by Robert Grice

Created on: July 02, 2009   Last Updated: July 03, 2009

Karl Marx on political economy

Political economy examines how a society structures its means of production and spread capital. The Marxist assumption is that societies create social classes where the ruling class (Bourgeoisie) controls and manipulates the larger working class (Proletariat). Marx theorized that societies would eventually push those who are unable to adapt to the constant changes in the means of production out of the Bourgeoisie class. The system mirrored the old feudal system that marred Europe's history and stagnated its progress through the Middle Ages.

Political economy was simply one part of Marx's overarching commitment to dialectic materialism. Dialectic materialism was developed out of the philosophy of Georg Hegel and Ludwig Feuerbach. Hegel's dialectic means that society is constantly experiencing social evolution through the conflict between the status quo of ideas (thesis) and opposing new ideas (anti-thesis). The conflict will eventually reach a consensus (synthesis) where aspects of the old would blend with aspects of the new and form a new standard.

Materialism means that all reality and truth are found in the material or physical world. All of life is a product of materialism. All phenomenons in life are a result of interconnected natural forces. Just as organisms are constantly adapting and changing so does society. The evolutionary stages are predictable and serve to promote society to a superior form.

Dialectical materialism assumes that Hegel's dialectical model only has value if framed within class struggles. The "spiritual" or idealistic dimension was cut off from Hegel's model. The materialistic orientation of the Marx's philosophy cast social conflict as a material phenomenon involving the oppressed overthrowing their oppressors and gaining access to resources.

Marx's political economy and philosophy possesses several characteristics worthy of note in understanding why Marxism remain popular, how it works, and why it fails.

Naturalistic

A basic tenet of Feuerbach's materialism is that only the natural world exists. All that occurs was caused by natural forces. If no rational and natural cause can be identified the phenomenon is not real. Metaphysical beliefs only hinder the social progress that could be experienced if people would fight for the classless society and equal distribution of resources.

Atheistic

Marx's philosophy was inherently atheistic. Feuerbach's philosophy of materialism stated among other assumptions

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