Karl Heinrich Marx - Essay Example

? KARL HEINRICH MARX Karl Max, a German philosopher, socialist, revolutionary socialist, economist, journalist and a historian, was born in 5th May 1818 and died in 14th march 1883 (Mehring 12). He contributed immensely in the development of socialist political movement and social science with his ideas. During his lifetime, Karl Max published a number of books, for example, ‘The Communist Manifesto in 1848’ and ‘Capital’ in 1867. The philosophical work influenced by materials written by Karl Max is known as Marxist theory or Marxist philosophy. This paper seeks to elaborate on how Marxism tackles various fields including politics, economics and society at large. Marx’s theories argue that all societies advance through the language of class struggle: a disagreement between the class that is in charge of controlling the society’s production (ownership class) and the lower class responsible for labor input. He called capitalism “dictatorship of the bourgeoisie” while criticizing the society’s then-current socio-economic status which the wealthy classes were running purely for their own interest (Mehring 47). He predicted a replacement of the socio-economic system with socialism system after its destruction brought about by an internal tension. In the “dictatorship of the proletariat”, the working class would govern the society under socialism. He also believed that socialism would be replaced by communism eventually, a society that is stateless and classless. Despite strongly believing in socialism and communism, Marx fought for the implementation of socialism with the argument that both the underprivileged people and the social theorist are accountable for bringing about transformation in the socio-economic form by getting rid of capitalism. Marxist concepts were adopted by various revolutionary socialist in different countries by the 20th century. This resulted in the emergence of socialist states, for example, the Soviet Union (1922) and the People Republic of China (1949). His ideas also influenced various workers’ parties and labor union all over the world. Marx is one of the most prominent figures in the history of human. However, since 1989, Marx’s influence went down after some of his predictions got nullified by the revolution of 1989 (Wheen 29). The philosophy of Marx has various interpretations both from Marxist interior and exterior movement. Some philosophers have separated the work of Marx into a “young Marx” and “mature Marx”. Other philosophers have classified Marx’s work as purely economical work, philosophical works, historical and political intervention. Therefore, Marx’s philosophy is inextricably connected to his workers’ movement historical intervention. An example of this is the ‘Communist Manifesto by Engels’ and the “critique of political economy”. The philosophical roots of Marxism resulted from three sources: the French republican and extremism, English political economy and the philosophy of German idealist. Even these three sources model is oversimplified as it still holds some truth. During his early career as an intellect and an activist, Marx created an ample theoretical understanding of reality in politics by radical and critical adoption of the thought categories of a German idealist from 18th and 19th century, the most significant one being the Appropriation of Aristotle’s Organicist and Essentialism by Hegel (Wheen 18). Marx analyzed four contributions that Hegel made towards people’s philosophical understanding. They include Aristotelian Essentialism and organicism, the progressing of the world through stages, the difference existing between historical (dialectical) and natural change and finally the thought that historical change is brought about by the thing contradicting itself. Marx polemic with his fellow thinkers was mostly through critique which made him popular as the first to implement critical method into social science. He criticized philosophical speculation, equating ideology and metaphysics and attempting to separate key findings from the biases in ideology. These made Marx’s philosophies different from other contemporary philosophers. According to Marx’s theory of human nature, Marx made an assumption that human history was about transforming the nature of human which involved both material objects and human beings. Human beings realize that they have both potential and actual selves in them. Marx and Hegel both believed that one had to experience an internal alienation and recognition that the real self as a subject made the other part an object of apprehending, in order to achieve self-development. Marx also argued that nature can be molded to a desired form in order for the subject to appreciate the object as his own, permitting the actualization of an individual to fully human (Mehring 51). Marx had an interest in the way people related to their individual labor power, which was the most essential resource of all. This was covered in his literature on alienation problem. According to Marx, the production’s social relations were mediated by capitalism through commodities and, labour brought to the market for buying and selling. He believed that if one surrendered the possession of his own labor he would be alienated from his own nature and this would be a spiritual loss. He argues that religious suffering is an expression of true suffering and an objection against true suffering. Religion provided a relief to the oppressed, a heart to the world that is heartless and a soul to the conditions that are soulless. In economic determinism, Marx gives his opinion on labor and its relation to the economy in influencing the past, present and the future of a society (Mehring 83). Social system is shaped by the accumulation of capital. For Marx, social change was concerned about conflicts existing between opposing interest that was driven by economic force from the background. In Marx’s evolutionary model of history, he states that human history was as a result of his work that was free, industrious and creative that was dehumanized and coerced by capitalism over time. Criticism Some the predictions made by Marx have been proved to be unlikely even though most of the Marxist concepts are still useful in the current social science. His expectation of socialist revolutions from very industrious nations that would overturn capitalism is often criticized. The Russian populism in the 19th century and the preface of Marx and Engel of the Manifesto of the Communist Party (1882), a 2nd Russian edition, pointed that Marx made a convincing argument in his late literature that revolution could begin from Russia (Mehring 142). The predictions made by Marx that capitalism will fall and socialism will take over is being experienced. This can be demonstrated by the current retreat of socialism from the late 20th century after the fall of Soviet Union. It is also demonstrated by the shift of People’s Republic of China toward a market economy. Moreover, Marx’s claims that surplus labor was the only source of profit experiences a challenge from a counterclaim that investments in technology and human capital also generates some of the profits. Marx’s prediction about the possibility of inequality growing was correct, although, he was also convinced that the expanding worker class, exploited by the capitalists, will experience increased impoverishment. In the developed world, the latter has come true through liberal reforms and trade unions that have improved workers’ situations (something that Marx did not consider possible). In other populated parts such as India, Africa and China, there is continued population increase. This is attracting the introduction of industries that were not there over the past two decades. There has been a worldwide increase in poverty since the late 19th century especially since the richest continue to become richer and the poor remain poor or even poorer, with an increasing percentage over the past 30 years (Bellamy 367). Some of the theories created by Marx have also experienced criticism, for example, Labor Theory of Value. However, since the 2008 economic crisis, some of the famous thinkers such as David Harvey, David McNally, and Terry Eagleton gave new input to the debate about the validity of Marx’s thoughts on capitalism and its capability to cause economic crisis (Forrest and Walter 58). Other than the importance of Marxism thought in empowering the people who are marginalized and dispossessed, it has also played a role in propping up governments that have used violence in the removal of this impeding revolution. Some of his ultimate goals have played as justification in the logic that “the end justifies the means”. Some of Marx’s’ ideas have been used to encourage intolerance and dogmatism, contrary to their purpose (Mehring 76). Marxist thoughts on the humanism status have been highly contentious. A number of Marxists such as Hegelian Marxist and some of those in Communist Parties have been humanist. These Marxists, who are humanist, are convinced that the true human being potential is described by Marxism. They also believe that this true potential can be met by the removal of capitalism’s constraints by the Communist revolution, and subjugation of humanity (Kenneth 69). Other Marxists are anti-humanist, mostly those that Louis Althusser. These anti-humanist Marxists are convinced that ideas such as freedom, human potential and humanity, are only ideology or a bourgeois theoretical version of the economic order. They argue that Marxism is at risk of being condemned by such concepts to theoretical self-contradictions that may politically hurt it (Kenneth 72). Works Cited Baird, Forrest and Walter Kaufmann. From Plato to Derrida. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Print. Francis Wheen. Karl Marx: A Life. NJ. Fourth Estate, 1999. Print. John, Bellamy. "Marx's Theory of Metabolic Rift: Classical Foundations for Environmental Sociology". American Journal of Sociology, 105.2 (1999): pp. 366-405. Kenneth, Allan. Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory: Seeing the Social World. NY: Pine Forge Press, 2005. Print. Mehring, Franz. Karl Marx: The Story of His Life. London: Routledge, 2003. Print. Read More