternal
What were the two classes capitalism created called?
The bourgeoisie and perla Terry at
What did Marx think inequality’s and exploitation made?
Capitalist societies were unstable and would eventually be overthrown by historically inevitable revolution of the proletariat
What did the competitiveness of capitalism create?
“surplus value”
How would surplus value lead to capitalism ‘s downfall?
It would enhance “class consciousness” among workers I didn’t doing this implanted “the seeds of its own destruction”
Who’s interested the state serve?
The states serve the interests of which ever class world the economy. Consequently the state was “merely a committee” for the ruling capitalist class and could never provide an evolutionary road to socialism
What did the state serving the interests of the economically dominant class do to the likelihood of revolution?
Revolution was not just inevitable but essential, and in the wake of revolution an entirely new state should arise to govern than you economically dominant class . This was called the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Once the state had cemented socialist values, what would happen?
The state would “ wither away” and be replaced by communism: a stateless society involving common ownership and the principle of “from each according to his ability to each according to his needs”
