Lecture 12 Marx and Engels

Question 1

Who was Karl Marx?

Answer 1

Marx (1818–1883) was a German philosopher, economist, and political theorist who co-authored The Communist Manifesto with Engels. He critiqued capitalism and developed theories on historical materialism and communism.

Question 2

What is historical materialism?

Answer 2

A theory that material conditions, particularly economic ones, shape society, politics, and culture. It emphasizes the role of class struggle in societal evolution.

Question 3

What is Marx’s concept of human nature?

Answer 3

Humans are inherently social, productive, and creative beings, shaping their lives and environment through conscious activity.

Question 4

What are the bourgeoisie and proletariat?

Answer 4

The bourgeoisie owns the means of production and exploits labor, while the proletariat is the working class dependent on selling their labor.

Question 5

What is exploitation in capitalism?

Answer 5

Capitalists profit by extracting surplus value from workers, paying them less than the value of what they produce.

Question 6

What is alienation, according to Marx?

Answer 6

A condition where workers are disconnected from their labor, the products they create, themselves, and others, resulting from capitalist exploitation.

Question 7

What are the four dimensions of alienation?

Answer 7

Alienation from the product (loss of ownership), productive activity (monotonous, uncreative work), self (loss of potential), and others (relationships based on competition).

Question 8

What is the base-superstructure model?

Answer 8

The economic base (forces and relations of production) shapes the superstructure (culture, politics, ideology), which in turn reinforces the base.

Question 9

What is class struggle?

Answer 9

The ongoing conflict between classes (e.g., bourgeoisie vs. proletariat) that drives historical change.

Question 10

What is surplus value?

Answer 10

The difference between the value a worker produces and the wages they are paid, which is appropriated by capitalists.

Question 11

What are the crises of capitalism?

Answer 11

Capitalism’s inherent contradictions, such as overproduction, periodic economic crashes, and increasing inequality, lead to instability and eventual collapse.

Question 12

What is the dictatorship of the proletariat?

Answer 12

A transitional phase where the working class holds political power to dismantle capitalist structures and move toward communism.

Question 13

What is communism, according to Marx?

Answer 13

A classless society where the means of production are collectively owned, and individuals contribute based on ability and receive based on need.

Question 14

What is Marx’s critique of the Gotha Programme?

Answer 14

Marx critiqued the program for being vague and for failing to emphasize the transition from capitalism to communism, including the redistribution of wealth.

Question 15

How does Marx describe the transition from capitalism to communism?

Answer 15

Through increasing worker consciousness, worsening class antagonisms, and a proletariat-led revolution.

Question 16

What is commodification in capitalism?

Answer 16

The transformation of goods, labor, and even social relations into commodities bought and sold in the market.

Question 17

What is the role of technology in capitalism, according to Marx?

Answer 17

Technology increases productivity and profits but also exacerbates exploitation, unemployment, and crises.

Question 18

What are the main ideas in The Communist Manifesto?

Answer 18

History is driven by class struggle, capitalism’s contradictions lead to revolution, and communism abolishes private property and class distinctions.

Question 19

What is the relationship between ideology and power in Marx’s theory?

Answer 19

The ruling class’s ideas dominate society, legitimizing their power and obscuring exploitation.

Question 20

What is Marx’s critique of political emancipation?

Answer 20

Political equality (e.g., rights and laws) under capitalism is insufficient because it doesn’t address economic exploitation and class inequality.

Question 21

What are specific examples of alienation in modern work environments?

Answer 21

Modern examples include monotonous factory work, gig economy jobs with no ownership, and lack of fulfillment in repetitive tasks.

Question 22

What historical examples illustrate class struggle?

Answer 22

The French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and global anti-colonial movements illustrate class struggles.

Question 23

What are critiques of Marx’s theories?

Answer 23

Critiques include determinism in historical materialism, feasibility of communism, and neglect of cultural and political factors.

Question 24

What were Friedrich Engels’ contributions to Marx’s theories?

Answer 24

Engels co-authored The Communist Manifesto, provided financial support to Marx, and developed ideas on class struggle and materialism.

Question 25

How are Marx’s ideas relevant to contemporary issues?

Answer 25

Marx’s critiques of capitalism apply to issues like gig work, automation, global inequality, and environmental degradation.

Question 26

What is Marx’s vision of a higher phase of communism?

Answer 26

In advanced communism, individuals contribute based on ability and receive based on need, with no rigid division of labor.

Question 27

How did Hegel and Feuerbach influence Marx’s ideas?

Answer 27

Hegel influenced Marx’s dialectical method, while Feuerbach’s materialism shifted Marx’s focus to tangible social conditions.

Question 28

What is overproduction, and how does it destabilize capitalism?

Answer 28

Overproduction occurs when capitalism produces more goods than can be consumed, leading to economic crashes and instability.

Question 29

How does alienation impact workers’ psychological and social well-being?

Answer 29

Alienation leads to mental health struggles, lack of motivation, and weakened social bonds among workers.

Question 30

What is ‘labor power’ as a commodity in Marx’s theory?

Answer 30

‘Labor power’ is the ability to work, treated as a commodity sold to capitalists in exchange for wages.

Question 31

What is false consciousness, and how does it perpetuate capitalist ideology?

Answer 31

False consciousness is the distortion of reality by capitalist ideology, preventing workers from recognizing their exploitation.