Karl Marx communism Karl Marx May 5 1818

Karl Marx & communism

Karl Marx May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883 philosopher, political economist, sociologist, humanist, political theorist and revolutionary Often called “father of communism“ “Workers of all lands, unite!“

communism Socioeconomic structure (deals with economic activity and social life) Characteristics: egalitarian, classless, stateless society, based on common ownership Idea: working class (proletarians) to replace the wealthy, ruling class (bourgeoisie) Different forms: e. g. Marxism (most influential), Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism

Marxism 2 phases of development 1 st phase: productive property becomes owned in common, some class-differences remaining 2 nd phase / „higher phase“: full realisation of communism's ideas, a state is no longe requiered

Comparison: novel - Marxism

Analogies: novel - Marxism “Everybody belongs to everybody“ (novel) „Everything belongs to everybody“ (marxism, common ownership) Novel: people are considered objects (artificial insemination -> people are „produced“) Communism: each gives according to his abilities and receives according to his needs – novel: abilities and needs are prefabricated

Differences: novel - Marxism Main difference: novel: no freedom, predestination, no individuality – Marxism: personal freedom Novel: caste-system, no equality – Marxism: no differences among people Communism: Society regulates production (indivdual consumption) – novel: industry regulates production (predefined consumption → capitalism

Conclusion Basic structures of communism / Marxism have been taken over (e. g. common ownership) Novel is „stuck“ in Marxism's 1 st phase (e. g. remaining class differences) Has been developed for a long time → „enhanced“ 1 st phase