Marxism

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

• German philosopher

• Lived in London

• Studied capitalism's impact on society and conflict

• Wrote the communist manifesto

• Buried in Highgate Cemetery

Bible quote

“It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Capitalism (Marxism view)

• Economic system

• Private investors control production and goods for personal profit

Marx’s view on society

• Based on class conflict between Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

Economic base

• Means and relations of production

• Shapes the superstructure

Superstructure

• Social institutions

  • E.g. family, education, media, religion, and politics

• Maintain base

• Make base look like it works for everyone

Bourgeoisie

• Minority capitalist class

• Main purpose = generate profit

• Own means of production - factories/raw materials/land

• Exploit their workers for profit

Proletariat

• Majority working class

• Only own their labour

• Sell their labour to Bourgeoisie for wages to survive

Class conflict

• Exploitation of Proletariat by Bourgeoisie

• Leads to differing interests between the two classes

Surplus value

• Workers produce more value than they recieve in wages

• Benefits employers

Ideologies

• Beliefs and values held by the Bourgeoisie

False class consciousness

• Proletariat's inability to recognise their exploitation

• Prevents rebellion against the Bourgeoisie

Revolution

• Protests and actions by the Proletariat against the Bourgeoisie stemming from class consciousness

Alienation

• Estrangement of individuals from their natural humanity

• Marxism: consequence of capitalism

  • “Capitalism estranges us from our species being”

‘Pyramid of capitalist system’

• Tired system

  • The top layers are smallest - fewest people

  • Bottom layers holding the whole thing up

• Direct address of ‘you’ is aimed at the lower classes

• Thick layers keep capitalism stable by increasing the distance between the classes

• People below are looking up - class consciousness