Karl Marx and Communism
> Background Information
• Capitalism in the 1840s was not regulated at all
by government
• Workers suffered brutal treatment and low wages
• Philosophers like Mill advocated Capitalism as a
rational system that allowed for the greatest
amount of freedom
• However the reality was that factory owners
made sure that workers did not progress socially
or economically
• Philosophers across Europe started to challenge
Capitalism in an attempt to make it more humane
• Marx, though, developed the strongest argument
by turning Capitalism against itself
> Marx’s Philosophy
• Marx pointed out that any system that must run
competitors out of business and oppress workers
to maximize profits will eventually run itself out of
existence, for competition will eventually eliminate
customers.
• Marx carefully laid out his argument by
scientifically analyzing how society is organized
under Capitalism
• all society is based upon the economic
activities of that society (the work people do)
• there are three levels to society:
i. Means of Production - the raw materials, land
and energy resources of a society
ii. Forces of Production - the factories,
machinery, technology, industrial knowledge,
and accumulated skills of those who
transform the means of production by their
labor
iii. Social Relationships of Production - the
most important layer; the manner and
structure of interaction among the members
of any society in how they exchange their
goods and services - this is where Marx says
that history is a history of class struggles,
with the ruling class controlling the lower
classes
• Marx predicted that Capitalism will eventually
spin itself out of control and alienate all but a few
capitalists who will control the entire economy
• the majority, then, will become so frustrated that
they will demand better conditions, but the
capitalists will refuse
• the only solution, said Marx, was for the
Proletariat, or workers, to rise up in violent
revolution, kill the capitalists, and take over the
means of production
• once they take over, they will be determined to
make sure that they will never be subjugated
again and will distribute the wealth evenly so that
there is only one class