Commodity fetishismis an example of what Engels called false consciousness, which is closely related to the understanding of ideology. By ideology they meant ideas that reflect the interests of a particular class at a particular time in history, but which are presented as universal and eternal. M...
Rather than having this position agreed by the normal exchange of ideas and theoretical discussion in the sections guided by the needs of the practical struggle, Marx imposed what he considered as the future of the workers movement onto the International — and denounced those who disagreed with ...
The early Marx’s work is very much that of a Young Hegelian. His Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right and “On the Jewish Question” are very much concerned with what constitutes real freedom in modern society, with the conclusion being that stark inequalities in political power ...
“ The development of Modern Industry, therefore, cuts from under its feet the very foundation on which the bourgeoisie produces and appropriates products. What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevita...
However, under capitalism this ability to labour, an aspect of what it means to be human, is alienated from us—we do not work for ourselves but most of us survive by selling our ability to labour to our employers in exchange for a wage. For Foster and his colleagues this process of ...
No, a citizen of the United States of America can\'t be a communist. But Karl Marx was a communist, or at least he founded some of the main principles of communism, and Karl Marx firmly believed in some of the things that make this country what it is, like equality. But, Karl Ma...
“What the bourgeoisie [the upper-class capitalists of thethird estate] therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers.”–The Communist Manifesto NOTE: The quote above the idea that the capitalists breed the inequality that leads to their own downfall (as wealth is concentrated in fe...
Marx identified three kinds of alienation in capitalist society. First, the worker is alienated from what he produces. Second, the worker is alienated from himself; only when he is not working does he feel truly himself. Finally, in capitalist society people are alienated from each other; that...
1) The median household income in the USA is roughly $50,500. Did you know that that is the top 0.27% of world incomes? That’s right. The average American is the global 1%. You think you have it bad? Most of us in the USA have no idea what “bad” even is. ...
What stands in the way of ideology’s revolutionary conquest is transcendent religion. Minogue says that someone is not fit for revolution who, likeAdam Smith, believes: “A wise man never complains of the destiny of Providence, nor thinks the universe in confusion when he is out-of-order.”...