The Socialism of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

Marxism

Karl Marx (1818-1883)Born in Prussian RhinelandSon of a lawyer, studied law & philosophyJournalist in Cologne, Paris & Brussels1849 lived in London in povertyBelieved in practical application of

philosophy: philosophy should be used to change society

Best known for the Communist Manifesto (1848) and Das Kapital; scientific socialism (= Marxism)

Marx Engels

Friedrich Engels (1820-1893)Son of a German textile

manufacturerLearned about the business in

Manchester, EnglandMet Marx in 1844 in ParisMore stylistically adept in writingWrote also: The Condition of the

Working Classes in England

Communist League1847 Marx & Engels joined other

German exiles and advocated for:Unified GermanyDemocratic suffrageUniversal free educationArming of the peopleProgressive income taxState ownership of banks, railroads,

canals, minesCollectivization of agriculture

Communist Manifesto, Jan 1848

Denunciation of the conditions of the working class

Hegelian Dialectic = free & democratic societyDiffers from Hegel in that:

Does not believe the Prussian State to be the best possible state

Did not believe in the power of individuals to shape history, rather the restructuring of fundamentals must occur

Economic interpretation of history!History is determined by those who control the

means of production and distribution and is created by material conditions

Religion is useless = “opiate of the masses”

Main Tenets of MarxismWorking classes non-nationalistic

(international)“WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!”

Fight for social and economic equalityTheory of Surplus Value

Workers had been robed of wealth they createdTrue value of a product was labor and, since

the worker received only a small portion of his just labor price, the difference was surplus value “stolen” from him by the capitalist

Call for revolution from below (working class)“dictatorship of the proletariat”

Process of Proletariat Revolution

Socialism is inevitableCapitalism contained the seeds of its own

destruction (e.g., through overproduction, unemployment)

State= instrument of the bourgeoisie, used to suppress the working class

Increasing gap btw. proletariat and bourgeoisie will ignite revolution of proletariat

THUS sparking violent revolution / class warfare

Creation of Classless Society will be achieved“From each according to his abilities, to

each according to his needs”

Read the quotes below – compare and contrast with Marx’s quote from previous slide32And the multitude of them that believed were of

one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 35And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. (Acts of the Apostles, 4)

4. Therefore call nothing your own, but let everything be yours in common. Food and clothing shall be distributed to each of you by your superior, not equally to all, for all do not enjoy equal health, but rather according to each one’s need. (St. Augustine Rules (for religious life))

What presuppositions or pre-requisites do the Bible and St. Augustine hold to when describing a well-functioning communal life?