Marx and Darwin. August Comte (1798-1857) Positivism- the key to civilization is humanities...

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Marx and Darwin Marx and Darwin

Transcript of Marx and Darwin. August Comte (1798-1857) Positivism- the key to civilization is humanities...

Page 1: Marx and Darwin. August Comte (1798-1857)  Positivism- the key to civilization is humanities understanding of the world. 3 Stages  Theological Stage-

Marx and DarwinMarx and Darwin

Page 2: Marx and Darwin. August Comte (1798-1857)  Positivism- the key to civilization is humanities understanding of the world. 3 Stages  Theological Stage-

August Comte (1798-1857)August Comte (1798-1857)

Positivism- the key to civilization is humanities Positivism- the key to civilization is humanities understanding of the world.understanding of the world.

3 Stages3 Stages Theological Stage- humans interpreted Theological Stage- humans interpreted

everything in terms of gods who lived in natureeverything in terms of gods who lived in nature Metaphysical Stage- people learned through Metaphysical Stage- people learned through

Christianity, to think in more abstract termsChristianity, to think in more abstract terms Positive Stage- human understanding becoming Positive Stage- human understanding becoming

scientific.scientific.

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August Comte (1798-1857)August Comte (1798-1857)

SociologySociology- a scientific study of human - a scientific study of human civilizationcivilization

Established religion would be replaced by Established religion would be replaced by a a “religion of humanity”a a “religion of humanity”

Inspired rapid development of the social Inspired rapid development of the social sciences: sciences:

-- economics, political science, anthropology, economics, political science, anthropology, sociology and psychology sociology and psychology

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Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Communist League Communist League - link far flung - link far flung German Socialist living in exileGerman Socialist living in exile

The Communist ManifestoThe Communist Manifesto (1848) written (1848) written jointly with Fredrich Engelsjointly with Fredrich Engels

Basic statement of ideals of the Basic statement of ideals of the Communist League Communist League

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Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

CommunismCommunism Goal – Economic equityGoal – Economic equity The wealthy (bourgeoisie)would not voluntarily give up The wealthy (bourgeoisie)would not voluntarily give up

wealthwealth Called for a violent revolution, led by the working classCalled for a violent revolution, led by the working class

-- ProletariatProletariat Identity based on classIdentity based on class

-- No nationalismNo nationalism- No religionNo religion Workers would own the Workers would own the factorsfactors of production of production (land, (land,

factories, natural resources)factories, natural resources)

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Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Theory of HistoryTheory of History All of history from the beginnings of time All of history from the beginnings of time

consists of a class struggleconsists of a class struggle Society is structured based on the Society is structured based on the

organization of its economyorganization of its economy

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Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Theory of HistoryTheory of History Feudalism supplanted by development of Feudalism supplanted by development of

bourgeoisie (Middle Class)bourgeoisie (Middle Class) Capitalism led to creation of a new working Capitalism led to creation of a new working

class, the class, the proletariatproletariat Proletariat would arise and overthrow the Proletariat would arise and overthrow the

capitalist capitalist Government created by proletariat would be Government created by proletariat would be

violent, but would wither away as the result of violent, but would wither away as the result of the elimination of all other classesthe elimination of all other classes

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Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Das KapitalDas Kapital Analysis of capitalismAnalysis of capitalism Value of a product comes from the labor Value of a product comes from the labor

required to produce it required to produce it

-- Capitalist makes a profit by keeping part of Capitalist makes a profit by keeping part of the value added by laborthe value added by labor

-- Exploitive of the working classExploitive of the working class

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Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Competition forces lower prices, reduced Competition forces lower prices, reduced profitsprofits

-- Lower wages to subsistence levelLower wages to subsistence level- Small producers failSmall producers fail- concentration of capital among wealthyconcentration of capital among wealthy- fewer middle class, larger working classfewer middle class, larger working class- deprives all but few of property deprives all but few of property

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Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Scientific Socialism Scientific Socialism – using scientific – using scientific analysis of history and economyanalysis of history and economy

as opposed to utopian socialism of Saint-as opposed to utopian socialism of Saint-Simon, Robert Owen and Charles FourierSimon, Robert Owen and Charles Fourier

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Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

AppealAppeal1.1. Provides a method for analyzing society Provides a method for analyzing society 2.2. Accepts industrialization as ultimately Accepts industrialization as ultimately

beneficial while criticizing industrial beneficial while criticizing industrial society.society.

3.3. Creates moral judgments without a Creates moral judgments without a system of ethicssystem of ethics

4.4. Scientific claim that the workers would Scientific claim that the workers would ultimately “win”ultimately “win”

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Charles DarwinCharles Darwin

On the Origins of SpeciesOn the Origins of Species (1859) (1859) Provided detailed evidence and explained Provided detailed evidence and explained

the mechanism for evolutionthe mechanism for evolution ““natural selection”natural selection” Over times, species that were well Over times, species that were well

adapted would survive, those that were adapted would survive, those that were not would die outnot would die out

Over time, “higher” forms of life emergedOver time, “higher” forms of life emerged

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Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

The application of Darwin’s ideas to social The application of Darwin’s ideas to social science.science.

Used “science” to justify that Europeans were Used “science” to justify that Europeans were superior to Asians and Africanssuperior to Asians and Africans

-- Therefore, Europeans should dominate themTherefore, Europeans should dominate them

-- Men should dominate womenMen should dominate women ““science” of Eugenics- Some races/nationalities science” of Eugenics- Some races/nationalities

superior to others. Unfit should be discouraged superior to others. Unfit should be discouraged from breedingfrom breeding

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Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer ““survival of the fittest”survival of the fittest” Progress was “not an accident, but a Progress was “not an accident, but a

necessity”necessity” All things evolved from simplicity to All things evolved from simplicity to

complexity complexity

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Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Ideas of Darwin would be used to help Ideas of Darwin would be used to help justify European Imperialismjustify European Imperialism

““White Man’s Burden”White Man’s Burden”