6 Questions
Where did Karl Marx study philosophy?
University of Berlin
What is the concept that describes the estrangement of workers from their humanity due to exploitation and dehumanizing working conditions?
Alienation
What is the title of the three-volume critique of capitalism written by Karl Marx?
Das Kapital
What is the concept that describes the conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat?
Class Struggle
Who did Karl Marx collaborate with in writing The Communist Manifesto?
Friedrich Engels
What is the name of the newspaper that Karl Marx wrote for in the United States?
The New York Tribune
Study Notes
Life and Career
- Born on May 5, 1818, in Trier, Prussia (now Germany)
- Studied philosophy at the University of Berlin, receiving a doctorate in 1841
- Worked as a journalist, writing for the Rheinische Zeitung and the New York Tribune
- Collaborated with Friedrich Engels, a German philosopher and historian
- Died on March 14, 1883, in London, England
Key Ideas and Concepts
- Dialectical Materialism: The idea that history is driven by class struggle and that capitalism would eventually be replaced by socialism and then communism
- Class Struggle: The conflict between the bourgeoisie (those who own the means of production) and the proletariat (those who do not own the means of production)
- Alienation: The estrangement of workers from their humanity due to exploitation and dehumanizing working conditions
- Surplus Value: The value created by workers that is taken by capitalists as profit
- Communism: A classless, stateless, and egalitarian society where the means of production are collectively owned
Major Works
- The Communist Manifesto (1848) - co-authored with Friedrich Engels
- Das Kapital (1867-1894) - a three-volume critique of capitalism
Influence and Legacy
- Influenced socialist and communist movements worldwide
- Inspired the Russian Revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union
- Critiqued by critics for his views on individual freedom and the role of the state
- Remains a significant figure in modern political and economic thought
Learn about the life, key ideas, and major works of Karl Marx, a German philosopher and economist who developed the theory of communism. Understand his concepts of dialectical materialism, class struggle, and alienation.
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