A Brief Look at Karl Marx - 769 Words

A person does not have to positively impact the world to be influential. Karl Marx certainly left a mark on the world, but whether his impact was revolutionary or simply detrimental is up to debate. Marx was largely influenced by the ideas of Enlightenment figures like Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and Hegel. Most know him in regard to his writing the Communist Manifesto and its influence on revolutions that led to the formation of notoriously oppressive communist states. His ideas form the base of modern international communism, and for that Michael Hart gives Karl Marx a ranking of twenty-seven in his book The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. This ranking seems accurate given the factors that influenced him, his accomplishments, and their effects on the world. Karl Marx drew from the philosophies of the great thinkers of his time to perfect his ideal communist system. He was born into a time when ideas of the Enlightenment were widespread. He read the works o f Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and the Comte de Saint-Simon (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). However, he was especially influenced by G.W.F. Hegel, the most prominent philosopher in Germany in the early 1800s (Microsoft Encarta). Hegel believed that ideas evolve through a continual process of contradiction and resolution and that human history is driven by this evolution. Consequently, Marx developed the belief that history evolves through a series of conflicts in a predictable, unavoidableShow MoreRelatedKarl Marx Essay example1196 Words   |  5 PagesKarl Marx Karl Marx is often called the father of communism, but his life entailed so much more. He was a political economist, philosopher, and idea revolutionist. He was a scholar that believed that capitalism was going to undercut itself as he stated in the Communist Manifesto. While he was relatively ambiguous in his lifetime, his works had tremendous influence after his death. Some of the world’s most powerful and most populace countries follow his ideas to this day. Many of history’s mostRead MoreKarl Marx s Theory Of Alienation Essay1686 Words   |  7 PagesSociologist Karl Marx concentrated deeply on economic problems and related these matters to social issues. For example, when Marx examined capitalism in the labour sector he came to the conclusion that it drove workers to feel alienated from the product, themselves and those surrounding them. This essay will firstly give a brief overview of industrial capitalism and discuss Karl Marx’s early life and how he cam e up with the theory of alienation through his influences and life experiences. SecondlyRead MoreReligion Is An Act Of Power, By Durkheim, Karl Marx, And Ulrich Beck993 Words   |  4 Pagesviews of Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Ulrich Beck last but not the least Edward Burnett Tylor. These sociologists searched for comparable views and practices in all groups of cultures, especially those from basic backgrounds, irrespective to the moment and where it was based. They mainly depend on finding that were made by preachers, inventers, and also majestic servants. These were all individuals who had a religious background themselves, this is because they could look at religion from the insideRead MoreKarl Marx And Socialism Negatively Impacted Society1803 Words   |  8 Pages How Karl Marx and Socialism Negatively Impacted Society Marxism, also known as Socialism, and Communism, is â€Å"the political, economic, and social principles and policies advocated by a man known as Karl Marx; it is especially: a theory and practice of socialism including the labor theory of value, dialectical materialism, the class struggle, and dictatorship of the proletariat until the establishment of a classless society† (merriam-webster.com). Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are responsible forRead MoreThe Bourgeoisie Essay1503 Words   |  7 Pages     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Karl Marx describes â€Å"Society as a whole [as being] more and more [split] up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other-bourgeoisie and proletariat† (Marx 124).   As Marx made his distinction between upper class, bourgeoisie, and lower class, proletariats, it is important to keep in mind the societal structure at the time.   To understand how classes were created and the disparity between the rich and poor, or, bourgeoisie and proletariat, it is necessaryRead MoreAdam Smith and Karl Marx Essay831 Words   |  4 Pagesproduction. Next, we have Karl Marx, who conceived of history as a struggle between different types of class. Class was defined according to the relations in the forces of productionÂâ€"those in a higher position could exploit those lower. In the feudal mode of production, the lords did not directly control the tools or lands of the peasant, but had control over the product. In the capitalist mode of production however, the capitalist controlled both the tools and the product. Marx saw this development inRead MoreThe Rise And Fall Of Communism1843 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win, workingmen of all countries, unite!† (Karl Marx). This quote is one of the most famous political slogans excerpted from the book Communist Manifesto, which was written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It demonstrates Marx’s opinion on social classism and how he is agains t it by stating the imbalance between the working class and the ruling class. The quoteRead MoreMarxism As A Conflict Theory1273 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Marxism is a conflict theory based on the idea that society is in conflict with each other; the conflict is between the rich and the poor† (â€Å"A Brief Introduction to Marxism†). The basic tenets of Marx’s theory rest on the conflict between the different classes of society of which, Marx states that â€Å"the ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas: i.e.,the class which is the ruling material force of society is at the same time its ruling intellectual force. The class which hasRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto By Karl Marx And Friedrich Engels2286 Words   |  10 PagesDuring this meeting, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were commissioned to write a manifesto which soon became known as the Communist Manifesto. â€Å"A road map to history’s most important political document. † These words on the cover of one of the books newest editions to The Communist Manifesto represents that this document has been translated into many different form; this particular remake was meant for all levels of education. After reading the newly edited document by Karl Marx and Frederick EngelsRead MoreMarxist Philosophy Essay2226 Words   |  9 Pages Although there is a strong diverse controversy tied with the name of Karl Marx, he was concerned primarily with human freedom, stimulating the ancient concept of Communism, in which human beings might fulfill their cooperative roles within society, without the fear of exploitation. He saw the historical period of capitalism as the menacing antagonist of such freedom; menacing because unlike serfdom (the predecessor of capitalism in the evolution of social relations), capitalism enabled the illusion