Marxist Perspective on Distributive Justice

Distributive Justice

Ethical principles governing resource distribution in society.

Bourgeoisie

Capitalist class owning production means and wealth.

Proletariat

Working class selling labor for wages.

Class Struggle

Ongoing conflict between bourgeoisie and proletariat.

Capitalist Inequality

Wealth concentration among few, exploiting the majority.

Labor Theory of Value

Value determined by socially necessary labor input.

Surplus Value

Profit appropriated by capitalists from workers' labor.

Marxist Distribution Principle

Resources distributed based on need, not wealth.

Abolition of Private Property

Elimination of ownership to prevent exploitation.

Collective Ownership

Resources owned by community, ensuring equitable access.

Alienation

Separation of workers from their labor and purpose.

Critique of Liberal Justice

Focuses on superficial changes, ignoring systemic issues.

Centralization Risks

Potential for oppressive bureaucratic systems in collectivism.

Human Nature Critique

Underestimates individual incentives for productivity.

Ethical vs. Structural Focus

Debate on importance of personal responsibility in justice.

Karl Marx

Foundational thinker of Marxist theory and critique.

Friedrich Engels

Collaborator with Marx, analyzing family and property.

Vladimir Lenin

Adapted Marxism for early 20th-century Russia.

Antonio Gramsci

Introduced cultural hegemony in Marxist theory.

Herbert Marcuse

Critiqued capitalism from cultural and psychological perspectives.

Economic Exploitation

Workers receive less than the value they produce.

Revolutionary Transformation

Necessary change to achieve true distributive justice.

Classless Society

Society without class divisions, based on need.

Systemic Inequalities

Deep-rooted disparities in wealth and power distribution.

False Needs

Artificial desires created by advanced capitalism.

Redistribution

Reallocation of resources to address inequalities.

Social Justice

Fair distribution of wealth and opportunities.

Means of Production

Resources used to produce goods and services.