Marxism 2 Flashcards
How did Marx see as proof that the modes of production did not work?
every period marked by crises
what question was Marx concerned with?
how can humans be free?
how did he see the process of labour as constraining us?
Through labour we gradually free ourselves from our natural constraints, but entangle ourselves in social constraints
How did Marx explain relationships?
on their material basis – the need for food/water/shelter drives human interaction
what is historical materialism?
considers change over time and concerned with material reality
how did Marx see surplus as being created?
The difference between the actual value of the proletariat’s labour and their wage is what creates surplus (or profit) for capitalism
why does productive capitalism lead to a crisis?
Crises of overproduction – too much being created that people cannot afford, which didn’t allow for reinvestment
What is Gramsci’s theory of hegemony?
ruling class stays in power by developing a dominant set of ideas which are all pervasive and taken for granted in a society, blinding us to our oppression
what quote from Marx could highlight Gramsci’s point?
“religion is the opium of the people”
what is Althusser’s idea?
ideological state apparatus
what is ideological state apparatus?
the bourgeoisie maintain power by using institutions that spread bourgeois ideology and ensure that the proletariat is in a state of false class consciousness
what is false class conciousness? (Lukacs)?
denotes people’s inability to recognize inequality, oppression, and exploitation in a capitalist society because of the prevalence within it of views that naturalize and legitimize the existence of social classes
what is commodity fetishism?
fetishise the abstract exchange value
how can Marx be seen to have a true appreciation for the exchange item of a commodity?
Marx had to consistently pawn his and his families items in order to keep writing and survive
why did neo-marxism develop?
to address the issues it felt traditional Marxist theory couldn’t address
what are 2 key distinctions between neo-marxism and traditional marxism?
- Angled for a peaceful ideological dissemination, rather than revolution
- Consideration of cultural, individual factors as well as economic, structural factors
when did Herbert Marcuse publish one-dimensional man?
1964
what theory of Marx’s did Marcuse add to?
alienation
how did Marcuse add to Marx’s theory?
- Capitalism pushes man so hard they see themselves as extensions of commodities
- Modern capitalism creates false needs and false consciousness for consumption of commodities, locking one-dimensional man into a one-dimensional society which leads man to have to see themselves in their commodities
why did Marcuse believe it was now impossible for the working class to have a revolution?
Pressure of consumerism has led to the working class becoming involved in the capitalist society
who did Marcuse say would be able to have a revolution?
an alliance between radical intellectuals and the groups not yet integrated including the persecuted, the unemployed and the unemployable
