Class Inequality: Karl Marx

Class Inequality: Karl Marx Chapter 3

KARL MARX (1818–1883) Key Concepts Class Bourgeoisie Proletariat Forces and relations of production Capital Surplus value Alienation Labor theory of value Exploitation Class consciousness The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. (Marx and Engels 1848/1978:473)

Beginnings • Born: Trier, Germany 1818 • Died: March 17th, 1883 • One of 9 children • Only one to live until 40 • Father: Lawyer from long line of rabbis

Videos about Marx • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ztVeUX8Hpo&feature=related • Marxism made simple • Do you know how to make a shirt? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QbWbwj7-OE&feature=related

Biographical Sketch: Karl Marx • University career (1835-1841): • History, Philosophy, and Law • Academic career ambitions ended • Berlin Ministry of Education blacklisted him due to radical views

Biographical Sketch: Karl Marx • Early 1840s, Began longtime friendship and collaboration with Friedrich Engels • Marx and family died due to poverty and ill health (early 1880s)

Environment and Focus • Reaction to dire economic and social conditions • Due to industrial revolution • Theory: Not only to interpret the world, but also to changeit • Focus: • Economy • Classes • Forces of production

Economy • Ways in which people satisfy their material needs • Food, clothing, shelter, etc. • PRODUCTION: Transform raw materials into things people use • Products

Means of production & Relations of production • The Means of Production: • Land • Natural resources • Technology • Factories

Relations of Production Social and technical relationships • Among people as they • Use the means of production • Relations among individuals • Between or among groups of people or classes

Mode of production • Means of Production + Relations of Production= Mode of Production • Mode of production changes • Primitive Communism • Feudalism • Capitalism • Socialism • Cause of change: • Process of “dialectical materialism”

Process of Dialectical Materialism • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Cpuv4tSyo • Each historical period’s mode of production--economy (thesis) • Challenged by a set of social forces (anti-thesis) • New mode of production (synthesis)

MW Dialectical Materialism • Materialism=Material world, perceptible to the senses • Objective reality • Independent of mind or spirit • Ideas arise • As products and reflections of material conditions • “I labor (work), therefore I am.”

Materialism vs. Idealism • Materialism->Opposite of Idealism • Idealism: • Matter as dependent on mind or spirit • Mind or Spirit • Exists independently of matter • “I think, therefore I am”

Capital (Material) • Land • Buildings • Machinery • Raw materials • Labor power • Money (investment)

Capitalism • Benefits owners of capital • Prevents workers • From realizing essential human capacity for creative labor • Inherently exploitative • Leads to monopoly

Species Being Essence of creative nature • Humans live off nature (as do other animals) • Express “species being” through free, conscious activity • Estranged labor makes work only a means to existence

Alienation and Capitalism • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCOdHcRkd0E&feature=related • Alienation: • Separation of people from aspects of their human nature

Alienated Labor: “Alienation” • Worker is: • Alienated from production process • Alienated from the product • Does not control • Where and how sold and price • Alienated from Self

Alienated Labor: “Alienation” • Worker spends 2/3 of waking hours in meaningless activity • Little or no interaction with others • Alienated from other people • Alienated from humanity

Alienation 1. Worker from process of production 2. Worker from products of labor 3. Worker from self (self-estrangement) 4. Worker from other people 5. Worker from humanity

Social Class • Class: Relationship to means of production • Class consciousness: Recognize common relationship to means of production • False consciousness: • Unable to recognize oppression & exploitation • Incorrectly identifying source of problems

Power of Money in Bourgeois Society • Money: Universal medium of exchange • For a specific good or object • For human qualities such as beauty, talent, or honesty • Connects people to life and • Relationships with others • Not who we are, but what we have the power to buy

TR Use-Value & Exchange Value • Use-Value: Ability of a commodity to satisfy wants/needs • Exchange Value: How much of a given commodity (e.g., corn) it takes to equal the value of another commodity (e.g., iron) • Money: Universal exchange value

Commodities=Things made to be sold • Labor Theory of Value: • Value of product= amount of labor time to produce it • Value=Workers’ labor time • Workers sell their labor power in order to survive • Exploitation inherent in capitalism

Commodities: Surplus Value • Difference between workers’ wagesand • Price or value of goods they produce (profit) • Price of goods-Wages=Profit

Capitalism Economic system based on: 1. Private ownership of the means of production 2. Pursuit of profit 3. Competition 4. No government intervention

Capitalism • Private ownership • Economy controlled by a few people • Benefits individuals, not society 2. Pursuit of profit • Useless products • Harmful products • Environmental/societal consequences • Low wages • No profit=No product

Capitalism 3. Competition • Monopolies • Oligopolies 4. No government intervention • Price supports • Subsidies • Tariffs • Trade agreements

Fetishism of Commodities • We treat goods we buy as if they have “magical” powers. • We forget that we create commodities and • Grant them power over us they do not have

The Communist Manifesto • Manifesto is a “scientific prophecy” detailing the downfall of the capitalist class and the rise of the proletariat • **The Communist Manifesto Cartoon • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KUl4yfABE4&feature=related • Communist Smurfs • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qra0hlO6hZk&NR=1

Class Inequality: Karl Marx