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

Early LifeEarly Life

Born May 5, 1818 in Trier, RhinelandBorn May 5, 1818 in Trier, Rhineland Family converted from Judaism to Family converted from Judaism to

Catholicism in 1820Catholicism in 1820 Went to Bonn University in 1835 to Went to Bonn University in 1835 to

study lawstudy law Transferred to the University of Transferred to the University of

Berlin in 1836Berlin in 1836

Georg Hegel (1770-1831)Georg Hegel (1770-1831)

Main Works: Main Works: The The Phenomenology of Phenomenology of SpiritSpirit; ; The The Philosophy of Philosophy of HistoryHistory; ; The The Philosophy of RightPhilosophy of Right

Dominant Dominant philosophical philosophical influence in influence in Germany of the Germany of the early 1800searly 1800s

Hegel’s Influence on MarxHegel’s Influence on Marx

Emphasized the idea of philosophy Emphasized the idea of philosophy as a practiceas a practice

Historicity of knowledge; reality is a Historicity of knowledge; reality is a living, evolving systemliving, evolving system

Emphasized the economic nature of Emphasized the economic nature of society in society in The Philosophy of RightThe Philosophy of Right; ; many of Marx’s earliest writings are many of Marx’s earliest writings are examinations of this workexaminations of this work

The DialecticThe Dialectic

Historical process of development: Historical process of development: intellectual, moral, political, social, intellectual, moral, political, social, etc.etc.

Basic idea is development through a Basic idea is development through a process of conflict and resolutionprocess of conflict and resolution

In principle this never ends, though In principle this never ends, though Hegel in fact ends this process in his Hegel in fact ends this process in his philosophy and the Prussian statephilosophy and the Prussian state

Dialectical MaterialismDialectical Materialism Fundamental reality is purely physicalFundamental reality is purely physical All behavior is law-governedAll behavior is law-governed Social structures are determined by the Social structures are determined by the

mode of economic productionmode of economic production Each mode of production leads to Each mode of production leads to

“contradictions”—problems inherent to the “contradictions”—problems inherent to the system that can’t be solved within the system that can’t be solved within the system—thus economic development is system—thus economic development is dialecticaldialectical

History is the history of class conflictHistory is the history of class conflict Utopian element: economic development is Utopian element: economic development is

inevitable, and terminates in communisminevitable, and terminates in communism

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

Fundamental moral Fundamental moral principle: always principle: always treat persons as treat persons as ends in themselves, ends in themselves, never as a mere never as a mere meansmeans

Serves as the moral Serves as the moral assumption behind assumption behind Marx’s moral Marx’s moral critique of critique of capitalismcapitalism

Early CareerEarly Career

Father dies in 1838Father dies in 1838 Transfers to the University of Jena in Transfers to the University of Jena in

18391839 Earns his PhD from the University of Earns his PhD from the University of

Jena in 1841 with a dissertation on Jena in 1841 with a dissertation on the atomism of Democritusthe atomism of Democritus

1842 becomes editor of the leftist 1842 becomes editor of the leftist journal journal Rheinische ZeitungRheinische Zeitung

Friedrich Engels (1820-Friedrich Engels (1820-1895)1895)

First met Marx in 1842First met Marx in 1842 They frequently They frequently

collaborated, most collaborated, most notably on the notably on the Communist ManifestoCommunist Manifesto

Served as Marx’s Served as Marx’s economic support economic support during his exileduring his exile

After Marx’s death, After Marx’s death, edited and published edited and published CapitalCapital

Engels’ WritingsEngels’ Writings

The Condition of the Working Class in The Condition of the Working Class in EnglandEngland (1845); first-hand expos (1845); first-hand exposé of the é of the living conditions of the working poorliving conditions of the working poor

The Origin of the Family, Private Property The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the Stateand the State (1884); Marxist analysis of (1884); Marxist analysis of the economic origins of some of society’s the economic origins of some of society’s central institutionscentral institutions

Other major works include: Other major works include: Anti-DuhringAnti-Duhring, , Outlines of a Critique of Political EconomyOutlines of a Critique of Political Economy, , The Peasant War in GermanyThe Peasant War in Germany and and Socialism: Utopian and ScientificSocialism: Utopian and Scientific

ExileExile

Exiled to Paris in 1843 by the Exiled to Paris in 1843 by the Prussian governmentPrussian government

Exiled to Brussels in 1845 by the Exiled to Brussels in 1845 by the French government French government

Returned to Prussia after the 1848 Returned to Prussia after the 1848 revolution, but exiled to London in revolution, but exiled to London in 1850 after the Prussian government 1850 after the Prussian government was restoredwas restored

Paris ManuscriptsParis Manuscripts18441844

Also called Also called Economic and Philosophical Economic and Philosophical ManuscriptsManuscripts, written in exile in Paris , written in exile in Paris during 1844 but not published until 1927during 1844 but not published until 1927

Developed the concept of alienation that Developed the concept of alienation that would be influential on many later would be influential on many later thinkersthinkers

Developed a moral critique of Capitalism Developed a moral critique of Capitalism as fundamentally relying on conflicts as fundamentally relying on conflicts whose resolution must be unjustwhose resolution must be unjust

Constructing a PoliticsConstructing a Politics 1844-1846 developed his own unique 1844-1846 developed his own unique

approach to Socialism in contrast to both the approach to Socialism in contrast to both the French and Prussian socialistsFrench and Prussian socialists

The German IdeologyThe German Ideology (1845, written with (1845, written with Engels) contrasted his ideas with other Engels) contrasted his ideas with other Prussian leftists, especially Ludwig FeuerbachPrussian leftists, especially Ludwig Feuerbach

The Poverty of PhilosophyThe Poverty of Philosophy (1846) criticized (1846) criticized early French socialists, especially Paul early French socialists, especially Paul ProudhonProudhon

““Theses on Feuerbach” (1845) proclaimed the Theses on Feuerbach” (1845) proclaimed the revolutionary aims of philosophyrevolutionary aims of philosophy

REVOLUTION!!REVOLUTION!!

In 1848, Marx and Engels were invited In 1848, Marx and Engels were invited by The Communist League to produce a by The Communist League to produce a platform statementplatform statement

The Communist ManifestoThe Communist Manifesto that resulted that resulted was as much a call to revolution as it was as much a call to revolution as it was a platform statementwas a platform statement

Wave of socialist revolutions throughout Wave of socialist revolutions throughout Europe: France, Hungary, Italy, PrussiaEurope: France, Hungary, Italy, Prussia

The Science of EconomicsThe Science of Economics

After the failures of the 1848 revolutions, After the failures of the 1848 revolutions, Marx focused more on developing a Marx focused more on developing a scientific economicsscientific economics

Contribution to a Critique of Political Contribution to a Critique of Political EconomyEconomy (1859) involved a critique of (1859) involved a critique of British Capitalism, esp. that of John Stuart British Capitalism, esp. that of John Stuart MillMill

CapitalCapital (v.1, 1867) was his masterwork on (v.1, 1867) was his masterwork on developing a science of economics and an developing a science of economics and an economic critique of Capitalismeconomic critique of Capitalism

A Life of InvolvementA Life of Involvement

Ran the Ran the Neue Rheinische ZeitungNeue Rheinische Zeitung from 1848- from 1848-18501850

Was a prominent supporter and spokesman Was a prominent supporter and spokesman for labor unions, and served as President of for labor unions, and served as President of the Working Men’s International Association the Working Men’s International Association in 1864in 1864

Worked as a foreign correspondent for the Worked as a foreign correspondent for the New York TribuneNew York Tribune, where he publicly criticized , where he publicly criticized colonialism and supported many national colonialism and supported many national independence movements in Africa and India independence movements in Africa and India

The Specter of CommunismThe Specter of Communism

1917 Russian Revolution (led by V. I. 1917 Russian Revolution (led by V. I. Lenin and Leon Trotsky)Lenin and Leon Trotsky)

1945 Chinese Revolution (led by Mao 1945 Chinese Revolution (led by Mao Zedong)Zedong)

1959 Cuban Revolution (led by Fidel 1959 Cuban Revolution (led by Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara)Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara)

Marxist influence on anti-colonial Marxist influence on anti-colonial movements in Africa (FLN, Julius Nyerere, movements in Africa (FLN, Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba)Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba)

Liberation Theology, developed in the Liberation Theology, developed in the 1960s, was heavily influenced by Marxism1960s, was heavily influenced by Marxism

Why Marx Now?Why Marx Now?

Fall of the U.S.S.R. allows us to disconnect Fall of the U.S.S.R. allows us to disconnect Marx’s ideas from Soviet policiesMarx’s ideas from Soviet policies

Influence of Marx’s ideas on the political Influence of Marx’s ideas on the political consciousness of the “third world”consciousness of the “third world”

In some places, communism has been In some places, communism has been somewhat successful (China, Cuba, somewhat successful (China, Cuba, Mondragon)Mondragon)

Rise of global capitalismRise of global capitalism Growing wealth disparities in industrialized Growing wealth disparities in industrialized

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