question answers

WARM-UP:

■ What makes man different from machines?

■ Is there anything that can make man into a machine?

THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO

Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels

Introduction to the Authors

■ Karl Marx

– 1818 – 1883, Germany

– Studied Law & Philosophy

– Marxism: Philosophies of society, economics, and politics

– Founder of the communist movement, influenced by industrial revolution

■ Friedrich Engels

– 1820-1895, Germany

– Philosopher, communist, social scientist

– Co-wrote and gave financial backing to Marx

The Communist Manifesto

■ Opening: “A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of

communism”

■ Closing: “The proletarians have nothing to lose but their

chains. They have a world to win. Working men of all

countries, unite.”

Historical Context

■ Modern Industrial Society

– Globalization

– Increasing technology

– Emergence of capitalist society

■ French Revolution recent (1789)

■ Following the publication were the 1848 revolutions in

Germany

■ 19th century philosophy reflected on history and human

consciousness

History of Oppression

■ Ancient and Medieval Societies:

– Ancient Rome and Feudal system had complicated hierarchies

– People have always been divided into classes based on economic circumstances

– Conflict between classes, oppressed and oppressor

■ Modern Society

– New struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat

– Simpler division, classes dissolved into each other

■ The status quo is challenged when productive systems become too strong

The Bourgeois

■ “Man of the borough”

■ Increased globalization, markets, trade

■ Middle-class working in industry and manufacturing

■ Outgrew feudalism, series of class struggles

■ Owning property and wealth, take over feudal lords

■ Extremely “civilized

capitalist” society

■ Family dynamics change

■ “Society is momentary in

barbarism… too much

civilization, too much

industry, too much

commerce”

The Proletariat

■ The working class

■ “Selling” themselves as a commodity to the bourgeois

■ Treated as a machine

– Long hours

– Poor conditions

– Low wages

■ Become part of the machine

■ Alienated:

– Loss of individuality

– Loss of connection

– Skills no longer needed

– No longer Free

■ Enslaved to bourgeois and machines

■ Organized like soldiers

Potential Collective Strength

■ Small revolts, short-term

victories

■ Learn skills fighting

bourgeois battles

(monarchy, landowners,

etc.)

■ Improved communication

led to possibility of

collective and union

■ Problem?

– Competing against

each other

– Bourgeoisie is

fighting for their

oppression (barely

enough to survive as

is)

Proletariat Revolution

If collective strength is realized…

“The proletarians cannot become masters of the productive

forces of society, except by abolishing their own previous mode

of appropriation, and thereby also every other previous mode of

appropriation. They have nothing of their own to secure and to

fortify; their mission is to destroy all previous securities for, and

insurances of, individual property”

The Bourgeois: “Its own grave-digger”

■ Mission is to always

expand technology,

industry, and grow wealth

■ Enters workers into a

slavish existence –

cannot meet the

conditions of existence

■ Proletariat do not want to

work because it is not

enough

■ The slaves are so poor

that the bourgeoisie will

need to support them

■ Structure of society is no

longer compatible, it is

not possible to maintain

■ Inevitable for Proletariat

to revolt

Capitalist Structure

■ Modern Industrial Society relied on capitalism

■ Requires wage labour

■ Wage labour requires competition

■ Competition is reduced by:

– Machines replacing physical labour

– Men no longer wanting to work

■ The impact of capitalism on human nature

Communist Expectations

■ Goal:

– Stop exploitation of others

– Abolish the corrupted Bourgeois family structure

– Education be successful

– Proletariat overthrow Bourgeois

■ Ten Changes that can be generally applicable

– Overhaul society

– Prevent dominating powers

– Remove competitive element from society

– End of property is an end of the class struggle cycle

Ten Changes of Communism

■ Abolition of property in land and application of all rents and land to public purposes.

■ A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

■ Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

■ Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

■ Centralization of credit is in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.

■ Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.

■ Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state, the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvements of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

■ Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

■ Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries, gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.

■ Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial education, etc.

Do these changes improve society?

Why does Marx believe Communism is the solution?

Philosophical Ideas:

■ Alienation / Exploitation

■ Identity and Individuality

■ Social Classes

■ Power Relationships

(Master/Slave)

■ Communism

■ Inequality

■ Materialism

■ Private Property

■ Human Value

■ Human Condition

■ Fairness of Labour

■ Freedom

■ Capitalism

■ Historical Impact

Discussion Questions:

■ Who are the bourgeoisie? Who are the proletariat? What do they represent?

■ How is capitalism praised in this reading? Why is capitalism regarded a good thing?

■ What does the Manifesto say about the impact of the proletariat on capitalism? How does this relate to making the revolution?

■ Discuss the view on abolition of property. How are the various criticisms answered? How do they relate to other texts we have read?

■ How do you describe the concept of “freedom” and “free will” in this reading?

■ How do Marx and Engels characterize the current age? What is happening? How does this relate to the existing social classes? How is this different from previous class struggles in recorded history?

■ Has any country achieved the 10-point program offered by Marx and Engels?

■ What role does “morality” play in the theories of Marx and Engels?

■ Why do Marx and Engels reject the possibility that existing social and political systems can be reformed?

■ Why do Marx and Engels claim that the bourgeoisie inevitably produces its own gravediggers?