Overview
This lecture covers the life of Karl Marx and summarizes his main theories, including historical materialism, social class, class consciousness, alienation, and surplus value.
Karl Marx: Life and Background
- Karl Marx was born in 1818 in Trier, Germany, to a Jewish family.
- He studied law and philosophy, influenced by dialectical thinkers.
- Marx was a journalist, political activist, and co-founder of scientific socialism and sociology.
- He partnered with Friedrich Engels and was exiled to Paris and then London due to his political views.
- Marx experienced firsthand the harsh conditions of the working class in England.
Key Marxist Concepts
Historical Materialism
- Historical materialism studies how labor and production of goods shape societies.
- Material conditions (not ideas or divine forces) drive historical and social changes.
Social Classes and Class Struggle
- Society is divided between the bourgeoisie (owners of production) and proletariat (workers).
- Social class is defined by economic position and relation to production.
- Class struggles drive historical development, as stated in The Communist Manifesto.
Class Consciousness
- Proletariat must become aware of its exploitation to challenge the bourgeoisie.
- Class consciousness refers to workers realizing their collective power and oppression.
Alienation
- Alienation means workers are separated from the products of their labor and become like tools in the production line.
- This occurs due to the division of labor and lack of ownership over production.
Surplus Value
- Surplus value is the difference between the value workers produce and their wages.
- Capitalists profit by making workers labor extra hours beyond what is required for their basic needs.
Influence and Legacy
- Marxism influenced political revolutions (e.g., Russian Revolution) and was applied in countries like China and Germany.
- Marxist categories are used in fields like pedagogy, art, and psychoanalysis.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Historical Materialism — theory that material production shapes social structure and history.
- Social Class — group united by similar economic conditions and relation to production.
- Bourgeoisie — class owning the means of production.
- Proletariat — working class, selling labor for wages.
- Class Consciousness — awareness by the proletariat of their exploitation and power.
- Alienation — separation of workers from the results of their labor and from themselves.
- Surplus Value — extra value produced by workers, taken as profit by capitalists.
Action Items / Next Steps
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