Transcript Karl Marx

Karl Marx
The Father of Modern Communism
Marxism
Christina Rouse
Karl Marx
Philosopher, Social Theorist,
Political Economist, Historian,
Communist and Revolutionary
1818-1883
Influences
Influences Growing Up

Marx was provided an education across the board by his
father. Because of this, he received schooling in things
such as Greek philosophy and journalism. These fields
helped him develop and publish his ideas.

Marx was mentored by nobleman Ludwig von Westphalen.
Westphalen introduced Marx to the ideas of socialist
Henri de Saint-Simon and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich von Hegel.

Hegel’s ideas would later become the basis of Marx’s
Dialectical Materialism theory.
Marx – Adolescent Years

Marx attended University of Berlin. During his time there,
he became a part of a group called the Young
Hegelians.

This group was centered around the philosophy of Georg
Wilhelm Friedrich von Hegel.


Marx combined Hegel’s ideas with Ludwig Feurerbach, who
critiqued Hegel.


Hegel believed that historical change was the basis of an intellectual
system.
He argued that physical and human factors attributed to events in the
world.
By combining these two theories, Marx created his own
theory: DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM.

This is the process in which human history progresses.
Marxism
Scientific Socialism
What is Marxism?

Marxism is the series of political and economic theories
coined by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.




Human actions and institutions are economically determined.
Class struggle is needed to create historical change.
Capitalism will ultimately be superseded by communism.
There are four major propositions in Marxism.
Key Propositions
The economic interpretation of history
1.
1.
Human history is determined by economic factors, specifically who controls production
and distribution.
The class struggle
2.
1.
There has always been a struggle between the rich and the poor.
Theory of Surplus Value
3.
1.
The value of a product was based off of labor; however the laborer only received a
small fraction of his labor price.
2.
The difference between the cost of the product and the pay of the laborer was called
surplus value.
3.
This surplus value was stolen from the laborer by capitalists.
Socialism was unavoidable
4.
1.
Capitalism brought itself down by the means of such things as unemployment.
2.
The rich will grow richer and the poor will grow poorer, until the chasm between these
two classes divides the society entirely.
3.
This causes the lower class to revolt and overthrow the government, hence creating a
classless, socialist society.
Publications
The Communist Manifesto
The Creation of Communism:
“The Communist Manifesto”


Marx collaborated with
Friedrich Engels to write this
document in 1847, and
published it a year later.
This document formed the
basis for modern
Communism.

The Manifesto ultimately
sparked revolutions
throughout the world,
specifically Russia and China.

“It is high time that
Communists should openly,
in the face of the whole
world, publish their views,
their aims, their tendencies,
and meet this nursery tale of
the Spectre of Communism
with a Manifesto of the party
itself.”

This call to arms influenced
people everywhere to join the
Communist party and give
voice to their ideas.
The Communist Manifesto

“The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an
end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn
asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his "natural
superiors," and has left remaining no other nexus between man and
man than naked self-interest, than callous "cash payment." It has
drowned the most heavenly ecstasies of religious fervor, of
chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in the icy water
of egotistical calculation. It has resolved personal worth into
exchange value. And in place of the numberless and feasible
chartered freedoms, has set up that single, unconscionable
freedom—Free Trade. In one word, for exploitation, veiled by
religious and political illusions, naked, shameless, direct, brutal
exploitation. ”
“The bourgeoisie has torn away
from the family its sentimental
veil, and has reduced the family
relation to a mere money
relation.”

This excerpt shows Marx’s belief, which echoes that of socialism. This
expresses the view that Free Trade, furthermore, the entire laissez faire
economic system, is unfair and cruel, tearing society apart.
The Communist Manifesto

“In the national struggles
of the proletarians of the
different countries, they
point out and bring to the
front the common
interests of entire
proletariat, independently
of nationality.”
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This excerpt clearly
depicts the main ideas of
socialism: the idea that the
happiness of the majority
is key.
Furthermore, it explains
the Communistic aspect: it
is necessary for all to be
one, no matter what, so
everyone is equal.
The Communist Manifesto

“The immediate aim of
the Communist is the
same as that of all the
other proletarian parties:
formation of the
proletariat into a class,
overthrow of the
bourgeois supremacy,
conquest of political
power by the proletariat.”

Communism, a branch of
Socialism, shares similar
beliefs. One of which is
the importance of the
happiness of the majority.
This passage expresses
the need for the power to
be held by the majority,
resulting in greater
satisfaction.
The Communist Manifesto
“Working
Men
of All Countries
Unite!”
Connection to Socialism
The Big Picture
Marx’s Role

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Karl Marx created some of the most influential Socialist
theories in partnership with Friedrich Engels.
He advocated a society that would eliminate Capitalism,
creating a surplus value.

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This would allow the equal distribution of power and the
surplus value based upon the work effort, creating a fair
environment for all people.
From Marx’s theories, many other Socialists drew their
own. Marx inspired Socialists across the board and
produced ideas that left a lasting impression on society
and history.
"The
philosophers have
only interpreted
the world in
various ways; the
point is to change
it."
- Karl Marx,Theses on
Feuerbach (1845)
Bibliography

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
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
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
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
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
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http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/367265/Karl-Marx