Marxism Key Terms Flashcards

Study Notes

Alienation

Refers to detachment from humanistic tendencies due to labor exploitation and social class divides.
Marx argued that the working class became mechanized and estranged from their true nature.

Atheism

Central tenet of Marxism, emphasizing disbelief in deities.
Marx viewed religion as a human-created tool for explaining nature and a means of class control, linking it to class struggles.

Eduard Bernstein

A German social democratic theorist and politician; associated with SDP.
Questioned Marx's ideas, leading to criticism of Marxism, likened to a Catholic figure renouncing faith.

Bourgeoisie

Represents the middle and upper classes, controlling production means.
Exploited the proletariat through low wages and harsh conditions, against whom Marx urged a revolutionary response.

Capitalism

Economic system characterized by private property and ownership of production.
Marx suggested that capitalism would evolve towards socialism as the proletariat grew in power.

Class struggle

Conflict among different socioeconomic classes was pivotal in history according to Marx.
He believed that such struggles were necessary for societal change and socialism's emergence.

Communism

An economic and political concept advocating worker uniformity and public property ownership.
Developed by Marx, it emphasizes mutual provision between the government and citizens.

Dialectic

Investigative art for discussing truth and resolving contradictions.
Marx and Engels transformed dialectics into a scientific framework for understanding societal and natural development.

Dialectical materialism

Theory positing that historical events stem from social conflicts.
Developed by Marx, it serves as a framework for Marxist thought.

Friedrich Engels

Co-founder of Marxism, serving as Marx's support in various capacities.
His contributions were crucial to the establishment and advancement of Marxist theory.

Friedrich Hegel

An idealist philosopher whose works influenced early Marxist ideas.
His philosophies set the groundwork for Marx's developments in dialectics.

Historical materialism

Marxist theory suggesting that political and historical developments arise from social force conflicts.
Although never explicitly coined by Marx, it forms a fundamental aspect of Marxist analysis.

Humanism

An ideology prioritizing human matters over the divine.
Marxism shares similarities with humanism, opposing religious supremacies and advocating for the struggles of the oppressed.

Immanuel Kant

German idealist philosopher significantly shaping Marxist thought.
Influential in molding the philosophical underpinnings of Marxism.

Description

Test your knowledge on key terms related to Marxism with this set of flashcards. Each card provides essential definitions, helping you understand concepts like alienation and their implications in a social context. Perfect for students diving into Marxist theory and its critiques of capitalism.