KARL MKKARX

Chapter 3Karl Marx

KARL MARX (1818–1883)

Key ConceptsClassBourgeoisieProletariatForces and relations of productionCapitalSurplus valueAlienationLabor theory of valueExploitationClass consciousness

The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.

(Marx and Engels 1848/1978:473)

Beginnings

•Born: Trier, Germany 1818•Died: March 17th, 1883•One of 9 children

•Only one to live until 40•Father: Lawyer from long line of rabbis

Videos about Marx• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ztVeUX8Hpo&feature=related

• Marxism made simple

• Do you know how to make a shirt?• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QbWbwj7-OE&feature=related

Biographical Sketch: Karl Marx•University career (1835-1841):

•History, Philosophy, and Law

•Academic career ambitions ended•Berlin Ministry of Education blacklisted him due to radical views

Biographical Sketch: Karl Marx

•Early 1840s, Began longtime friendship and collaboration with Friedrich Engels

•Marx and family died due to poverty and ill health (early 1880s)

Environment and Focus• Reaction to dire economic and social conditions • Due to industrial revolution

• Theory: Not only to interpret the world, but also to change it

• Focus:• Economy• Classes• Forces of production

Economy

•Ways in which people satisfy their material needs •Food, clothing, shelter, etc.

•PRODUCTION: Transform raw materials into things people use•Products

Means of production & Relations of production

•The Means of Production: •Land•Natural resources•Technology •Factories

Relations of Production

Social and technical relationships•Among people as they •Use the means of production

•Relations among individuals•Between or among groups of people or classes

Mode of production•Means of Production + Relations of Production= Mode of Production

•Mode of production changes • Primitive Communism• Feudalism• Capitalism• Socialism

•Cause of change:•Process of “dialectical materialism”

Process of Dialectical Materialism• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Cpuv4tSyo

•Each historical period’s mode of production--economy (thesis)

•Challenged by a set of social forces (anti-thesis)

•New mode of production (synthesis)

Economy: Basic Issues• What goods & services to produce?

• In what quantities?

• How scarce resources are allocated?

• How goods and services are distributed?

• What price should be charged for goods & services?

Capitalism• Natural resources and means of producing goods and services are privately owned

• Ideal capitalism: 3 Features

1. Private ownership of property

2. Pursuit of personal profit

3. Competition & choice

Socialism

•An economic system in which the means of production are owned by the public and

•Operate for the welfare of all.

Socialism

• Essential Industries & Services are:

• Publicly owned

• Democratically controlled

• Equal opportunity for all

• Equal benefit for all

Communism• “The workers of the world have nothing to lose, but their chains, workers of the world unite.” - Marx

“From each according to his/her ability, to each according to his/her need."

Communism•Economic system in which:•All means of production are owned by the people,

•Private property does not exist, and

•All goods and services are shared equally

Dialectical Materialism

•Materialism=Material world, perceptible to senses

•Objective reality • Independent of mind or spirit

• Ideas arise•As products and reflections of material conditions

•“I labor (work), therefore I am.”

Materialism vs. Idealism

•Materialism->Opposite of Idealism

•Idealism:•Matter dependent on mind or spirit•Mind or Spirit

•Exists independently of matter

•“I think, therefore I am”

Species Being

Essence of creative nature• Humans live off nature (as do other

animals)

• Express “species being” through free, conscious activity

• Estranged labor makes work only a means to existence

Alienation and Capitalism• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCOdHcRkd0E&feature=related

•Alienation:•Separation of people from aspects of their human nature

Alienated Labor: “Alienation”

•Worker spends 2/3 of waking hours in meaningless activity

•Little or no interaction with others•Alienated from other people

•Alienated from humanity

Alienation

Worker Alienated from:

1. Products of labor

2. Process of production

3. Co-workers

4. Species-potential (species being)

5. Self (self-estrangement)

Capitalism •Benefits owners of capital•Prevents workers

•From realizing essential human capacity for creative labor

•Inherently exploitative

•Leads to monopoly

Social Class

•Class: Relationship to means of production

•Class consciousness: Recognize common relationship to means of production

Social Class

•False consciousness: •Unable to recognize oppression & exploitation• Incorrectly identifying source of problems

Marx’s Model of Social Change• Generate class consciousness—Awareness by working class of common relationship to the means of production

The Communist Manifesto

• Manifesto is a “scientific prophecy” detailing the downfall of the capitalist class and the rise of the proletariat

• **The Communist Manifesto Cartoon• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KUl4yfABE4&feature=related

• Communist Smurfs• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qra0hlO6hZk&NR=1