1. The Socialism of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Marxism
The Socialism of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

2. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Born in Prussian Rhineland
Son of a lawyer, studied law & philosophy
Journalist in Cologne, Paris & Brussels
1849 lived in London in poverty
Believed 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)

3. Marx Engels

4. Friedrich Engels (1820-1893) Son of a German textile manufacturer
Learned about the business in Manchester, England
Met Marx in 1844 in Paris
More stylistically adept in writing
Wrote also: The Condition of the Working Classes in England

5. Communist League
1847 Marx & Engels joined other German exiles and advocated for:
Unified Germany
Democratic suffrage
Universal free education
Arming of the people
Progressive income tax
State ownership of banks, railroads, canals, mines
Collectivization of agriculture

6. Communist Manifesto, Jan 1848
Denunciation of the conditions of the working class
Hegelian Dialectic = free & democratic society
Differs 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”

7. Main Tenets of Marxism
Working classes non-nationalistic (international)
“WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!”
Fight for social and economic equality
Theory of Surplus Value
Workers had been robed of wealth they created
True 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”

8. Process of Proletariat Revolution
Socialism is inevitable
Capitalism 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”

9. Read the quotes below – compare and contrast with Marx’s quote from previous slide
32And 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?