Karl Marx Flashcards
What influenced Karl Marx’s ideologies
- Born in Germany, 1818
- He grew up in relatively wealthy surroundings
- His father was Jewish by birth, had converted to Christianity
- Karl Marx studied Law and then philosophy
- He became the editor of a radical newspaper which the authorities closed down - this led him to living most of the rest of his life in exile in London
- Marx met Friedech Engles then, and became influenced by his dialectical theory of History and by his ideas on mankind creating the idea of God.
Marx’s economic understanding
‘The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles”
- Society is currently divided into rich (bourgeoise) and poor (proletariat)
- There have been class struggles throughout history - which fall into fairly predictable patterns.
- Dialectical materialism: If society is pushed to one extreme then an inevitable reaction will come to push things back to something closer to the ‘status quo’
Marx’s ‘current situation’
The Industrial Revolution of Marx’s time - pushed forward by advances in technology and capitalist ideas such as Adam Smiths division of labour had led to larger factories where people worked harder in dull conditions and for little pay - yet the owners seemed to grow richer.
Marx’ concerns as he sees the Victorian factories are around alienation and exploitation
What does Marx teach about alienation and exploitation
Alienation: The capitalist system alienates human beings from their true nature (e.g. working in poor conditions for long hours in factories).
- No longer do craftsmen have a sense of ownership and care for what they make but each person in the production is separated from the product.
- They are alienated as they only have interest in one tiny stage of what is made.
Exploitation: Far more serious than alienation
- Some is exploited if they are not paid what their labour is worth.
- A large Victorian factory may make a considerable amount of money, yet these products are not shared equally amongst workers.
- Owners often pay the bare minimum and keep large profits for themselves = exploitation
What does Marx mean when he says humans are dehumanised and unable to live fulfilling lives.
- Exploitative and alienating nature of capitalism reduces humans to mere ‘cogs in a machine’.
- They are not individuals but just a factor in the process to making profit.
- Capitalism arguably entraps people - where a wage must be made in order to survive. Therefore, the very work they do to survive is also dehumanising them, which is very far from what would be a fulfilling life.
- They are no longer exhibiting a passion for craftsmanship - the mass production of goods has reduced that.
- They’ll be purchasing the products they make at an inflated price
When does exploitation happen
- When the bourgeoisie are looking to make the maximum amount of profit possible.
- Therefore cutting expenses; such as on working conditions, workers wages etc.
Exploitation tends to appear when there’s ownership over the products - the workers will never have any input in the products they’re making.
How does a Marxist view link to poverty, violence and injustice?
What does Marx say about capitalism?
What does the quote ‘opiate the masses’ mean
Religion.
What are the strengths of Marxist ideas?
What are the problems/ issues with Marxist views?
How does Marxism link to Liberation theology?
Marx on revolution
Using Hegels Philosophy - Marx sees the reaction as being inevitable.
A revolution will take place and a more equal society based on communism - where all property is held equally - will come about.
The opening lines of of Marx’s famous ‘Communist Manifesto’ speaks of this inevitability
‘A spectre is haunting Euprope - the spectre of communism”
Why may people misinterpret Marx’s thought on the inevitable nature of revolution
The inevitability of the future society may be understood as people need not to do anything to bring it about.
This is not the case, Marx has no time for passivity (Bonhoeffer - costly grace) and one of his criticisms of previous philosophers is that they are ‘all talk no action’.
This praxis is shared by liberation theologians.
The communist manifesto ends with a call to arms.
Marx on religion
Marx sees religion as being a part of the problem.
It is used by those in power to ensure the passivity of the poor. Christianity values gentleness, respect for authority, love of enemies.
These values prepare the Christian for heaven. It is almost as if they are encouraged to sit this life out and wait for their reward in heaven.
Marx famously refers to religion as the ‘opiate of the masses’
