social lens - chapter on marx
TRANSCRIPT
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
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Contradictions in Capitalism:
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
heorlst!s "i#est
Concepts and heor$: %&man 'at&re and %istor$ Spares-ein# M*+**, "*,+CC
Concepts and heor$: Contradictions 1n Capitalism /al&e and +xp,oita0ran *nd&striali0ation
Mar2ers and Commod,carlorl Class and Class Str&ct&re 4a,prod&ction
Concepts and heor$: he 5ro6lem of Conscio&sness 7lienation 5ri4ate 5ropert$ and Commodit$
er,sh &,se Conscio&sness and 9eli#ion Class Conscio&sness
S&mmar$
a2in# the 5erspecti4e-Conict and Critical heor$
&ildin# ;o&r heor$ ool6ox
dam Smith is often considered the fo&nder <f free mar2et capitalism= the person ho more than
an$ other 6efore him explained that modern #o4ernments sho&ld not interfere ith capitalist
enterprise. Smith explained that capitalism is the res< of social e4ol&tion a s&perior economic
s$s- tem that o&ld preser4e the nat&ral ri#hts of h&manit$: ?he o64io&s and simple
3@
Contradictions in Capitalism:
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 2/33
heorlst!s "i#est
Concepts and heor$: %&man 'at&re and %istor$ Spares-ein# M*+**, "*,+CC
Concepts and heor$: Contradictions 1n Capitalism /al&e and +xp,oita0ran *nd&striali0ationMar2ers and Commod,carlorl Class and Class Str&ct&re 4a,prod&ction
Concepts and heor$: he 5ro6lem of Conscio&sness 7lienation 5ri4ate 5ropert$ and Commodit$
er,sh &,se Conscio&sness and 9eli#ion Class Conscio&sness
S&mmar$
a2in# the 5erspecti4e-Conict and Critical heor$
&ildin# ;o&r heor$ ool6ox
dam Smith is often considered the fo&nder <f free mar2et capitalism= the person ho more than
an$ other 6efore him explained that modern #o4ernments sho&ld not interfere ith capitalist
enterprise. Smith explained that capitalism is the res< of social e4ol&tion a s&perior economic
s$s- tem that o&ld preser4e the nat&ral ri#hts of h&manit$: ?he o64io&s and simple
3@
Contradictions in Capitalism:
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
heorlst!s "i#est
Concepts and heor$: %&man 'at&re and %istor$ Spares-ein# M*+**, "*,+CC
Concepts and heor$: Contradictions 1n Capitalism /al&e and +xp,oita0ran *nd&striali0ation
Mar2ers and Commod,carlorl Class and Class Str&ct&re 4a,prod&ction
Concepts and heor$: he 5ro6lem of Conscio&sness 7lienation 5ri4ate 5ropert$ and Commodit$
er,sh &,se Conscio&sness and 9eli#ion Class Conscio&sness
S&mmar$
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
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a2in# the 5erspecti4e-Conict and Critical heor$
&ildin# ;o&r heor$ ool6ox
dam Smith is often considered the fo&nder <f free mar2et capitalism= the person ho more than
an$ other 6efore him explained that modern #o4ernments sho&ld not interfere ith capitalist
enterprise. Smith explained that capitalism is the res< of social e4ol&tion a s&perior economic
s$s- tem that o&ld preser4e the nat&ral ri#hts of h&manit$: ?he o64io&s and simple
3@
Contradictions in Capitalism:
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
heorlst!s "i#est
Concepts and heor$: %&man 'at&re and %istor$ Spares-ein# M*+**, "*,+CC
Concepts and heor$: Contradictions 1n Capitalism /al&e and +xp,oita0ran *nd&striali0ation
Mar2ers and Commod,carlorl Class and Class Str&ct&re 4a,prod&ction
Concepts and heor$: he 5ro6lem of Conscio&sness 7lienation 5ri4ate 5ropert$ and Commodit$
er,sh &,se Conscio&sness and 9eli#ion Class Conscio&sness
S&mmar$
a2in# the 5erspecti4e-Conict and Critical heor$
&ildin# ;o&r heor$ ool6ox
dam Smith is often considered the fo&nder <f free mar2et capitalism= the person ho more than
an$ other 6efore him explained that modern #o4ernments sho&ld not interfere ith capitalist
enterprise. Smith explained that capitalism is the res< of social e4ol&tion a s&perior economic
s$s- tem that o&ld preser4e the nat&ral ri#hts of h&manit$: ?he o64io&s and simple
3@
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
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Chapter 3 < Contradictions in Capitalism: Karl Marx
6eca&se of societ$. hro&#h societ$ e create hat is needed for s&r4i4alA if it ere not for societ$
the h&man animal o&ld 6ecome extinct. Be are not e&ipped to s&r4i4e in an$ other manner.
D'hat this means of co&rse is that e ha4e a social llat&l!eEBe are not indi ! L6$e.
Speciesr6ein# also implies that e are altr&istic. 7ltr&ism is dened as &ncalc&lated commitment toothersF interests. 'ot onl$ are e not indi4id&alistic 6$ nat&re e are not nat&rall$ selsh. lfh&man
s&r- 4i4al is 6ased on collecti4e cooperation then it o&ld stand t< reason that o&r most nat&ral
inclination o&ld 6e to ser4e the #ro&p and not the self. he idea of speciesr 6ein#
ilLM7inelli4es in comm&nism-its the closest economic s$stem to o&r nat&re state. &rther
Mis!$4a!a#!&c that &nder conditions of modernit$G capitalism e donFt see these attri6&tes in
h&mans 6eca&se e exist &nder com- promisin# str&ct&res.HlIc14italismithat teachcsi&s to
lsel*chntered and selfF Sel4in#Al1liJ effect of capitalistic str&ct&res is h$ Mai-x ar#&es
thatsoHcHiet$ ill #o
thro&#h a tran ! # , H / # / ! Moi s theor$ or specres!6eln# also has implications for 2noled#e
and con- scio&sness. ln the %o$t,o societ$ that eF4e 6een tal2in# a6o&t h&mansF 2nol- ed#e
a6o&t the orldras o6ecti4: and realA ll1H$ held ideas tnsm#ct harmon$ ithF their NB*L%N
reL7ccordin# to Marx h+n-ian!idOmditho&#ht come a6o&t *n the moment or sol4in# the pro6lem
of s&r4i4al. %&mans s&r4i4e 6eca&se e creati4el$ prod&ce and o&r clearest and most tr&e ideas
are #ro&nded in this creati4e act. *n speciesr6ein# people 6ecome tr&l$ conscio&s of themsel4es
and their ideas. Material prod&ction then is s&pposed to 6e the cond&it thro&#h hich h&man
nat&re is expressed and the prod&ct o&#ht to act as a mirror that reects 6ac2 o&r on nat&re.
Let!s tr$ an analo#$ to #et at this extremel$ important iss&e. here are a limited n&m6er of a$s
$o& can 2no ho $o& ph$sicall$ loo2 (4ideo pict&res portraits mirrors and so forth). he
f&nction of each of these methods is to represent or reprod&ce o&r ima#e ith as little distortion as
possi6le. &t hat if acc&rate rep- resentation as impossi6leP Bhat if e4er$ tnedi&m chan#ed
$o&r ima#e in some a$P D/e o&ld ha4e no tr&e idea ho e ph$sicall$ loo2. 7ll of o&r ideas
o&ld 6e false in some a$. Be o&ld thin2 e see o&rsel4es hilt e o&ldlft. Marx is ma2e in#this 2ind of ar#&ment 6&t not a6o&t o&r ph$sical appearanceA hes concerned ith sci-nethin# m&ch
more important and f&ndamental!mo&r nat&re as h&mans.
Be thin2 e see it 6&t e donFt.
Be need to ta2e this analo#$ one step f&rther: 'otice that ith mirrors pict&res.
and 4ideos there is a 2ind of correspondence 6eteen the representation and its realit$. Bhat l
mean is that each ofthese media presents a 4is&al ima#e and in the case ofo&r ph$sical appearance.thatFs hat e ant. *ma#ine if $o& as2ed somer one ho $o& loo2ed and the person pla$ed a
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
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4oice recordin# for $o&. hat o&ld- rlt ma2e an$ sense o&ld itP here o&ld 6e no
correspondence 6eteen the mode of representation and the initial presentation his too is hat
Marx is tellin# &s.
*f e ant to 2no somethin# a6o&t o&r h&man nat&re if e ant to see it reprer sented to &s
here sho&ld e loo2P Bhat 2ind of medi&m o&ld correspond to o&r nat&reP M Q is ar#&in# thate4er$ species is dened 6$ its method of s&r4i4al oi extstence. Bh$ are Bhales lions and
h&mmin#6irds all differentP he$ are dif- ferent 6eca&se the$ ha4e different a$s of existin# in the
orld. Bhat ma2es h&man
R3
Chapter 3 < Contradictions in Capitalism: Karl Marx
6eca&se of societ$. hro&#h societ$ e create hat is needed for s&r4i4alA if it ere not for societ$
the h&man animal o&ld 6ecome extinct. Be are not e&ipped to s&r4i4e in an$ other manner.
D'hat this means of co&rse is that e ha4e a social llat&l!eEBe are not indi ! L6$e.Speciesr6ein# also implies that e are altr&istic. 7ltr&ism is dened as &ncalc&lated commitment to
othersF interests. 'ot onl$ are e not indi4id&alistic 6$ nat&re e are not nat&rall$ selsh. lfh&man
s&r- 4i4al is 6ased on collecti4e cooperation then it o&ld stand t< reason that o&r most nat&ral
inclination o&ld 6e to ser4e the #ro&p and not the self. he idea of speciesr 6ein#
ilLM7inelli4es in comm&nism-its the closest economic s$stem to o&r nat&re state. &rther
Mis!$4a!a#!&c that &nder conditions of modernit$G capitalism e donFt see these attri6&tes in
h&mans 6eca&se e exist &nder com- promisin# str&ct&res.HlIc14italismithat teachcsi&s to
lsel*chntered and selfF Sel4in#Al1liJ effect of capitalistic str&ct&res is h$ Mai-x ar#&es
thatsoHcHiet$ ill #o
thro&#h a tran ! # , H / # / ! Moi s theor$ or specres!6eln# also has implications for 2noled#e
and con- scio&sness. ln the %o$t,o societ$ that eF4e 6een tal2in# a6o&t h&mansF 2nol- ed#e
a6o&t the orldras o6ecti4: and realA ll1H$ held ideas tnsm#ct harmon$ ithF their NB*L%NreL7ccordin# to Marx h+n-ian!idOmditho&#ht come a6o&t *n the moment or sol4in# the pro6lem
of s&r4i4al. %&mans s&r4i4e 6eca&se e creati4el$ prod&ce and o&r clearest and most tr&e ideas
are #ro&nded in this creati4e act. *n speciesr6ein# people 6ecome tr&l$ conscio&s of themsel4es
and their ideas. Material prod&ction then is s&pposed to 6e the cond&it thro&#h hich h&man
nat&re is expressed and the prod&ct o&#ht to act as a mirror that reects 6ac2 o&r on nat&re.
Let!s tr$ an analo#$ to #et at this extremel$ important iss&e. here are a limited n&m6er of a$s
$o& can 2no ho $o& ph$sicall$ loo2 (4ideo pict&res portraits mirrors and so forth). he
f&nction of each of these methods is to represent or reprod&ce o&r ima#e ith as little distortion as
possi6le. &t hat if acc&rate rep- resentation as impossi6leP Bhat if e4er$ tnedi&m chan#ed
$o&r ima#e in some a$P D/e o&ld ha4e no tr&e idea ho e ph$sicall$ loo2. 7ll of o&r ideaso&ld 6e false in some a$. Be o&ld thin2 e see o&rsel4es hilt e o&ldlft. Marx is ma2e in#
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
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this 2ind of ar#&ment 6&t not a6o&t o&r ph$sical appearanceA hes concerned ith sci-nethin# m&ch
more important and f&ndamental!mo&r nat&re as h&mans.
Be thin2 e see it 6&t e donFt.
Be need to ta2e this analo#$ one step f&rther: 'otice that ith mirrors pict&res.
and 4ideos there is a 2ind of correspondence 6eteen the representation and its realit$. Bhat l
mean is that each ofthese media presents a 4is&al ima#e and in the case ofo&r ph$sical appearance.
thatFs hat e ant. *ma#ine if $o& as2ed somer one ho $o& loo2ed and the person pla$ed a
4oice recordin# for $o&. hat o&ld- rlt ma2e an$ sense o&ld itP here o&ld 6e no
correspondence 6eteen the mode of representation and the initial presentation his too is hat
Marx is tellin# &s.
*f e ant to 2no somethin# a6o&t o&r h&man nat&re if e ant to see it reprer sented to &shere sho&ld e loo2P Bhat 2ind of medi&m o&ld correspond to o&r nat&reP M Q is ar#&in# that
e4er$ species is dened 6$ its method of s&r4i4al oi extstence. Bh$ are Bhales lions and
h&mmin#6irds all differentP he$ are dif- ferent 6eca&se the$ ha4e different a$s of existin# in the
orld. Bhat ma2es h&man
R3
Chapter 3 < Contradictions in Capitalism: Karl Marx
6eca&se of societ$. hro&#h societ$ e create hat is needed for s&r4i4alA if it ere not for societ$
the h&man animal o&ld 6ecome extinct. Be are not e&ipped to s&r4i4e in an$ other manner.D'hat this means of co&rse is that e ha4e a social llat&l!eEBe are not indi ! L6$e.
Speciesr6ein# also implies that e are altr&istic. 7ltr&ism is dened as &ncalc&lated commitment to
othersF interests. 'ot onl$ are e not indi4id&alistic 6$ nat&re e are not nat&rall$ selsh. lfh&man
s&r- 4i4al is 6ased on collecti4e cooperation then it o&ld stand t< reason that o&r most nat&ral
inclination o&ld 6e to ser4e the #ro&p and not the self. he idea of speciesr 6ein#
ilLM7inelli4es in comm&nism-its the closest economic s$stem to o&r nat&re state. &rther
Mis!$4a!a#!&c that &nder conditions of modernit$G capitalism e donFt see these attri6&tes in
h&mans 6eca&se e exist &nder com- promisin# str&ct&res.HlIc14italismithat teachcsi&s to
lsel*chntered and selfF Sel4in#Al1liJ effect of capitalistic str&ct&res is h$ Mai-x ar#&es
thatsoHcHiet$ ill #o
thro&#h a tran ! # , H / # / ! Moi s theor$ or specres!6eln# also has implications for 2noled#e
and con- scio&sness. ln the %o$t,o societ$ that eF4e 6een tal2in# a6o&t h&mansF 2nol- ed#ea6o&t the orldras o6ecti4: and realA ll1H$ held ideas tnsm#ct harmon$ ithF their NB*L%N
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
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reL7ccordin# to Marx h+n-ian!idOmditho&#ht come a6o&t *n the moment or sol4in# the pro6lem
of s&r4i4al. %&mans s&r4i4e 6eca&se e creati4el$ prod&ce and o&r clearest and most tr&e ideas
are #ro&nded in this creati4e act. *n speciesr6ein# people 6ecome tr&l$ conscio&s of themsel4es
and their ideas. Material prod&ction then is s&pposed to 6e the cond&it thro&#h hich h&man
nat&re is expressed and the prod&ct o&#ht to act as a mirror that reects 6ac2 o&r on nat&re.
Let!s tr$ an analo#$ to #et at this extremel$ important iss&e. here are a limited n&m6er of a$s
$o& can 2no ho $o& ph$sicall$ loo2 (4ideo pict&res portraits mirrors and so forth). he
f&nction of each of these methods is to represent or reprod&ce o&r ima#e ith as little distortion as
possi6le. &t hat if acc&rate rep- resentation as impossi6leP Bhat if e4er$ tnedi&m chan#ed
$o&r ima#e in some a$P D/e o&ld ha4e no tr&e idea ho e ph$sicall$ loo2. 7ll of o&r ideas
o&ld 6e false in some a$. Be o&ld thin2 e see o&rsel4es hilt e o&ldlft. Marx is ma2e in#
this 2ind of ar#&ment 6&t not a6o&t o&r ph$sical appearanceA hes concerned ith sci-nethin# m&ch
more important and f&ndamental!mo&r nat&re as h&mans.
Be thin2 e see it 6&t e donFt.
Be need to ta2e this analo#$ one step f&rther: 'otice that ith mirrors pict&res.
and 4ideos there is a 2ind of correspondence 6eteen the representation and its realit$. Bhat l
mean is that each ofthese media presents a 4is&al ima#e and in the case ofo&r ph$sical appearance.
thatFs hat e ant. *ma#ine if $o& as2ed somer one ho $o& loo2ed and the person pla$ed a
4oice recordin# for $o&. hat o&ld- rlt ma2e an$ sense o&ld itP here o&ld 6e no
correspondence 6eteen the mode of representation and the initial presentation his too is hat
Marx is tellin# &s.
*f e ant to 2no somethin# a6o&t o&r h&man nat&re if e ant to see it reprer sented to &s
here sho&ld e loo2P Bhat 2ind of medi&m o&ld correspond to o&r nat&reP M Q is ar#&in# that
e4er$ species is dened 6$ its method of s&r4i4al oi extstence. Bh$ are Bhales lions and
h&mmin#6irds all differentP he$ are dif- ferent 6eca&se the$ ha4e different a$s of existin# in the
orld. Bhat ma2es h&man
R3
Chapter 3 < Contradictions in Capitalism: Karl Marx
6eca&se of societ$. hro&#h societ$ e create hat is needed for s&r4i4alA if it ere not for societ$
the h&man animal o&ld 6ecome extinct. Be are not e&ipped to s&r4i4e in an$ other manner.
D'hat this means of co&rse is that e ha4e a social llat&l!eEBe are not indi ! L6$e.
Speciesr6ein# also implies that e are altr&istic. 7ltr&ism is dened as &ncalc&lated commitment to
othersF interests. 'ot onl$ are e not indi4id&alistic 6$ nat&re e are not nat&rall$ selsh. lfh&man
s&r- 4i4al is 6ased on collecti4e cooperation then it o&ld stand t< reason that o&r most nat&ral
inclination o&ld 6e to ser4e the #ro&p and not the self. he idea of speciesr 6ein#
ilLM7inelli4es in comm&nism-its the closest economic s$stem to o&r nat&re state. &rther
Mis!$4a!a#!&c that &nder conditions of modernit$G capitalism e donFt see these attri6&tes in
h&mans 6eca&se e exist &nder com- promisin# str&ct&res.HlIc14italismithat teachcsi&s to
lsel*chntered and selfF Sel4in#Al1liJ effect of capitalistic str&ct&res is h$ Mai-x ar#&esthatsoHcHiet$ ill #o
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
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thro&#h a tran ! # , H / # / ! Moi s theor$ or specres!6eln# also has implications for 2noled#e
and con- scio&sness. ln the %o$t,o societ$ that eF4e 6een tal2in# a6o&t h&mansF 2nol- ed#e
a6o&t the orldras o6ecti4: and realA ll1H$ held ideas tnsm#ct harmon$ ithF their NB*L%N
reL7ccordin# to Marx h+n-ian!idOmditho&#ht come a6o&t *n the moment or sol4in# the pro6lem
of s&r4i4al. %&mans s&r4i4e 6eca&se e creati4el$ prod&ce and o&r clearest and most tr&e ideas
are #ro&nded in this creati4e act. *n speciesr6ein# people 6ecome tr&l$ conscio&s of themsel4es
and their ideas. Material prod&ction then is s&pposed to 6e the cond&it thro&#h hich h&man
nat&re is expressed and the prod&ct o&#ht to act as a mirror that reects 6ac2 o&r on nat&re.
Let!s tr$ an analo#$ to #et at this extremel$ important iss&e. here are a limited n&m6er of a$s
$o& can 2no ho $o& ph$sicall$ loo2 (4ideo pict&res portraits mirrors and so forth). he
f&nction of each of these methods is to represent or reprod&ce o&r ima#e ith as little distortion as
possi6le. &t hat if acc&rate rep- resentation as impossi6leP Bhat if e4er$ tnedi&m chan#ed
$o&r ima#e in some a$P D/e o&ld ha4e no tr&e idea ho e ph$sicall$ loo2. 7ll of o&r ideas
o&ld 6e false in some a$. Be o&ld thin2 e see o&rsel4es hilt e o&ldlft. Marx is ma2e in#
this 2ind of ar#&ment 6&t not a6o&t o&r ph$sical appearanceA hes concerned ith sci-nethin# m&ch
more important and f&ndamental!mo&r nat&re as h&mans.
Be thin2 e see it 6&t e donFt.
Be need to ta2e this analo#$ one step f&rther: 'otice that ith mirrors pict&res.
and 4ideos there is a 2ind of correspondence 6eteen the representation and its realit$. Bhat l
mean is that each ofthese media presents a 4is&al ima#e and in the case ofo&r ph$sical appearance.
thatFs hat e ant. *ma#ine if $o& as2ed somer one ho $o& loo2ed and the person pla$ed a
4oice recordin# for $o&. hat o&ld- rlt ma2e an$ sense o&ld itP here o&ld 6e no
correspondence 6eteen the mode of representation and the initial presentation his too is hat
Marx is tellin# &s.
*f e ant to 2no somethin# a6o&t o&r h&man nat&re if e ant to see it reprer sented to &s
here sho&ld e loo2P Bhat 2ind of medi&m o&ld correspond to o&r nat&reP M Q is ar#&in# that
e4er$ species is dened 6$ its method of s&r4i4al oi extstence. Bh$ are Bhales lions and
h&mmin#6irds all differentP he$ are dif- ferent 6eca&se the$ ha4e different a$s of existin# in the
orld. Bhat ma2es h&man
R3
Chapter 3 o Contradictions *n Capitalism: Karl Marx
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 9/33
tiile ideas are not a6stract concepts ith no 6asis in material realit$. %&man ideas are #ro&nded
Lind real if the$ sprin# from creati4e prod&ction.
he other implication of this a$ of &nderstandin# conscio&sness and 2nol- ed#e concerns false
a$s of 2noin# and existin#. *f ideas come from an$ other so&rce than creati4e prod&ction then
the$ are simpl$ co&nterfeit realities that lead to false conscio&sness and alienation. Be ill tal2 atlen#th a6o&t these iss&es shortl$ 6&t for no * ant &s to see an important reperc&ssion of this
concept: o thin2 li2e Marx means to 6e concerned a6o&t the inner s&6ecti4e orld that
h&man 6ein#s experience.
Marx has often 6een seen as anti-spirit&al. his notion is far from the tr&th
Marx is deepl$ concerned ith liftin# h&man experience o&t ct the &a#mire and placin# o&r feet
on hi#her #ro&nd. Species-6ein# implies that h&mans are altr&ise tic social 6ein#s 6&t o&r
socia6ilit$ has 6een c&t off and each person stands alone and na2ed d&e to cold capitalistic
considerations. Speciesr6ein# also implies that the indi4id&al person is lled ith a creati4ecapacit$ that has 6een disconnected and denied in the search for prot. 9ather than 6ein# a cold
materialist Marx #i4es &s a ?spirit&al existentialism in sec&lar lan#&a#e (romm 1@T1 p. s). o
thin2 li2e Marx then is to 6e critical of h&manit$s inh&manit$ ?MarxFs philosoph$ is one of
protestA it is a protest im6&ed ith faith in man in his capacit$ to li6erate himself and to reali0e his
potentialitiesn (5iomm 1@T1 p. 4i).
he Second idea that dri4es Maer tho&#ht is the material dialectic. h&s to thin2 li2e Marx also
means to thin2 in historical str&ct&ral terms. Bhile Marx is o4erhelmin#l$ concerned Bith the
a&thenticit$ of h&man experience he sees that it is the economic str&ct&re that mo4es histor$ and
in&ences o&r inner person.
Societ$ then is o6ecti4e and ca&sati4e thro&#h the econom$ and class relations.
o thin2 li2e Marx also means to ha4e a historical perspecti4e. ltFs eas$ for &s to 6e ei#hed don
6$ the demands and pro6lems of o&r li4es. 7nd it is th&s eas$ for &s to 6e concerned onl$ ith
small se#ments of time and societ$. ;et Marxian tho&#ht is differentA it is 6i##er. c. Bri#ht Mills
(1@J@) made this distinction clear hen he spo2e of personal tro&6les and p&6lic iss&es. %e called
this point ot4ie the soci- olo#ical ima#ination.
he first fr&it of this ilna#il!llion#and the rst lesson of the social science that em6odies itEis the
idea that the indi4id&al can &nderstand his on experience and #a&#e his on fate onl$ 6$ locatin#himself ithin his period.
that he can 2no his on chances in life onl$ 6$ 6ecomin# aare of those of all indi4id&als in his
circ&mstances. (p. J)
RU
Concepts and heor$: Contradictions in Capitalism
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 10/33
Maix forms m&ch of this theor$ ofcapitalism in diiect contrast to the political econ- omists <f his
da$. or most political economists in Marxs time commodities 4al&e profit pri4ate propert$ and
the di4ision of la6or ere seen as nat&ral effects ofsocial e4ol&tion. %oe4er Marx ta2es a critical
perspecti4e and sees these same processes as instr&ments of oppression that dramaticall$ affect
peoples life chances
Chapter 3 o Contradictions *n Capitalism: Karl Marx
tiile ideas are not a6stract concepts ith no 6asis in material realit$. %&man ideas are #ro&nded
Lind real if the$ sprin# from creati4e prod&ction.
he other implication of this a$ of &nderstandin# conscio&sness and 2nol- ed#e concerns false
a$s of 2noin# and existin#. *f ideas come from an$ other so&rce than creati4e prod&ction then
the$ are simpl$ co&nterfeit realities that lead to false conscio&sness and alienation. Be ill tal2 at
len#th a6o&t these iss&es shortl$ 6&t for no * ant &s to see an important reperc&ssion of this
concept: o thin2 li2e Marx means to 6e concerned a6o&t the inner s&6ecti4e orld that
h&man 6ein#s experience.
Marx has often 6een seen as anti-spirit&al. his notion is far from the tr&th
Marx is deepl$ concerned ith liftin# h&man experience o&t ct the &a#mire and placin# o&r feet
on hi#her #ro&nd. Species-6ein# implies that h&mans are altr&ise tic social 6ein#s 6&t o&r
socia6ilit$ has 6een c&t off and each person stands alone and na2ed d&e to cold capitalistic
considerations. Speciesr6ein# also implies that the indi4id&al person is lled ith a creati4e
capacit$ that has 6een disconnected and denied in the search for prot. 9ather than 6ein# a cold
materialist Marx #i4es &s a ?spirit&al existentialism in sec&lar lan#&a#e (romm 1@T1 p. s). o
thin2 li2e Marx then is to 6e critical of h&manit$s inh&manit$ ?MarxFs philosoph$ is one of
protestA it is a protest im6&ed ith faith in man in his capacit$ to li6erate himself and to reali0e his
potentialitiesn (5iomm 1@T1 p. 4i).
he Second idea that dri4es Maer tho&#ht is the material dialectic. h&s to thin2 li2e Marx also
means to thin2 in historical str&ct&ral terms. Bhile Marx is o4erhelmin#l$ concerned Bith the
a&thenticit$ of h&man experience he sees that it is the economic str&ct&re that mo4es histor$ and
in&ences o&r inner person.
Societ$ then is o6ecti4e and ca&sati4e thro&#h the econom$ and class relations.
o thin2 li2e Marx also means to ha4e a historical perspecti4e. ltFs eas$ for &s to 6e ei#hed don
6$ the demands and pro6lems of o&r li4es. 7nd it is th&s eas$ for &s to 6e concerned onl$ ith
small se#ments of time and societ$. ;et Marxian tho&#ht is differentA it is 6i##er. c. Bri#ht Mills
(1@J@) made this distinction clear hen he spo2e of personal tro&6les and p&6lic iss&es. %e called
this point ot4ie the soci- olo#ical ima#ination.
he first fr&it of this ilna#il!llion#and the rst lesson of the social science that em6odies itEis the
idea that the indi4id&al can &nderstand his on experience and #a&#e his on fate onl$ 6$ locatin#
himself ithin his period.
that he can 2no his on chances in life onl$ 6$ 6ecomin# aare of those of all indi4id&als in hiscirc&mstances. (p. J)
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 11/33
RU
Concepts and heor$: Contradictions in Capitalism
Maix forms m&ch of this theor$ ofcapitalism in diiect contrast to the political econ- omists <f his
da$. or most political economists in Marxs time commodities 4al&e profit pri4ate propert$ and
the di4ision of la6or ere seen as nat&ral effects ofsocial e4ol&tion. %oe4er Marx ta2es a critical
perspecti4e and sees these same processes as instr&ments of oppression that dramaticall$ affect
peoples life chances
Chapter 3 o Contradictions *n Capitalism: Karl Marx
tiile ideas are not a6stract concepts ith no 6asis in material realit$. %&man ideas are #ro&nded
Lind real if the$ sprin# from creati4e prod&ction.
he other implication of this a$ of &nderstandin# conscio&sness and 2nol- ed#e concerns false
a$s of 2noin# and existin#. *f ideas come from an$ other so&rce than creati4e prod&ction then
the$ are simpl$ co&nterfeit realities that lead to false conscio&sness and alienation. Be ill tal2 at
len#th a6o&t these iss&es shortl$ 6&t for no * ant &s to see an important reperc&ssion of this
concept: o thin2 li2e Marx means to 6e concerned a6o&t the inner s&6ecti4e orld that
h&man 6ein#s experience.
Marx has often 6een seen as anti-spirit&al. his notion is far from the tr&th
Marx is deepl$ concerned ith liftin# h&man experience o&t ct the &a#mire and placin# o&r feet
on hi#her #ro&nd. Species-6ein# implies that h&mans are altr&ise tic social 6ein#s 6&t o&r
socia6ilit$ has 6een c&t off and each person stands alone and na2ed d&e to cold capitalistic
considerations. Speciesr6ein# also implies that the indi4id&al person is lled ith a creati4e
capacit$ that has 6een disconnected and denied in the search for prot. 9ather than 6ein# a cold
materialist Marx #i4es &s a ?spirit&al existentialism in sec&lar lan#&a#e (romm 1@T1 p. s). o
thin2 li2e Marx then is to 6e critical of h&manit$s inh&manit$ ?MarxFs philosoph$ is one of
protestA it is a protest im6&ed ith faith in man in his capacit$ to li6erate himself and to reali0e his
potentialitiesn (5iomm 1@T1 p. 4i).
he Second idea that dri4es Maer tho&#ht is the material dialectic. h&s to thin2 li2e Marx also
means to thin2 in historical str&ct&ral terms. Bhile Marx is o4erhelmin#l$ concerned Bith the
a&thenticit$ of h&man experience he sees that it is the economic str&ct&re that mo4es histor$ and
in&ences o&r inner person.
Societ$ then is o6ecti4e and ca&sati4e thro&#h the econom$ and class relations.
o thin2 li2e Marx also means to ha4e a historical perspecti4e. ltFs eas$ for &s to 6e ei#hed don
6$ the demands and pro6lems of o&r li4es. 7nd it is th&s eas$ for &s to 6e concerned onl$ ith
small se#ments of time and societ$. ;et Marxian tho&#ht is differentA it is 6i##er. c. Bri#ht Mills
(1@J@) made this distinction clear hen he spo2e of personal tro&6les and p&6lic iss&es. %e calledthis point ot4ie the soci- olo#ical ima#ination.
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 12/33
he first fr&it of this ilna#il!llion#and the rst lesson of the social science that em6odies itEis the
idea that the indi4id&al can &nderstand his on experience and #a&#e his on fate onl$ 6$ locatin#
himself ithin his period.
that he can 2no his on chances in life onl$ 6$ 6ecomin# aare of those of all indi4id&als in hiscirc&mstances. (p. J)
RU
Concepts and heor$: Contradictions in Capitalism
Maix forms m&ch of this theor$ ofcapitalism in diiect contrast to the political econ- omists <f his
da$. or most political economists in Marxs time commodities 4al&e profit pri4ate propert$ and
the di4ision of la6or ere seen as nat&ral effects ofsocial e4ol&tion. %oe4er Marx ta2es a critical perspecti4e and sees these same processes as instr&ments of oppression that dramaticall$ affect
peoples life chances
Chapter 3 o Contradictions *n Capitalism: Karl Marx
tiile ideas are not a6stract concepts ith no 6asis in material realit$. %&man ideas are #ro&nded
Lind real if the$ sprin# from creati4e prod&ction.
he other implication of this a$ of &nderstandin# conscio&sness and 2nol- ed#e concerns false
a$s of 2noin# and existin#. *f ideas come from an$ other so&rce than creati4e prod&ction then
the$ are simpl$ co&nterfeit realities that lead to false conscio&sness and alienation. Be ill tal2 at
len#th a6o&t these iss&es shortl$ 6&t for no * ant &s to see an important reperc&ssion of this
concept: o thin2 li2e Marx means to 6e concerned a6o&t the inner s&6ecti4e orld that
h&man 6ein#s experience.
Marx has often 6een seen as anti-spirit&al. his notion is far from the tr&th
Marx is deepl$ concerned ith liftin# h&man experience o&t ct the &a#mire and placin# o&r feet
on hi#her #ro&nd. Species-6ein# implies that h&mans are altr&ise tic social 6ein#s 6&t o&r
socia6ilit$ has 6een c&t off and each person stands alone and na2ed d&e to cold capitalisticconsiderations. Speciesr6ein# also implies that the indi4id&al person is lled ith a creati4e
capacit$ that has 6een disconnected and denied in the search for prot. 9ather than 6ein# a cold
materialist Marx #i4es &s a ?spirit&al existentialism in sec&lar lan#&a#e (romm 1@T1 p. s). o
thin2 li2e Marx then is to 6e critical of h&manit$s inh&manit$ ?MarxFs philosoph$ is one of
protestA it is a protest im6&ed ith faith in man in his capacit$ to li6erate himself and to reali0e his
potentialitiesn (5iomm 1@T1 p. 4i).
he Second idea that dri4es Maer tho&#ht is the material dialectic. h&s to thin2 li2e Marx also
means to thin2 in historical str&ct&ral terms. Bhile Marx is o4erhelmin#l$ concerned Bith the
a&thenticit$ of h&man experience he sees that it is the economic str&ct&re that mo4es histor$ and
in&ences o&r inner person.
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 13/33
Societ$ then is o6ecti4e and ca&sati4e thro&#h the econom$ and class relations.
o thin2 li2e Marx also means to ha4e a historical perspecti4e. ltFs eas$ for &s to 6e ei#hed don
6$ the demands and pro6lems of o&r li4es. 7nd it is th&s eas$ for &s to 6e concerned onl$ ith
small se#ments of time and societ$. ;et Marxian tho&#ht is differentA it is 6i##er. c. Bri#ht Mills
(1@J@) made this distinction clear hen he spo2e of personal tro&6les and p&6lic iss&es. %e calledthis point ot4ie the soci- olo#ical ima#ination.
he first fr&it of this ilna#il!llion#and the rst lesson of the social science that em6odies itEis the
idea that the indi4id&al can &nderstand his on experience and #a&#e his on fate onl$ 6$ locatin#
himself ithin his period.
that he can 2no his on chances in life onl$ 6$ 6ecomin# aare of those of all indi4id&als in his
circ&mstances. (p. J)
RU
Concepts and heor$: Contradictions in Capitalism
Maix forms m&ch of this theor$ ofcapitalism in diiect contrast to the political econ- omists <f his
da$. or most political economists in Marxs time commodities 4al&e profit pri4ate propert$ and
the di4ision of la6or ere seen as nat&ral effects ofsocial e4ol&tion. %oe4er Marx ta2es a critical
perspecti4e and sees these same processes as instr&ments of oppression that dramaticall$ affect
peoples life chances
Chapter 3 Contradictions lrl Capitalism. Karl Marx
increase prod&ction and increased prod&ction p&shes for ne or expanded mare 2ets in hich to
sell the prod&ct. hese expandin# mar2ets also tend to p&sh for increased prod&ction and
ind&striali0ation. Li2eise if a ne mar2et opens &p thro&#h political ne#otiations (li2e ith
Mexico or China for the nited States) or the in4ention of a ne prod&ct there ill 6e a
correspondin# p&sh for increased prod&ction and the search for ne machiner$.
7n important point to note here is that capitalism to feed the need for contin= &o&s capital
acc&m&lations re&ires expandin# mar2ets hich implies that mar- 2ets and their effects ma$ 6e
seen as part ofthe dialectic of capitalism. *n capitalism there is ala$s a p&sh to increase protmar#ins. o increase profits capitalists can expand their mar2ets hori0ontall$ and 4erticall$ in
addition to increasin# the le4el of s&rpl&s la6or. *n fact prot mar#ins o&ld slip if capitalists did
not expand their mar2ets. or example one of the main reasons that $o& pro6a6l$ ha4e a C" pla$er
is that the mar2et for cassette tape pla$ers 6ottomed o&t (and no there is a p&sh for M53 and
neer technolo#ies). Most people ho ere #oin# to 6&$ a cassette pla$er had alread$ done so and
the onl$ time another o&ld 6e p&rchased is for replacement. So capitalists in4ented somethin#
ne for $o& to 6&$ so that their prot mar#in o&ld 6e maintained.
*n #eneraV mar2ets refer to an arena in hich commodities are exchan#ed 6eteen 6&$ers and
sellers. or example e tal2 a6o&t the #rocer$ mar2et and the mone$ mar2et. hese mar2ets are
dened 6$ the prod&cts the$ offer and the social netor2 in4ol4ed. Mar2ets in #eneral ha4e certaincharacteristics that ha4e conseW &ences for 6oth commodities and people. he$ are inherentl$
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 14/33
s&scepti6le to expansion (partic&larl$ hen dri4en 6$ the capitalist need for prot) a6straction (so
e can ha4e mar2ets on mar2ets li2e stoc2 mar2et f&t&res or the 6&$in# and sellin# of home
mort#a#e contracts) trade c$cles (d&e to the pre4io&s to iss&es) and &ndesira6le o&tp&ts (s&ch as
poll&tion)A and the$ are amoral (so the$ ma$ 6e &sed to sell eapons reli#ion or to #rant access to
health care).
he speed at hich #oods and ser4ices mo4e thro&#h mar2ets is lar#el$ depenr dent &pon a
#enerali0ed medi&m of exchan#e somethin# that can act as &ni4ersal 4al&e. arter is characteri0ed
6$ the exchan#e of prod&cts for one another he pro6lem ith 6arterin# is that it slos don the
exchan#e process 6eca&se there is no #eneral 4al&e s$stem. or example ho m&ch is a 2e# of
6eer orth in a 6arter s$stemP Be canFt reall$ anser that &estion 6eca&se the anser depends on
hat it is 6ein# exchan#ed for ho is doin# the exchan#in# hat their needs are here the
exchan#e ta2es place and so on. eca&se of the sloness of 6arterin# mar2ets tend to p&sh for
more #enerali0ed means of exchan#eWs&ch as mone$. sin# mone$ e can #i4e an anser to the
2e# &estion and ha4in# s&ch an anser speeds &p the exchan#e process &ite a 6it. Marx ar#&es
that as mar2ets expand and 6ecome lnore important in a societ$ and the &se of mone$ for
e&i4alenc$ 6ecomes more &ni4ersal mone$ 6ecomes more and more the common denomina- torof i0ll h&man relations 7s Marx (1@3X,1@U8) sa$s
$ possessin# the propert$ of 6&$in# e4er$thin# 6$ possessin# the propert$ of appropriatin# all
o6ects motle$ is th&s the 6ect of eminent possession.
he &ni4ersalit$ of its propert$ is the omnipotence of its 6ein#. *t therefore f&nctions as the
almi#ht$ 6ein#. Mone$ is the pimp 6eteen mans need and
J1
Chapter 3 Contradictions lrl Capitalism. Karl Marx
increase prod&ction and increased prod&ction p&shes for ne or expanded mare 2ets in hich to
sell the prod&ct. hese expandin# mar2ets also tend to p&sh for increased prod&ction and
ind&striali0ation. Li2eise if a ne mar2et opens &p thro&#h political ne#otiations (li2e ith
Mexico or China for the nited States) or the in4ention of a ne prod&ct there ill 6e a
correspondin# p&sh for increased prod&ction and the search for ne machiner$.
7n important point to note here is that capitalism to feed the need for contin= &o&s capital
acc&m&lations re&ires expandin# mar2ets hich implies that mar- 2ets and their effects ma$ 6e
seen as part ofthe dialectic of capitalism. *n capitalism there is ala$s a p&sh to increase protmar#ins. o increase profits capitalists can expand their mar2ets hori0ontall$ and 4erticall$ in
addition to increasin# the le4el of s&rpl&s la6or. *n fact prot mar#ins o&ld slip if capitalists did
not expand their mar2ets. or example one of the main reasons that $o& pro6a6l$ ha4e a C" pla$er
is that the mar2et for cassette tape pla$ers 6ottomed o&t (and no there is a p&sh for M53 and
neer technolo#ies). Most people ho ere #oin# to 6&$ a cassette pla$er had alread$ done so and
the onl$ time another o&ld 6e p&rchased is for replacement. So capitalists in4ented somethin#
ne for $o& to 6&$ so that their prot mar#in o&ld 6e maintained.
*n #eneraV mar2ets refer to an arena in hich commodities are exchan#ed 6eteen 6&$ers and
sellers. or example e tal2 a6o&t the #rocer$ mar2et and the mone$ mar2et. hese mar2ets are
dened 6$ the prod&cts the$ offer and the social netor2 in4ol4ed. Mar2ets in #eneral ha4e certaincharacteristics that ha4e conseW &ences for 6oth commodities and people. he$ are inherentl$
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 15/33
s&scepti6le to expansion (partic&larl$ hen dri4en 6$ the capitalist need for prot) a6straction (so
e can ha4e mar2ets on mar2ets li2e stoc2 mar2et f&t&res or the 6&$in# and sellin# of home
mort#a#e contracts) trade c$cles (d&e to the pre4io&s to iss&es) and &ndesira6le o&tp&ts (s&ch as
poll&tion)A and the$ are amoral (so the$ ma$ 6e &sed to sell eapons reli#ion or to #rant access to
health care).
he speed at hich #oods and ser4ices mo4e thro&#h mar2ets is lar#el$ depenr dent &pon a
#enerali0ed medi&m of exchan#e somethin# that can act as &ni4ersal 4al&e. arter is characteri0ed
6$ the exchan#e of prod&cts for one another he pro6lem ith 6arterin# is that it slos don the
exchan#e process 6eca&se there is no #eneral 4al&e s$stem. or example ho m&ch is a 2e# of
6eer orth in a 6arter s$stemP Be canFt reall$ anser that &estion 6eca&se the anser depends on
hat it is 6ein# exchan#ed for ho is doin# the exchan#in# hat their needs are here the
exchan#e ta2es place and so on. eca&se of the sloness of 6arterin# mar2ets tend to p&sh for
more #enerali0ed means of exchan#eWs&ch as mone$. sin# mone$ e can #i4e an anser to the
2e# &estion and ha4in# s&ch an anser speeds &p the exchan#e process &ite a 6it. Marx ar#&es
that as mar2ets expand and 6ecome lnore important in a societ$ and the &se of mone$ for
e&i4alenc$ 6ecomes more &ni4ersal mone$ 6ecomes more and more the common denomina- torof i0ll h&man relations 7s Marx (1@3X,1@U8) sa$s
$ possessin# the propert$ of 6&$in# e4er$thin# 6$ possessin# the propert$ of appropriatin# all
o6ects motle$ is th&s the 6ect of eminent possession.
he &ni4ersalit$ of its propert$ is the omnipotence of its 6ein#. *t therefore f&nctions as the
almi#ht$ 6ein#. Mone$ is the pimp 6eteen mans need and
J1
Chapter 3 Contradictions lrl Capitalism. Karl Marx
increase prod&ction and increased prod&ction p&shes for ne or expanded mare 2ets in hich to
sell the prod&ct. hese expandin# mar2ets also tend to p&sh for increased prod&ction and
ind&striali0ation. Li2eise if a ne mar2et opens &p thro&#h political ne#otiations (li2e ith
Mexico or China for the nited States) or the in4ention of a ne prod&ct there ill 6e a
correspondin# p&sh for increased prod&ction and the search for ne machiner$.
7n important point to note here is that capitalism to feed the need for contin= &o&s capital
acc&m&lations re&ires expandin# mar2ets hich implies that mar- 2ets and their effects ma$ 6e
seen as part ofthe dialectic of capitalism. *n capitalism there is ala$s a p&sh to increase protmar#ins. o increase profits capitalists can expand their mar2ets hori0ontall$ and 4erticall$ in
addition to increasin# the le4el of s&rpl&s la6or. *n fact prot mar#ins o&ld slip if capitalists did
not expand their mar2ets. or example one of the main reasons that $o& pro6a6l$ ha4e a C" pla$er
is that the mar2et for cassette tape pla$ers 6ottomed o&t (and no there is a p&sh for M53 and
neer technolo#ies). Most people ho ere #oin# to 6&$ a cassette pla$er had alread$ done so and
the onl$ time another o&ld 6e p&rchased is for replacement. So capitalists in4ented somethin#
ne for $o& to 6&$ so that their prot mar#in o&ld 6e maintained.
*n #eneraV mar2ets refer to an arena in hich commodities are exchan#ed 6eteen 6&$ers and
sellers. or example e tal2 a6o&t the #rocer$ mar2et and the mone$ mar2et. hese mar2ets are
dened 6$ the prod&cts the$ offer and the social netor2 in4ol4ed. Mar2ets in #eneral ha4e certaincharacteristics that ha4e conseW &ences for 6oth commodities and people. he$ are inherentl$
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 16/33
s&scepti6le to expansion (partic&larl$ hen dri4en 6$ the capitalist need for prot) a6straction (so
e can ha4e mar2ets on mar2ets li2e stoc2 mar2et f&t&res or the 6&$in# and sellin# of home
mort#a#e contracts) trade c$cles (d&e to the pre4io&s to iss&es) and &ndesira6le o&tp&ts (s&ch as
poll&tion)A and the$ are amoral (so the$ ma$ 6e &sed to sell eapons reli#ion or to #rant access to
health care).
he speed at hich #oods and ser4ices mo4e thro&#h mar2ets is lar#el$ depenr dent &pon a
#enerali0ed medi&m of exchan#e somethin# that can act as &ni4ersal 4al&e. arter is characteri0ed
6$ the exchan#e of prod&cts for one another he pro6lem ith 6arterin# is that it slos don the
exchan#e process 6eca&se there is no #eneral 4al&e s$stem. or example ho m&ch is a 2e# of
6eer orth in a 6arter s$stemP Be canFt reall$ anser that &estion 6eca&se the anser depends on
hat it is 6ein# exchan#ed for ho is doin# the exchan#in# hat their needs are here the
exchan#e ta2es place and so on. eca&se of the sloness of 6arterin# mar2ets tend to p&sh for
more #enerali0ed means of exchan#eWs&ch as mone$. sin# mone$ e can #i4e an anser to the
2e# &estion and ha4in# s&ch an anser speeds &p the exchan#e process &ite a 6it. Marx ar#&es
that as mar2ets expand and 6ecome lnore important in a societ$ and the &se of mone$ for
e&i4alenc$ 6ecomes more &ni4ersal mone$ 6ecomes more and more the common denomina- torof i0ll h&man relations 7s Marx (1@3X,1@U8) sa$s
$ possessin# the propert$ of 6&$in# e4er$thin# 6$ possessin# the propert$ of appropriatin# all
o6ects motle$ is th&s the 6ect of eminent possession.
he &ni4ersalit$ of its propert$ is the omnipotence of its 6ein#. *t therefore f&nctions as the
almi#ht$ 6ein#. Mone$ is the pimp 6eteen mans need and
J1
Chapter 3 Contradictions lrl Capitalism. Karl Marx
increase prod&ction and increased prod&ction p&shes for ne or expanded mare 2ets in hich to
sell the prod&ct. hese expandin# mar2ets also tend to p&sh for increased prod&ction and
ind&striali0ation. Li2eise if a ne mar2et opens &p thro&#h political ne#otiations (li2e ith
Mexico or China for the nited States) or the in4ention of a ne prod&ct there ill 6e a
correspondin# p&sh for increased prod&ction and the search for ne machiner$.
7n important point to note here is that capitalism to feed the need for contin= &o&s capital
acc&m&lations re&ires expandin# mar2ets hich implies that mar- 2ets and their effects ma$ 6e
seen as part ofthe dialectic of capitalism. *n capitalism there is ala$s a p&sh to increase protmar#ins. o increase profits capitalists can expand their mar2ets hori0ontall$ and 4erticall$ in
addition to increasin# the le4el of s&rpl&s la6or. *n fact prot mar#ins o&ld slip if capitalists did
not expand their mar2ets. or example one of the main reasons that $o& pro6a6l$ ha4e a C" pla$er
is that the mar2et for cassette tape pla$ers 6ottomed o&t (and no there is a p&sh for M53 and
neer technolo#ies). Most people ho ere #oin# to 6&$ a cassette pla$er had alread$ done so and
the onl$ time another o&ld 6e p&rchased is for replacement. So capitalists in4ented somethin#
ne for $o& to 6&$ so that their prot mar#in o&ld 6e maintained.
*n #eneraV mar2ets refer to an arena in hich commodities are exchan#ed 6eteen 6&$ers and
sellers. or example e tal2 a6o&t the #rocer$ mar2et and the mone$ mar2et. hese mar2ets are
dened 6$ the prod&cts the$ offer and the social netor2 in4ol4ed. Mar2ets in #eneral ha4e certaincharacteristics that ha4e conseW &ences for 6oth commodities and people. he$ are inherentl$
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s&scepti6le to expansion (partic&larl$ hen dri4en 6$ the capitalist need for prot) a6straction (so
e can ha4e mar2ets on mar2ets li2e stoc2 mar2et f&t&res or the 6&$in# and sellin# of home
mort#a#e contracts) trade c$cles (d&e to the pre4io&s to iss&es) and &ndesira6le o&tp&ts (s&ch as
poll&tion)A and the$ are amoral (so the$ ma$ 6e &sed to sell eapons reli#ion or to #rant access to
health care).
he speed at hich #oods and ser4ices mo4e thro&#h mar2ets is lar#el$ depenr dent &pon a
#enerali0ed medi&m of exchan#e somethin# that can act as &ni4ersal 4al&e. arter is characteri0ed
6$ the exchan#e of prod&cts for one another he pro6lem ith 6arterin# is that it slos don the
exchan#e process 6eca&se there is no #eneral 4al&e s$stem. or example ho m&ch is a 2e# of
6eer orth in a 6arter s$stemP Be canFt reall$ anser that &estion 6eca&se the anser depends on
hat it is 6ein# exchan#ed for ho is doin# the exchan#in# hat their needs are here the
exchan#e ta2es place and so on. eca&se of the sloness of 6arterin# mar2ets tend to p&sh for
more #enerali0ed means of exchan#eWs&ch as mone$. sin# mone$ e can #i4e an anser to the
2e# &estion and ha4in# s&ch an anser speeds &p the exchan#e process &ite a 6it. Marx ar#&es
that as mar2ets expand and 6ecome lnore important in a societ$ and the &se of mone$ for
e&i4alenc$ 6ecomes more &ni4ersal mone$ 6ecomes more and more the common denomina- torof i0ll h&man relations 7s Marx (1@3X,1@U8) sa$s
$ possessin# the propert$ of 6&$in# e4er$thin# 6$ possessin# the propert$ of appropriatin# all
o6ects motle$ is th&s the 6ect of eminent possession.
he &ni4ersalit$ of its propert$ is the omnipotence of its 6ein#. *t therefore f&nctions as the
almi#ht$ 6ein#. Mone$ is the pimp 6eteen mans need and
J1
Chapter 3 o Contradictions *n Capitalism: Karl Marx
h&s the existin# capitalists acc&m&late additional capital and the entire c$cle starts a#ain. ?&t
not onl$ has the 6o&r#eoisie for#ed the eapons that 6rin# death to itselfA it has also called into
existence the men ho are to ield those eaponsE the modern or2in# classEthe proletariatY
(Marx 8t +n#els 18R8,1@U8 p. RU8).
he 6ipolari0ation ofconict is a necessar$ step for Marx in the process of social chan#e and an
important one for conict theor$ as a hole. 4ert and intense con- ict are 6oth dependent &pon
6ipolari0ationA crossc&ttin# interests that is ha4in# more than one iss&e o4er hich #ro&ps are in
conict tend to p&ll reso&rces (enro- tional aha material) aa$ from conflict. or example d&rin#Borld Bar ** it as necessar$ for the 4ario&s rrations to coalesce into onl$ to factions the 7xis
and the 7llied poers. So the nited States 6ecame stran#e 6edfellos ith the So4iet nion in
order to create lar#e-scale intense conict. 'ote that each time the nited States has en#a#ed in a
police action or ar attempts are made to ali#n reso&rces in as fe camps as possi6le. his mo4e
isn!t simpl$ a matter of orld opinionA it is a str&ct&ral necessit$ for 4iolent and o4ert conict. he
lac2 of 6ipolari0ed conict creates an arena of crossc&ttin# interests that can drain reso&rces and
pre4ent the conict from escalatin# and potentiall$ resol4in#.
4erprod&ction
Bere no in a position to 6rin# all these factors to#ether. *!4e dia#ramed these relationships ini#&re 3.3. 'ote that the pl&s (Z) si#ns indicate a positi4e relationship (6oth 4aria6les mo4e in the
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same direction either more or less) and the min&s (a) si#ns indicate ne#ati4e relationships (the
4aria6les #o in opposite directions). Startin# at the far left the denin# feat&re of modern
capitalism (incessant acc&m&lation of capital) is the primar$ d$namic. 7s capitalists in4est
mar2ets ind&striali0ation and emplo$ment all #o &p. 'otice that all the arros are do&6le-headed
hich means these all m&t&all$ in&ence one another. *nd&striali0ation mar2ets and emplo$ment
all prod&ce prot that is then rein4ested in those same three factors. 7lso notice the possi6le limitof mar2ets is lin2ed to o&r a6ilit$ to create o&r on needs. Mar2ets and h&man need feed off each
other. *tFs also important to note that mar2ets donFt simpl$ expandA the$ can 6ecome more a6stract.
S&ch mar2ets are the ones associated ith the spec&lation that has 6een endemic in the orld stoc2
mar2ets.
he effects of these rst fo&r factors contin&e to feed one another creatin# e4er increasin# le4els of
commodit$ prod&ction &ntil a threshold is rcachedE o4erprod&ctioniand there!s too m&ch
prod&ction for the c&rrent demand.
Since capital acc&m&lation is a str&ct&ral part of capitalism capitalists ill con- tin&e to create ne
and prod&ce existin# commodities &ntil the mar2et ill no lon#er 6ear it. Bhen this happens prod&ction is c&t 6ac2 or2ers are laid off and the econom$ sl&mps. Small 6&sinesses collapse
and capital is concentrated in feer handsA capital ls th&s acc&m&lated and the fail&res of small
6&sinesses p&sh toard the 6ipolari0ation of classes. Bith the reneed acc&m&lation of capital
capit! ists rein4est and the mar2et pic2s 6ac2 &pA and the c$cle starts a#ain. %oe4er each
economic c$cle is lar#er and deeper than the pre4io&s and the or2in# class 6ecomes lar#er and
lar#er. *n the end Marx ar#&es this process of acc&m&lation and o4erprod&ction ill lead to the
collapse of capitalism 6eca&se
JJ
Chapter 3 o Contradictions *n Capitalism: Karl Marx
h&s the existin# capitalists acc&m&late additional capital and the entire c$cle starts a#ain. ?&t
not onl$ has the 6o&r#eoisie for#ed the eapons that 6rin# death to itselfA it has also called into
existence the men ho are to ield those eaponsE the modern or2in# classEthe proletariatY
(Marx 8t +n#els 18R8,1@U8 p. RU8).
he 6ipolari0ation ofconict is a necessar$ step for Marx in the process of social chan#e and an
important one for conict theor$ as a hole. 4ert and intense con- ict are 6oth dependent &pon 6ipolari0ationA crossc&ttin# interests that is ha4in# more than one iss&e o4er hich #ro&ps are in
conict tend to p&ll reso&rces (enro- tional aha material) aa$ from conflict. or example d&rin#
Borld Bar ** it as necessar$ for the 4ario&s rrations to coalesce into onl$ to factions the 7xis
and the 7llied poers. So the nited States 6ecame stran#e 6edfellos ith the So4iet nion in
order to create lar#e-scale intense conict. 'ote that each time the nited States has en#a#ed in a
police action or ar attempts are made to ali#n reso&rces in as fe camps as possi6le. his mo4e
isn!t simpl$ a matter of orld opinionA it is a str&ct&ral necessit$ for 4iolent and o4ert conict. he
lac2 of 6ipolari0ed conict creates an arena of crossc&ttin# interests that can drain reso&rces and
pre4ent the conict from escalatin# and potentiall$ resol4in#.
4erprod&ction
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Bere no in a position to 6rin# all these factors to#ether. *!4e dia#ramed these relationships in
i#&re 3.3. 'ote that the pl&s (Z) si#ns indicate a positi4e relationship (6oth 4aria6les mo4e in the
same direction either more or less) and the min&s (a) si#ns indicate ne#ati4e relationships (the
4aria6les #o in opposite directions). Startin# at the far left the denin# feat&re of modern
capitalism (incessant acc&m&lation of capital) is the primar$ d$namic. 7s capitalists in4est
mar2ets ind&striali0ation and emplo$ment all #o &p. 'otice that all the arros are do&6le-headedhich means these all m&t&all$ in&ence one another. *nd&striali0ation mar2ets and emplo$ment
all prod&ce prot that is then rein4ested in those same three factors. 7lso notice the possi6le limit
of mar2ets is lin2ed to o&r a6ilit$ to create o&r on needs. Mar2ets and h&man need feed off each
other. *tFs also important to note that mar2ets donFt simpl$ expandA the$ can 6ecome more a6stract.
S&ch mar2ets are the ones associated ith the spec&lation that has 6een endemic in the orld stoc2
mar2ets.
he effects of these rst fo&r factors contin&e to feed one another creatin# e4er increasin# le4els of
commodit$ prod&ction &ntil a threshold is rcachedE o4erprod&ctioniand there!s too m&ch
prod&ction for the c&rrent demand.
Since capital acc&m&lation is a str&ct&ral part of capitalism capitalists ill con- tin&e to create ne
and prod&ce existin# commodities &ntil the mar2et ill no lon#er 6ear it. Bhen this happens
prod&ction is c&t 6ac2 or2ers are laid off and the econom$ sl&mps. Small 6&sinesses collapse
and capital is concentrated in feer handsA capital ls th&s acc&m&lated and the fail&res of small
6&sinesses p&sh toard the 6ipolari0ation of classes. Bith the reneed acc&m&lation of capital
capit! ists rein4est and the mar2et pic2s 6ac2 &pA and the c$cle starts a#ain. %oe4er each
economic c$cle is lar#er and deeper than the pre4io&s and the or2in# class 6ecomes lar#er and
lar#er. *n the end Marx ar#&es this process of acc&m&lation and o4erprod&ction ill lead to the
collapse of capitalism 6eca&se
JJ
Chapter 3 o Contradictions *n Capitalism: Karl Marx
h&s the existin# capitalists acc&m&late additional capital and the entire c$cle starts a#ain. ?&t
not onl$ has the 6o&r#eoisie for#ed the eapons that 6rin# death to itselfA it has also called into
existence the men ho are to ield those eaponsE the modern or2in# classEthe proletariatY
(Marx 8t +n#els 18R8,1@U8 p. RU8).
he 6ipolari0ation ofconict is a necessar$ step for Marx in the process of social chan#e and an
important one for conict theor$ as a hole. 4ert and intense con- ict are 6oth dependent &pon
6ipolari0ationA crossc&ttin# interests that is ha4in# more than one iss&e o4er hich #ro&ps are in
conict tend to p&ll reso&rces (enro- tional aha material) aa$ from conflict. or example d&rin#
Borld Bar ** it as necessar$ for the 4ario&s rrations to coalesce into onl$ to factions the 7xis
and the 7llied poers. So the nited States 6ecame stran#e 6edfellos ith the So4iet nion in
order to create lar#e-scale intense conict. 'ote that each time the nited States has en#a#ed in a
police action or ar attempts are made to ali#n reso&rces in as fe camps as possi6le. his mo4e
isn!t simpl$ a matter of orld opinionA it is a str&ct&ral necessit$ for 4iolent and o4ert conict. he
lac2 of 6ipolari0ed conict creates an arena of crossc&ttin# interests that can drain reso&rces and
pre4ent the conict from escalatin# and potentiall$ resol4in#.
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4erprod&ction
Bere no in a position to 6rin# all these factors to#ether. *!4e dia#ramed these relationships in
i#&re 3.3. 'ote that the pl&s (Z) si#ns indicate a positi4e relationship (6oth 4aria6les mo4e in the
same direction either more or less) and the min&s (a) si#ns indicate ne#ati4e relationships (the
4aria6les #o in opposite directions). Startin# at the far left the denin# feat&re of moderncapitalism (incessant acc&m&lation of capital) is the primar$ d$namic. 7s capitalists in4est
mar2ets ind&striali0ation and emplo$ment all #o &p. 'otice that all the arros are do&6le-headed
hich means these all m&t&all$ in&ence one another. *nd&striali0ation mar2ets and emplo$ment
all prod&ce prot that is then rein4ested in those same three factors. 7lso notice the possi6le limit
of mar2ets is lin2ed to o&r a6ilit$ to create o&r on needs. Mar2ets and h&man need feed off each
other. *tFs also important to note that mar2ets donFt simpl$ expandA the$ can 6ecome more a6stract.
S&ch mar2ets are the ones associated ith the spec&lation that has 6een endemic in the orld stoc2
mar2ets.
he effects of these rst fo&r factors contin&e to feed one another creatin# e4er increasin# le4els of
commodit$ prod&ction &ntil a threshold is rcachedE o4erprod&ctioniand there!s too m&ch prod&ction for the c&rrent demand.
Since capital acc&m&lation is a str&ct&ral part of capitalism capitalists ill con- tin&e to create ne
and prod&ce existin# commodities &ntil the mar2et ill no lon#er 6ear it. Bhen this happens
prod&ction is c&t 6ac2 or2ers are laid off and the econom$ sl&mps. Small 6&sinesses collapse
and capital is concentrated in feer handsA capital ls th&s acc&m&lated and the fail&res of small
6&sinesses p&sh toard the 6ipolari0ation of classes. Bith the reneed acc&m&lation of capital
capit! ists rein4est and the mar2et pic2s 6ac2 &pA and the c$cle starts a#ain. %oe4er each
economic c$cle is lar#er and deeper than the pre4io&s and the or2in# class 6ecomes lar#er and
lar#er. *n the end Marx ar#&es this process of acc&m&lation and o4erprod&ction ill lead to the
collapse of capitalism 6eca&se
JJ
Chapter 3 o Contradictions *n Capitalism: Karl Marx
h&s the existin# capitalists acc&m&late additional capital and the entire c$cle starts a#ain. ?&t
not onl$ has the 6o&r#eoisie for#ed the eapons that 6rin# death to itselfA it has also called into
existence the men ho are to ield those eaponsE the modern or2in# classEthe proletariatY(Marx 8t +n#els 18R8,1@U8 p. RU8).
he 6ipolari0ation ofconict is a necessar$ step for Marx in the process of social chan#e and an
important one for conict theor$ as a hole. 4ert and intense con- ict are 6oth dependent &pon
6ipolari0ationA crossc&ttin# interests that is ha4in# more than one iss&e o4er hich #ro&ps are in
conict tend to p&ll reso&rces (enro- tional aha material) aa$ from conflict. or example d&rin#
Borld Bar ** it as necessar$ for the 4ario&s rrations to coalesce into onl$ to factions the 7xis
and the 7llied poers. So the nited States 6ecame stran#e 6edfellos ith the So4iet nion in
order to create lar#e-scale intense conict. 'ote that each time the nited States has en#a#ed in a
police action or ar attempts are made to ali#n reso&rces in as fe camps as possi6le. his mo4e
isn!t simpl$ a matter of orld opinionA it is a str&ct&ral necessit$ for 4iolent and o4ert conict. he
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lac2 of 6ipolari0ed conict creates an arena of crossc&ttin# interests that can drain reso&rces and
pre4ent the conict from escalatin# and potentiall$ resol4in#.
4erprod&ction
Bere no in a position to 6rin# all these factors to#ether. *!4e dia#ramed these relationships ini#&re 3.3. 'ote that the pl&s (Z) si#ns indicate a positi4e relationship (6oth 4aria6les mo4e in the
same direction either more or less) and the min&s (a) si#ns indicate ne#ati4e relationships (the
4aria6les #o in opposite directions). Startin# at the far left the denin# feat&re of modern
capitalism (incessant acc&m&lation of capital) is the primar$ d$namic. 7s capitalists in4est
mar2ets ind&striali0ation and emplo$ment all #o &p. 'otice that all the arros are do&6le-headed
hich means these all m&t&all$ in&ence one another. *nd&striali0ation mar2ets and emplo$ment
all prod&ce prot that is then rein4ested in those same three factors. 7lso notice the possi6le limit
of mar2ets is lin2ed to o&r a6ilit$ to create o&r on needs. Mar2ets and h&man need feed off each
other. *tFs also important to note that mar2ets donFt simpl$ expandA the$ can 6ecome more a6stract.
S&ch mar2ets are the ones associated ith the spec&lation that has 6een endemic in the orld stoc2
mar2ets.
he effects of these rst fo&r factors contin&e to feed one another creatin# e4er increasin# le4els of
commodit$ prod&ction &ntil a threshold is rcachedE o4erprod&ctioniand there!s too m&ch
prod&ction for the c&rrent demand.
Since capital acc&m&lation is a str&ct&ral part of capitalism capitalists ill con- tin&e to create ne
and prod&ce existin# commodities &ntil the mar2et ill no lon#er 6ear it. Bhen this happens
prod&ction is c&t 6ac2 or2ers are laid off and the econom$ sl&mps. Small 6&sinesses collapse
and capital is concentrated in feer handsA capital ls th&s acc&m&lated and the fail&res of small
6&sinesses p&sh toard the 6ipolari0ation of classes. Bith the reneed acc&m&lation of capital
capit! ists rein4est and the mar2et pic2s 6ac2 &pA and the c$cle starts a#ain. %oe4er each
economic c$cle is lar#er and deeper than the pre4io&s and the or2in# class 6ecomes lar#er and
lar#er. *n the end Marx ar#&es this process of acc&m&lation and o4erprod&ction ill lead to the
collapse of capitalism 6eca&se
JJ
Chapter3 < Contradictionsm Capitalism Karl Marx J@
h&man orld indi4id&all$A it is created collecti4el$. herefore &nder conditions of species-6ein#
h&mans are intimatel$ aria immediatel$ connected to one another.
he reflected orld aro&nd them is the social h&man orld that the$ created *ma#ine if $o& can
a orld of prod&cts that are all directl$ connected to h&man 6ein#s (not mar2et forces ad4ertisin#
the dri4e for profit and so forth). +ither $o& made e4er$thin# in that orld or $o& 2no ho did.
Bhen $o& see a prod&ct $o& see $o&rself or $o& see $o&r nei#h6or or $o&r nei#h6ors friend. h&s
hen e are alienated from o&r on speciese6ein# 6eca&se someone else controls the means and
ends of prod&ction e are estran#ed from other h&mans as ell
inall$ of co&rse e are alienated from the process ofor2 and from the prod- &ct itself. here issomethin# essential in the or2 process accordin# to Marx. he 2ind of or2 e perform and ho
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e perform that or2 determines the 2ind of person e are. 64io&sl$ doctors are different from
#ar6a#e collectors 6&t that isn!t hat Marx has in mind. 7n indi4id&alFs h&manit$ is rooted in the
or2 process. Bhen h&mans are c&t off from controllin# the means of prod&ction (the a$ in
hich or2 is performed and for hat reason) then the la6or process itself 6ecomes alienated.
here are three reasons for this alienated la6or hich end in the alienation of the prod&ct. irst
hen someone else ons the means of proF d&ction the or2 is external to the or2er that is it isnot a direct expression of his or her nat&re. So rather than 6ein# an extension of the persons inner
6ein# or2 6ecomes somethin# external and forei#n. Second or2 is forced. 5eople donFt or2
6eca&se the$ ant toA the$ or2 6eca&se the$ ha4e toW&nder capital- ism if $o& donFt or2 $o&
die. Concernin# la6or &nder capitalism Marx (1@3X,1@@J) sa$s ?*ts alien character is clearl$ shon
6$ the fact that as soon as there is no ph$sical or other comp&lsion it is a4oided li2e the pla#&e
(pp. @33@).
7nd third hen e do perform the or2 the thin# that e prod&ce is not o&r on: it 6elon#s to
another person.
&rther alienation accordin# to Marx is the ori#in of pri4ate propert$Eit exists solel$ 6eca&see are C&t off from o&r speciesr6ein#A someone else ons the means and ends of prod&ction
nderl$in# mar2ets and commodificationEand capitalism itselfWis the instit&tion of pri4ate
propert$. Marx felt that the political economists of his da$ ass&med the fact of pri4ate propert$
itho&t offerin# an$ explanation for it. hese economists 6elie4ed that pri4ate propert$ as simpl$
a nat&ral part of the economic process. &t for Marx the so&rce of pri4ate propert$ as the cr&x of
the pro6lem ased on speciese6ein# Marx ar#&es that pri4ate propert$ emer#ed o&t of the
alienation of la6or.
Marx also ar#&es that there is a reciprocal in&ence of pri4ate propert$ on the experience of
alienation. 7s e ha4e seen Marx claims that pri4ate propert$ is the res< of alienated la6or. nce
pri4ate propert$ exists it can then exert its on infl&ence on the or2er and it 6ecomes ?the
reali0ation of this alienation (Marx 1@3X,1@@J p. 1<T). Bor2ers [hen 6ecome controlled 6$
pri4ate propert$. his notion is most clearl$ seen in hat Marx descri6es as commodit$ fetish:
Bor2ers 6ecome infat&ated ith their on prod&ct as if it ere an alien thin#. lt confronts them not
as the or2 of their hands 6&t as a commodit$ somethin# alien to them that the$ m&st 6&$ and
appropriate.
Chapter3 < Contradictionsm Capitalism Karl Marx J@
h&man orld indi4id&all$A it is created collecti4el$. herefore &nder conditions of species-6ein#
h&mans are intimatel$ aria immediatel$ connected to one another.
he reflected orld aro&nd them is the social h&man orld that the$ created *ma#ine if $o& can
a orld of prod&cts that are all directl$ connected to h&man 6ein#s (not mar2et forces ad4ertisin#
the dri4e for profit and so forth). +ither $o& made e4er$thin# in that orld or $o& 2no ho did.
Bhen $o& see a prod&ct $o& see $o&rself or $o& see $o&r nei#h6or or $o&r nei#h6ors friend. h&s
hen e are alienated from o&r on speciese6ein# 6eca&se someone else controls the means and
ends of prod&ction e are estran#ed from other h&mans as ell
inall$ of co&rse e are alienated from the process ofor2 and from the prod- &ct itself. here is
somethin# essential in the or2 process accordin# to Marx. he 2ind of or2 e perform and ho
e perform that or2 determines the 2ind of person e are. 64io&sl$ doctors are different from#ar6a#e collectors 6&t that isn!t hat Marx has in mind. 7n indi4id&alFs h&manit$ is rooted in the
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or2 process. Bhen h&mans are c&t off from controllin# the means of prod&ction (the a$ in
hich or2 is performed and for hat reason) then the la6or process itself 6ecomes alienated.
here are three reasons for this alienated la6or hich end in the alienation of the prod&ct. irst
hen someone else ons the means of proF d&ction the or2 is external to the or2er that is it is
not a direct expression of his or her nat&re. So rather than 6ein# an extension of the persons inner
6ein# or2 6ecomes somethin# external and forei#n. Second or2 is forced. 5eople donFt or2 6eca&se the$ ant toA the$ or2 6eca&se the$ ha4e toW&nder capital- ism if $o& donFt or2 $o&
die. Concernin# la6or &nder capitalism Marx (1@3X,1@@J) sa$s ?*ts alien character is clearl$ shon
6$ the fact that as soon as there is no ph$sical or other comp&lsion it is a4oided li2e the pla#&e
(pp. @33@).
7nd third hen e do perform the or2 the thin# that e prod&ce is not o&r on: it 6elon#s to
another person.
&rther alienation accordin# to Marx is the ori#in of pri4ate propert$Eit exists solel$ 6eca&se
e are C&t off from o&r speciesr6ein#A someone else ons the means and ends of prod&ction
nderl$in# mar2ets and commodificationEand capitalism itselfWis the instit&tion of pri4ate propert$. Marx felt that the political economists of his da$ ass&med the fact of pri4ate propert$
itho&t offerin# an$ explanation for it. hese economists 6elie4ed that pri4ate propert$ as simpl$
a nat&ral part of the economic process. &t for Marx the so&rce of pri4ate propert$ as the cr&x of
the pro6lem ased on speciese6ein# Marx ar#&es that pri4ate propert$ emer#ed o&t of the
alienation of la6or.
Marx also ar#&es that there is a reciprocal in&ence of pri4ate propert$ on the experience of
alienation. 7s e ha4e seen Marx claims that pri4ate propert$ is the res< of alienated la6or. nce
pri4ate propert$ exists it can then exert its on infl&ence on the or2er and it 6ecomes ?the
reali0ation of this alienation (Marx 1@3X,1@@J p. 1<T). Bor2ers [hen 6ecome controlled 6$
pri4ate propert$. his notion is most clearl$ seen in hat Marx descri6es as commodit$ fetish:
Bor2ers 6ecome infat&ated ith their on prod&ct as if it ere an alien thin#. lt confronts them not
as the or2 of their hands 6&t as a commodit$ somethin# alien to them that the$ m&st 6&$ and
appropriate.
Chapter3 < Contradictionsm Capitalism Karl Marx J@
h&man orld indi4id&all$A it is created collecti4el$. herefore &nder conditions of species-6ein#
h&mans are intimatel$ aria immediatel$ connected to one another.
he reflected orld aro&nd them is the social h&man orld that the$ created *ma#ine if $o& cana orld of prod&cts that are all directl$ connected to h&man 6ein#s (not mar2et forces ad4ertisin#
the dri4e for profit and so forth). +ither $o& made e4er$thin# in that orld or $o& 2no ho did.
Bhen $o& see a prod&ct $o& see $o&rself or $o& see $o&r nei#h6or or $o&r nei#h6ors friend. h&s
hen e are alienated from o&r on speciese6ein# 6eca&se someone else controls the means and
ends of prod&ction e are estran#ed from other h&mans as ell
inall$ of co&rse e are alienated from the process ofor2 and from the prod- &ct itself. here is
somethin# essential in the or2 process accordin# to Marx. he 2ind of or2 e perform and ho
e perform that or2 determines the 2ind of person e are. 64io&sl$ doctors are different from
#ar6a#e collectors 6&t that isn!t hat Marx has in mind. 7n indi4id&alFs h&manit$ is rooted in the
or2 process. Bhen h&mans are c&t off from controllin# the means of prod&ction (the a$ inhich or2 is performed and for hat reason) then the la6or process itself 6ecomes alienated.
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here are three reasons for this alienated la6or hich end in the alienation of the prod&ct. irst
hen someone else ons the means of proF d&ction the or2 is external to the or2er that is it is
not a direct expression of his or her nat&re. So rather than 6ein# an extension of the persons inner
6ein# or2 6ecomes somethin# external and forei#n. Second or2 is forced. 5eople donFt or2
6eca&se the$ ant toA the$ or2 6eca&se the$ ha4e toW&nder capital- ism if $o& donFt or2 $o&
die. Concernin# la6or &nder capitalism Marx (1@3X,1@@J) sa$s ?*ts alien character is clearl$ shon 6$ the fact that as soon as there is no ph$sical or other comp&lsion it is a4oided li2e the pla#&e
(pp. @33@).
7nd third hen e do perform the or2 the thin# that e prod&ce is not o&r on: it 6elon#s to
another person.
&rther alienation accordin# to Marx is the ori#in of pri4ate propert$Eit exists solel$ 6eca&se
e are C&t off from o&r speciesr6ein#A someone else ons the means and ends of prod&ction
nderl$in# mar2ets and commodificationEand capitalism itselfWis the instit&tion of pri4ate
propert$. Marx felt that the political economists of his da$ ass&med the fact of pri4ate propert$
itho&t offerin# an$ explanation for it. hese economists 6elie4ed that pri4ate propert$ as simpl$a nat&ral part of the economic process. &t for Marx the so&rce of pri4ate propert$ as the cr&x of
the pro6lem ased on speciese6ein# Marx ar#&es that pri4ate propert$ emer#ed o&t of the
alienation of la6or.
Marx also ar#&es that there is a reciprocal in&ence of pri4ate propert$ on the experience of
alienation. 7s e ha4e seen Marx claims that pri4ate propert$ is the res< of alienated la6or. nce
pri4ate propert$ exists it can then exert its on infl&ence on the or2er and it 6ecomes ?the
reali0ation of this alienation (Marx 1@3X,1@@J p. 1<T). Bor2ers [hen 6ecome controlled 6$
pri4ate propert$. his notion is most clearl$ seen in hat Marx descri6es as commodit$ fetish:
Bor2ers 6ecome infat&ated ith their on prod&ct as if it ere an alien thin#. lt confronts them not
as the or2 of their hands 6&t as a commodit$ somethin# alien to them that the$ m&st 6&$ and
appropriate.
Chapter3 < Contradictionsm Capitalism Karl Marx J@
h&man orld indi4id&all$A it is created collecti4el$. herefore &nder conditions of species-6ein#
h&mans are intimatel$ aria immediatel$ connected to one another.
he reflected orld aro&nd them is the social h&man orld that the$ created *ma#ine if $o& can
a orld of prod&cts that are all directl$ connected to h&man 6ein#s (not mar2et forces ad4ertisin#
the dri4e for profit and so forth). +ither $o& made e4er$thin# in that orld or $o& 2no ho did.Bhen $o& see a prod&ct $o& see $o&rself or $o& see $o&r nei#h6or or $o&r nei#h6ors friend. h&s
hen e are alienated from o&r on speciese6ein# 6eca&se someone else controls the means and
ends of prod&ction e are estran#ed from other h&mans as ell
inall$ of co&rse e are alienated from the process ofor2 and from the prod- &ct itself. here is
somethin# essential in the or2 process accordin# to Marx. he 2ind of or2 e perform and ho
e perform that or2 determines the 2ind of person e are. 64io&sl$ doctors are different from
#ar6a#e collectors 6&t that isn!t hat Marx has in mind. 7n indi4id&alFs h&manit$ is rooted in the
or2 process. Bhen h&mans are c&t off from controllin# the means of prod&ction (the a$ in
hich or2 is performed and for hat reason) then the la6or process itself 6ecomes alienated.
here are three reasons for this alienated la6or hich end in the alienation of the prod&ct. irsthen someone else ons the means of proF d&ction the or2 is external to the or2er that is it is
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not a direct expression of his or her nat&re. So rather than 6ein# an extension of the persons inner
6ein# or2 6ecomes somethin# external and forei#n. Second or2 is forced. 5eople donFt or2
6eca&se the$ ant toA the$ or2 6eca&se the$ ha4e toW&nder capital- ism if $o& donFt or2 $o&
die. Concernin# la6or &nder capitalism Marx (1@3X,1@@J) sa$s ?*ts alien character is clearl$ shon
6$ the fact that as soon as there is no ph$sical or other comp&lsion it is a4oided li2e the pla#&e
(pp. @33@).
7nd third hen e do perform the or2 the thin# that e prod&ce is not o&r on: it 6elon#s to
another person.
&rther alienation accordin# to Marx is the ori#in of pri4ate propert$Eit exists solel$ 6eca&se
e are C&t off from o&r speciesr6ein#A someone else ons the means and ends of prod&ction
nderl$in# mar2ets and commodificationEand capitalism itselfWis the instit&tion of pri4ate
propert$. Marx felt that the political economists of his da$ ass&med the fact of pri4ate propert$
itho&t offerin# an$ explanation for it. hese economists 6elie4ed that pri4ate propert$ as simpl$
a nat&ral part of the economic process. &t for Marx the so&rce of pri4ate propert$ as the cr&x of
the pro6lem ased on speciese6ein# Marx ar#&es that pri4ate propert$ emer#ed o&t of thealienation of la6or.
Marx also ar#&es that there is a reciprocal in&ence of pri4ate propert$ on the experience of
alienation. 7s e ha4e seen Marx claims that pri4ate propert$ is the res< of alienated la6or. nce
pri4ate propert$ exists it can then exert its on infl&ence on the or2er and it 6ecomes ?the
reali0ation of this alienation (Marx 1@3X,1@@J p. 1<T). Bor2ers [hen 6ecome controlled 6$
pri4ate propert$. his notion is most clearl$ seen in hat Marx descri6es as commodit$ fetish:
Bor2ers 6ecome infat&ated ith their on prod&ct as if it ere an alien thin#. lt confronts them not
as the or2 of their hands 6&t as a commodit$ somethin# alien to them that the$ m&st 6&$ and
appropriate.
Chapter 3 o Contradictions in Capitalism Karl Marx
*n 2eepin# ith that notion a school of contemporar$ Marxism %&manistic Marxism most
nota6l$ the area of Li6eration heolo#$ sees reli#ion as an a#ent of social chan#e. Li6eration
theolo#ians ar#&e that there are to poles of Christian expression. he one pole is the classic
ideolo#ical 4ersion here reli- #ion ser4es to maintain the esta6lishment. he other pole
emphasi0es compas- sion tor the h&man condition and leadership in social chan#e. he rst #i4es
importance to the ?mee2 and mild \es&s ho ta&#ht that the proper response to oppression as to
t&rn the other chee2. he second stresses the Christ in the temE ple ho in ra#e o4ert&rned the
ta6les or the mone$chan#ers and dro4e them o&t ith a hip. So there are some Marxists thatar#&e that reli#ion can f&nction as an a#ent of social chan#e 6&t that 2ind of reli#ion is 4er$
specic and is not enco&ntered 4er$ often.
Marx also sees ideolo#$ and alienation as str&ct&rall$ facilitated 6$ the di4ision ofla6or (ho the
d&ties are assi#ned in an$ societ$). Marx tal2s a6o&t se4eral dif- ferent 2inds of d! ons of la6or. he
most primiti4e form of separation of or2 is the?nat&rdl di4ision of la6or.Y he nat&ral di4ision
as 6ased &pon the indi4id&als nat&ral a6ilities and desires. 5eople did not Bor2 at somethin# for
hich the$ ere ill s&ited nor did the$ ha4e to or2 as indi4id&als in order to s&r4i4e. Bithin the
nat&ral di4ision of la6or s&r4i4al is a #ro&p matter not an indi4id&al concern.
Marx claims that the onl$ time this e4er existed as in preclass societies. Bhen indi4id&als ithina societ$ 6e#an to acc&m&late #oods and exercise poer the ?forced di4ision of la6or? replaced the
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nat&ral di4ision. Bith the forced di4ision indi4id&al people m&st or2 in order to s&r4i4e (sell their
la6or) and the$ are forced to D4or2 at o6s the$ neither eno$ nor ha4e the nat&ral #ifts to perform.
he forced di4ision of la6or and the comrnodication of la6or characteri0e capitalism.
his primar$ di4ision of la6or historicall$ 6ecomes extended hen mental la6or (s&ch as that
performed 6$ professors priests philosophers) is di4ided from mate- rial la6or (or2ers). Bhenthis happens reication ideolo#$ and alienation reach ne hei#hts 7s e!4e seen Marx ar#&es
that people ha4e tr&e conscio&sness onl$ &nder conditions of species-6ein#. 7n$time people are
remo4ed from controllin# the prod&ct or the prod&ction process there ill 6e some le4el of false
conscio&s- ness and ideolo#$. +4en so or2ers ho act&all$ prod&ce a material #ood are in some
a$ connected to the prod&ction process. %oe4er ith the separation of mental from material
la6or e4en this ten&o&s relationship to speciesr6ein# is c&t off. h&s the tho&#ht of those in4ol4ed
ith mental la6or is radicall$ c&t off from hat ma2es &s h&man (species-6ein#). 7s a res<
e4er$thin# prod&ced 6$ profes- sors priests philosophers and so on has some reified ideolo#ical
component and is #enerall$ controlled 6$ the elite.
Class Conscio&sness
So far e ha4e seen that capitalism increases the le4els of ind&striali0ation exploitation mar2et-
dri4en forces s&ch as commodification false conscio&sness ideolo#$ and reiflcation and it tends
to 6if&rcate the class str&ct&re. n the other hand Marx also ar#&es that these factors ha4e
dialectical effects and ill th&s p&sh
T3
Chapter 3 o Contradictions in Capitalism Karl Marx
*n 2eepin# ith that notion a school of contemporar$ Marxism %&manistic Marxism most
nota6l$ the area of Li6eration heolo#$ sees reli#ion as an a#ent of social chan#e. Li6eration
theolo#ians ar#&e that there are to poles of Christian expression. he one pole is the classic
ideolo#ical 4ersion here reli- #ion ser4es to maintain the esta6lishment. he other pole
emphasi0es compas- sion tor the h&man condition and leadership in social chan#e. he rst #i4es
importance to the ?mee2 and mild \es&s ho ta&#ht that the proper response to oppression as to
t&rn the other chee2. he second stresses the Christ in the temE ple ho in ra#e o4ert&rned the
ta6les or the mone$chan#ers and dro4e them o&t ith a hip. So there are some Marxists that
ar#&e that reli#ion can f&nction as an a#ent of social chan#e 6&t that 2ind of reli#ion is 4er$
specic and is not enco&ntered 4er$ often.
Marx also sees ideolo#$ and alienation as str&ct&rall$ facilitated 6$ the di4ision ofla6or (ho the
d&ties are assi#ned in an$ societ$). Marx tal2s a6o&t se4eral dif- ferent 2inds of d! ons of la6or. he
most primiti4e form of separation of or2 is the?nat&rdl di4ision of la6or.Y he nat&ral di4ision
as 6ased &pon the indi4id&als nat&ral a6ilities and desires. 5eople did not Bor2 at somethin# for
hich the$ ere ill s&ited nor did the$ ha4e to or2 as indi4id&als in order to s&r4i4e. Bithin the
nat&ral di4ision of la6or s&r4i4al is a #ro&p matter not an indi4id&al concern.
Marx claims that the onl$ time this e4er existed as in preclass societies. Bhen indi4id&als ithin
a societ$ 6e#an to acc&m&late #oods and exercise poer the ?forced di4ision of la6or? replaced thenat&ral di4ision. Bith the forced di4ision indi4id&al people m&st or2 in order to s&r4i4e (sell their
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la6or) and the$ are forced to D4or2 at o6s the$ neither eno$ nor ha4e the nat&ral #ifts to perform.
he forced di4ision of la6or and the comrnodication of la6or characteri0e capitalism.
his primar$ di4ision of la6or historicall$ 6ecomes extended hen mental la6or (s&ch as that
performed 6$ professors priests philosophers) is di4ided from mate- rial la6or (or2ers). Bhen
this happens reication ideolo#$ and alienation reach ne hei#hts 7s e!4e seen Marx ar#&esthat people ha4e tr&e conscio&sness onl$ &nder conditions of species-6ein#. 7n$time people are
remo4ed from controllin# the prod&ct or the prod&ction process there ill 6e some le4el of false
conscio&s- ness and ideolo#$. +4en so or2ers ho act&all$ prod&ce a material #ood are in some
a$ connected to the prod&ction process. %oe4er ith the separation of mental from material
la6or e4en this ten&o&s relationship to speciesr6ein# is c&t off. h&s the tho&#ht of those in4ol4ed
ith mental la6or is radicall$ c&t off from hat ma2es &s h&man (species-6ein#). 7s a res<
e4er$thin# prod&ced 6$ profes- sors priests philosophers and so on has some reified ideolo#ical
component and is #enerall$ controlled 6$ the elite.
Class Conscio&sness
So far e ha4e seen that capitalism increases the le4els of ind&striali0ation exploitation mar2et-
dri4en forces s&ch as commodification false conscio&sness ideolo#$ and reiflcation and it tends
to 6if&rcate the class str&ct&re. n the other hand Marx also ar#&es that these factors ha4e
dialectical effects and ill th&s p&sh
T3
Chapter 3 o Contradictions in Capitalism Karl Marx
*n 2eepin# ith that notion a school of contemporar$ Marxism %&manistic Marxism most
nota6l$ the area of Li6eration heolo#$ sees reli#ion as an a#ent of social chan#e. Li6eration
theolo#ians ar#&e that there are to poles of Christian expression. he one pole is the classic
ideolo#ical 4ersion here reli- #ion ser4es to maintain the esta6lishment. he other pole
emphasi0es compas- sion tor the h&man condition and leadership in social chan#e. he rst #i4es
importance to the ?mee2 and mild \es&s ho ta&#ht that the proper response to oppression as to
t&rn the other chee2. he second stresses the Christ in the temE ple ho in ra#e o4ert&rned the
ta6les or the mone$chan#ers and dro4e them o&t ith a hip. So there are some Marxists that
ar#&e that reli#ion can f&nction as an a#ent of social chan#e 6&t that 2ind of reli#ion is 4er$
specic and is not enco&ntered 4er$ often.
Marx also sees ideolo#$ and alienation as str&ct&rall$ facilitated 6$ the di4ision ofla6or (ho the
d&ties are assi#ned in an$ societ$). Marx tal2s a6o&t se4eral dif- ferent 2inds of d! ons of la6or. he
most primiti4e form of separation of or2 is the?nat&rdl di4ision of la6or.Y he nat&ral di4ision
as 6ased &pon the indi4id&als nat&ral a6ilities and desires. 5eople did not Bor2 at somethin# for
hich the$ ere ill s&ited nor did the$ ha4e to or2 as indi4id&als in order to s&r4i4e. Bithin the
nat&ral di4ision of la6or s&r4i4al is a #ro&p matter not an indi4id&al concern.
Marx claims that the onl$ time this e4er existed as in preclass societies. Bhen indi4id&als ithin
a societ$ 6e#an to acc&m&late #oods and exercise poer the ?forced di4ision of la6or? replaced the
nat&ral di4ision. Bith the forced di4ision indi4id&al people m&st or2 in order to s&r4i4e (sell their
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la6or) and the$ are forced to D4or2 at o6s the$ neither eno$ nor ha4e the nat&ral #ifts to perform.
he forced di4ision of la6or and the comrnodication of la6or characteri0e capitalism.
his primar$ di4ision of la6or historicall$ 6ecomes extended hen mental la6or (s&ch as that
performed 6$ professors priests philosophers) is di4ided from mate- rial la6or (or2ers). Bhen
this happens reication ideolo#$ and alienation reach ne hei#hts 7s e!4e seen Marx ar#&esthat people ha4e tr&e conscio&sness onl$ &nder conditions of species-6ein#. 7n$time people are
remo4ed from controllin# the prod&ct or the prod&ction process there ill 6e some le4el of false
conscio&s- ness and ideolo#$. +4en so or2ers ho act&all$ prod&ce a material #ood are in some
a$ connected to the prod&ction process. %oe4er ith the separation of mental from material
la6or e4en this ten&o&s relationship to speciesr6ein# is c&t off. h&s the tho&#ht of those in4ol4ed
ith mental la6or is radicall$ c&t off from hat ma2es &s h&man (species-6ein#). 7s a res<
e4er$thin# prod&ced 6$ profes- sors priests philosophers and so on has some reified ideolo#ical
component and is #enerall$ controlled 6$ the elite.
Class Conscio&sness
So far e ha4e seen that capitalism increases the le4els of ind&striali0ation exploitation mar2et-
dri4en forces s&ch as commodification false conscio&sness ideolo#$ and reiflcation and it tends
to 6if&rcate the class str&ct&re. n the other hand Marx also ar#&es that these factors ha4e
dialectical effects and ill th&s p&sh
T3
Chapter 3 o Contradictions in Capitalism Karl Marx
*n 2eepin# ith that notion a school of contemporar$ Marxism %&manistic Marxism most
nota6l$ the area of Li6eration heolo#$ sees reli#ion as an a#ent of social chan#e. Li6eration
theolo#ians ar#&e that there are to poles of Christian expression. he one pole is the classic
ideolo#ical 4ersion here reli- #ion ser4es to maintain the esta6lishment. he other pole
emphasi0es compas- sion tor the h&man condition and leadership in social chan#e. he rst #i4es
importance to the ?mee2 and mild \es&s ho ta&#ht that the proper response to oppression as to
t&rn the other chee2. he second stresses the Christ in the temE ple ho in ra#e o4ert&rned the
ta6les or the mone$chan#ers and dro4e them o&t ith a hip. So there are some Marxists that
ar#&e that reli#ion can f&nction as an a#ent of social chan#e 6&t that 2ind of reli#ion is 4er$
specic and is not enco&ntered 4er$ often.
Marx also sees ideolo#$ and alienation as str&ct&rall$ facilitated 6$ the di4ision ofla6or (ho the
d&ties are assi#ned in an$ societ$). Marx tal2s a6o&t se4eral dif- ferent 2inds of d! ons of la6or. he
most primiti4e form of separation of or2 is the?nat&rdl di4ision of la6or.Y he nat&ral di4ision
as 6ased &pon the indi4id&als nat&ral a6ilities and desires. 5eople did not Bor2 at somethin# for
hich the$ ere ill s&ited nor did the$ ha4e to or2 as indi4id&als in order to s&r4i4e. Bithin the
nat&ral di4ision of la6or s&r4i4al is a #ro&p matter not an indi4id&al concern.
Marx claims that the onl$ time this e4er existed as in preclass societies. Bhen indi4id&als ithin
a societ$ 6e#an to acc&m&late #oods and exercise poer the ?forced di4ision of la6or? replaced the
nat&ral di4ision. Bith the forced di4ision indi4id&al people m&st or2 in order to s&r4i4e (sell their
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la6or) and the$ are forced to D4or2 at o6s the$ neither eno$ nor ha4e the nat&ral #ifts to perform.
he forced di4ision of la6or and the comrnodication of la6or characteri0e capitalism.
his primar$ di4ision of la6or historicall$ 6ecomes extended hen mental la6or (s&ch as that
performed 6$ professors priests philosophers) is di4ided from mate- rial la6or (or2ers). Bhen
this happens reication ideolo#$ and alienation reach ne hei#hts 7s e!4e seen Marx ar#&esthat people ha4e tr&e conscio&sness onl$ &nder conditions of species-6ein#. 7n$time people are
remo4ed from controllin# the prod&ct or the prod&ction process there ill 6e some le4el of false
conscio&s- ness and ideolo#$. +4en so or2ers ho act&all$ prod&ce a material #ood are in some
a$ connected to the prod&ction process. %oe4er ith the separation of mental from material
la6or e4en this ten&o&s relationship to speciesr6ein# is c&t off. h&s the tho&#ht of those in4ol4ed
ith mental la6or is radicall$ c&t off from hat ma2es &s h&man (species-6ein#). 7s a res<
e4er$thin# prod&ced 6$ profes- sors priests philosophers and so on has some reified ideolo#ical
component and is #enerall$ controlled 6$ the elite.
Class Conscio&sness
So far e ha4e seen that capitalism increases the le4els of ind&striali0ation exploitation mar2et-
dri4en forces s&ch as commodification false conscio&sness ideolo#$ and reiflcation and it tends
to 6if&rcate the class str&ct&re. n the other hand Marx also ar#&es that these factors ha4e
dialectical effects and ill th&s p&sh
T3
Chapter 3 < Contradictions *n Capitalism Karl Marx
la6or mar2et ma2es a4aila6le an extremel$ lar#e pool of &nemplo$ed or2ers. So or2ers in an
ad4anced ind&striali0ed econom$ see themsel4es in competition ith m&ch cheaper la6or. his
#lo6al competition also hinders class conscio&sness 6$ shifts in# the Dr4or2er!s foc&s of attention
aBa$ from the oners and onto the forei#n la6or mar2et. ln other ords a #lo6ali0ed di4ision of
la6or pits or2er a#ainst or2er in competition for scarce io6s. his competition is partic&larl$
threatenin# for or2ers in ad4anced capitalist co&ntries li2e the nited States 6eca&se the forei#n
or2ers a#e is so m&ch loer. hese threatened or2ers then ill 6e inclined to see their ecoe
noinic pro6lems in terms of #lo6al political iss&es rather than class iss&es.
&rther the or2ers di4ide themsel4es o4er iss&es other than class. Be tend to see o&rsel4es not
thro&#h classe6ased identities hich Marx o&ld ar#&e is the identit$ that determines o&r life
chancesA instead e see o&rsel4es thro&#h racial ethnic #ender and sex&al preference identities.
Marxists o&ld ar#&e that the c&le t&re of di4ersit$ and 4ictimhood is part of the ideolo#$ that
6linds o&r e$es to tr&e social ine&alit$ th&s pre4entin# class conscio&sness.
TU
S&mmar$
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 30/33
< Marx!s perspecti4e is created thro&#h to central ideas: speciese6ein# and the material dialectic.
SpeciesW6ein# refers to the &ni&e a$ in hich h&mans s&r4i4e as a speciesie creati4el$
prod&ce all that e need. he material dialectic is the primal) mechanism thro&#h hich histor$
pro#resses. here are internal contradictions ithin e4er$ economic s$stem that p&sh societ$ to
form ne economic s$stems. he dialectic contin&es &ntil comm&nism is reached a s$stem that is
in harmon$ ith species-6ein#.
- +4er$ economic s$stem is characteri0ed 6$ the means and relations of prod&ction. he means of
prod&ction in capitalism is oned 6$ the 6o&r#eoisie and #enerall$ consists of eommoditrcation
ind&strial prod&ction pri4ate propert$ mar2ets and mone$. ne of the &ni&e feat&res of
capitalism is that it ill sallo &p all other classes sa4e to: the 6o&r#eoisie and proletariat. his
6if&rcation of class str&ct&re D4ill in t&rn set the sta#e for class conscio&sness and economic
re4ol&tion.
- Capitalism affects e4er$ area of h&man existence. hro&#h it indi4id&als are alienated from each
aspect of speciess6ein# and creati4e prod&ction. lie or2 process the prod&ct other people and
e4en their on inner 6ein# confront the or2er as alien o6ects. 7s a res< h&man2indmisreco#ni0es the tr&th and falls 4ictim to commodit$ fetish ideolo#$ and false conscio&sness.
%oe4er 6eca&se capitalism contains dialectical elements it ill also prod&ce the necessar$
in#redient for economic re4ol&tion: class conscio&sness. Class conscio&sness is the
res< of or2ers 6ecomin# aare that their fate in life is determined primaril$ 6$ class position.
his aareness comes as alienation and exploitation reach hi#h le4els and as or2ers comm&nicate
ith one another thro&#h increasin# le4els of ed&cation or2er concentration in the factor$ and
cit$ and comm&nication and transportation technolo#ies.
Chapter 3 < Contradictions *n Capitalism Karl Marx
la6or mar2et ma2es a4aila6le an extremel$ lar#e pool of &nemplo$ed or2ers. So or2ers in an
ad4anced ind&striali0ed econom$ see themsel4es in competition ith m&ch cheaper la6or. his
#lo6al competition also hinders class conscio&sness 6$ shifts in# the Dr4or2er!s foc&s of attention
aBa$ from the oners and onto the forei#n la6or mar2et. ln other ords a #lo6ali0ed di4ision of
la6or pits or2er a#ainst or2er in competition for scarce io6s. his competition is partic&larl$
threatenin# for or2ers in ad4anced capitalist co&ntries li2e the nited States 6eca&se the forei#n
or2ers a#e is so m&ch loer. hese threatened or2ers then ill 6e inclined to see their ecoe
noinic pro6lems in terms of #lo6al political iss&es rather than class iss&es.
&rther the or2ers di4ide themsel4es o4er iss&es other than class. Be tend to see o&rsel4es notthro&#h classe6ased identities hich Marx o&ld ar#&e is the identit$ that determines o&r life
chancesA instead e see o&rsel4es thro&#h racial ethnic #ender and sex&al preference identities.
Marxists o&ld ar#&e that the c&le t&re of di4ersit$ and 4ictimhood is part of the ideolo#$ that
6linds o&r e$es to tr&e social ine&alit$ th&s pre4entin# class conscio&sness.
TU
S&mmar$
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 31/33
< Marx!s perspecti4e is created thro&#h to central ideas: speciese6ein# and the material dialectic.
SpeciesW6ein# refers to the &ni&e a$ in hich h&mans s&r4i4e as a speciesie creati4el$
prod&ce all that e need. he material dialectic is the primal) mechanism thro&#h hich histor$
pro#resses. here are internal contradictions ithin e4er$ economic s$stem that p&sh societ$ to
form ne economic s$stems. he dialectic contin&es &ntil comm&nism is reached a s$stem that is
in harmon$ ith species-6ein#.
- +4er$ economic s$stem is characteri0ed 6$ the means and relations of prod&ction. he means of
prod&ction in capitalism is oned 6$ the 6o&r#eoisie and #enerall$ consists of eommoditrcation
ind&strial prod&ction pri4ate propert$ mar2ets and mone$. ne of the &ni&e feat&res of
capitalism is that it ill sallo &p all other classes sa4e to: the 6o&r#eoisie and proletariat. his
6if&rcation of class str&ct&re D4ill in t&rn set the sta#e for class conscio&sness and economic
re4ol&tion.
- Capitalism affects e4er$ area of h&man existence. hro&#h it indi4id&als are alienated from each
aspect of speciess6ein# and creati4e prod&ction. lie or2 process the prod&ct other people and
e4en their on inner 6ein# confront the or2er as alien o6ects. 7s a res< h&man2indmisreco#ni0es the tr&th and falls 4ictim to commodit$ fetish ideolo#$ and false conscio&sness.
%oe4er 6eca&se capitalism contains dialectical elements it ill also prod&ce the necessar$
in#redient for economic re4ol&tion: class conscio&sness. Class conscio&sness is the
res< of or2ers 6ecomin# aare that their fate in life is determined primaril$ 6$ class position.
his aareness comes as alienation and exploitation reach hi#h le4els and as or2ers comm&nicate
ith one another thro&#h increasin# le4els of ed&cation or2er concentration in the factor$ and
cit$ and comm&nication and transportation technolo#ies.
Chapter 3 < Contradictions *n Capitalism Karl Marx
la6or mar2et ma2es a4aila6le an extremel$ lar#e pool of &nemplo$ed or2ers. So or2ers in an
ad4anced ind&striali0ed econom$ see themsel4es in competition ith m&ch cheaper la6or. his
#lo6al competition also hinders class conscio&sness 6$ shifts in# the Dr4or2er!s foc&s of attention
aBa$ from the oners and onto the forei#n la6or mar2et. ln other ords a #lo6ali0ed di4ision of
la6or pits or2er a#ainst or2er in competition for scarce io6s. his competition is partic&larl$
threatenin# for or2ers in ad4anced capitalist co&ntries li2e the nited States 6eca&se the forei#n
or2ers a#e is so m&ch loer. hese threatened or2ers then ill 6e inclined to see their ecoe
noinic pro6lems in terms of #lo6al political iss&es rather than class iss&es.
&rther the or2ers di4ide themsel4es o4er iss&es other than class. Be tend to see o&rsel4es notthro&#h classe6ased identities hich Marx o&ld ar#&e is the identit$ that determines o&r life
chancesA instead e see o&rsel4es thro&#h racial ethnic #ender and sex&al preference identities.
Marxists o&ld ar#&e that the c&le t&re of di4ersit$ and 4ictimhood is part of the ideolo#$ that
6linds o&r e$es to tr&e social ine&alit$ th&s pre4entin# class conscio&sness.
TU
S&mmar$
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 32/33
< Marx!s perspecti4e is created thro&#h to central ideas: speciese6ein# and the material dialectic.
SpeciesW6ein# refers to the &ni&e a$ in hich h&mans s&r4i4e as a speciesie creati4el$
prod&ce all that e need. he material dialectic is the primal) mechanism thro&#h hich histor$
pro#resses. here are internal contradictions ithin e4er$ economic s$stem that p&sh societ$ to
form ne economic s$stems. he dialectic contin&es &ntil comm&nism is reached a s$stem that is
in harmon$ ith species-6ein#.
- +4er$ economic s$stem is characteri0ed 6$ the means and relations of prod&ction. he means of
prod&ction in capitalism is oned 6$ the 6o&r#eoisie and #enerall$ consists of eommoditrcation
ind&strial prod&ction pri4ate propert$ mar2ets and mone$. ne of the &ni&e feat&res of
capitalism is that it ill sallo &p all other classes sa4e to: the 6o&r#eoisie and proletariat. his
6if&rcation of class str&ct&re D4ill in t&rn set the sta#e for class conscio&sness and economic
re4ol&tion.
- Capitalism affects e4er$ area of h&man existence. hro&#h it indi4id&als are alienated from each
aspect of speciess6ein# and creati4e prod&ction. lie or2 process the prod&ct other people and
e4en their on inner 6ein# confront the or2er as alien o6ects. 7s a res< h&man2indmisreco#ni0es the tr&th and falls 4ictim to commodit$ fetish ideolo#$ and false conscio&sness.
%oe4er 6eca&se capitalism contains dialectical elements it ill also prod&ce the necessar$
in#redient for economic re4ol&tion: class conscio&sness. Class conscio&sness is the
res< of or2ers 6ecomin# aare that their fate in life is determined primaril$ 6$ class position.
his aareness comes as alienation and exploitation reach hi#h le4els and as or2ers comm&nicate
ith one another thro&#h increasin# le4els of ed&cation or2er concentration in the factor$ and
cit$ and comm&nication and transportation technolo#ies.
Chapter 3 < Contradictions *n Capitalism Karl Marx
la6or mar2et ma2es a4aila6le an extremel$ lar#e pool of &nemplo$ed or2ers. So or2ers in an
ad4anced ind&striali0ed econom$ see themsel4es in competition ith m&ch cheaper la6or. his
#lo6al competition also hinders class conscio&sness 6$ shifts in# the Dr4or2er!s foc&s of attention
aBa$ from the oners and onto the forei#n la6or mar2et. ln other ords a #lo6ali0ed di4ision of
la6or pits or2er a#ainst or2er in competition for scarce io6s. his competition is partic&larl$
threatenin# for or2ers in ad4anced capitalist co&ntries li2e the nited States 6eca&se the forei#n
or2ers a#e is so m&ch loer. hese threatened or2ers then ill 6e inclined to see their ecoe
noinic pro6lems in terms of #lo6al political iss&es rather than class iss&es.
&rther the or2ers di4ide themsel4es o4er iss&es other than class. Be tend to see o&rsel4es notthro&#h classe6ased identities hich Marx o&ld ar#&e is the identit$ that determines o&r life
chancesA instead e see o&rsel4es thro&#h racial ethnic #ender and sex&al preference identities.
Marxists o&ld ar#&e that the c&le t&re of di4ersit$ and 4ictimhood is part of the ideolo#$ that
6linds o&r e$es to tr&e social ine&alit$ th&s pre4entin# class conscio&sness.
TU
S&mmar$
8/10/2019 Social Lens - Chapter on Marx
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/social-lens-chapter-on-marx 33/33
< Marx!s perspecti4e is created thro&#h to central ideas: speciese6ein# and the material dialectic.
SpeciesW6ein# refers to the &ni&e a$ in hich h&mans s&r4i4e as a speciesie creati4el$
prod&ce all that e need. he material dialectic is the primal) mechanism thro&#h hich histor$
pro#resses. here are internal contradictions ithin e4er$ economic s$stem that p&sh societ$ to
form ne economic s$stems. he dialectic contin&es &ntil comm&nism is reached a s$stem that is
in harmon$ ith species-6ein#.
- +4er$ economic s$stem is characteri0ed 6$ the means and relations of prod&ction. he means of
prod&ction in capitalism is oned 6$ the 6o&r#eoisie and #enerall$ consists of eommoditrcation
ind&strial prod&ction pri4ate propert$ mar2ets and mone$. ne of the &ni&e feat&res of
capitalism is that it ill sallo &p all other classes sa4e to: the 6o&r#eoisie and proletariat. his
6if&rcation of class str&ct&re D4ill in t&rn set the sta#e for class conscio&sness and economic
re4ol&tion.
- Capitalism affects e4er$ area of h&man existence. hro&#h it indi4id&als are alienated from each
aspect of speciess6ein# and creati4e prod&ction. lie or2 process the prod&ct other people and
e4en their on inner 6ein# confront the or2er as alien o6ects. 7s a res< h&man2indmisreco#ni0es the tr&th and falls 4ictim to commodit$ fetish ideolo#$ and false conscio&sness.
%oe4er 6eca&se capitalism contains dialectical elements it ill also prod&ce the necessar$
in#redient for economic re4ol&tion: class conscio&sness. Class conscio&sness is the
res< of or2ers 6ecomin# aare that their fate in life is determined primaril$ 6$ class position.
his aareness comes as alienation and exploitation reach hi#h le4els and as or2ers comm&nicate
ith one another thro&#h increasin# le4els of ed&cation or2er concentration in the factor$ and
cit$ and comm&nication and transportation technolo#ies.