Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

Question 1

What does historical materialism mean?

Answer 1

Historical materialism is a theory developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, which posits that social and economic conditions in history are the result of material and economic factors, rather than ideas or ideals. In other words, historical materialism holds that economic and social systems are shaped by the material conditions of society, such as the means of production, rather than by abstract concepts or moral beliefs.

E.g. Animals and plants, biologically evolve when their methods of survival contradict their environment. Because the world is material in nature that is made entirely of matter rather than mental or spiritual, these contradictions cannot be harmonized through reason or divine power.

Historical materialism is a method to analyze history but its outcome is facts according to Marx.

Question 2

The problems with capitalism?

Answer 2

1. Individualism, the polarization of power, takes advantage of the working class: surplus does not go to the labours but to the factory owners.
2. The manufacturer keeps the extra money instead of giving it to the workers. The workers have to buy the product from the manufacturer, but they are not paid enough to afford it.
3. Alienation: you have meaningless, small jobs, people feel useless, and no satisfaction with a finished product.
4. It is a linear history, capitalism is bound to happen. He does not hate industry but the capitalist rule of it.

Question 3

What is the socialist solution to capitalism?

Answer 3

1. Communist revolution: “Workers of the world unite you have nothing to lose except your chains” — Internationalist idea.
2. What was expected was that someone would take power for a certain amount of time and eventually it would self-destruct and there would be no need for class or a state anymore - a Socialist state
3. Marx was not a Marxist, conditions of capitalism should get worse, not better. Because that delays the process of the revolution. Essentially there is a need for the destruction of the capitalist system, for the socialist revolution to take place. Workers rights only make the capitalist system more tolerable and therefore prevent the revolution from occurring.