Chapter 3

Class Inequality: Karl Marx

KARL MARX (1818–1883)

The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.

(Marx and Engels 1848/1978:473)

Key Concepts Class Bourgeoisie Proletariat Forces and relations of production Capital Surplus value Alienation Labor theory of value Exploitation Class consciousness

Beginnings

Born: Trier, Germany 1818

Died: March 17th, 1883One of 9 childrenOnly one to live until 40

Father: Lawyer from long line of rabbis

Videos about Marxhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=1ztVeUX8Hpo&feature=relatedMarxism made simple

Do you know how to make a shirt?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QbWbwj7-

OE&feature=related

Biographical Sketch: Karl Marx

University career (1835-1841): History, Philosophy, and Law

Academic career ambitions endedBerlin Ministry of Education blacklisted him due to radical views

Biographical Sketch: Karl Marx

Early 1840s, Began longtime friendship and collaboration with Friedrich Engels

Marx and family died due to poverty and ill health (early 1880s)

Environment and Focus

Reaction to dire economic and social conditions Due to industrial revolution

Theory: Not only to interpret the world, but also to change it

Focus:EconomyClassesForces of production

Economy

Ways in which people satisfy their material needs Food, clothing, shelter, etc.

PRODUCTION: Transform raw materials into things people useProducts

Means of production & Relations of production

The Means of Production: LandNatural resourcesTechnology Factories

Relations of Production

Social and technical relationships

Among people as they Use the means of production

Relations among individualsBetween or among groups of people or classes

Mode of productionMeans of Production + Relations of Production= Mode of Production

Mode of production changes Primitive CommunismFeudalismCapitalismSocialism

Cause of change:Process of “dialectical materialism”

Process of Dialectical Materialism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Cpuv4tSyo

Each historical period’s mode of production--economy (thesis)

Challenged by a set of social forces (anti-thesis)

New mode of production (synthesis)

MW Dialectical Materialism

Materialism=Material world, perceptible to the senses

Objective reality Independent of mind or spirit

Ideas ariseAs products and reflections of material conditions

“I labor (work), therefore I am.”

Materialism vs. Idealism

Materialism->Opposite of Idealism

Idealism:Matter as dependent on mind or spirit

Mind or Spirit Exists independently of matter

“I think, therefore I am”

Capital (Material)

LandBuildingsMachineryRaw materials Labor powerMoney (investment)

CapitalismBenefits owners of capital

Prevents workersFrom realizing essential human capacity for creative labor

Inherently exploitative

Leads to monopoly

Species Being

Essence of creative nature Humans live off nature (as do

other animals)

Express “species being” through free, conscious activity

Estranged labor makes work only a means to existence

Alienation and Capitalism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCOdHcRkd0E&feature=related

Alienation:Separation of people from aspects of their human nature

Alienated Labor: “Alienation”

Worker is:Alienated from production process

Alienated from the product Does not controlWhere and how sold and price

Alienated from Self

Alienated Labor: “Alienation”

Worker spends 2/3 of waking hours in meaningless activity

Little or no interaction with others

Alienated from other people

Alienated from humanity

Alienation

1. Worker from process of production

2. Worker from products of labor

3. Worker from self (self-estrangement)

4. Worker from other people

5. Worker from humanity

Social ClassClass: Relationship to means of production

Class consciousness: Recognize common relationship to means of production

False consciousness: Unable to recognize oppression & exploitationIncorrectly identifying source of problems

Marx’s Model of Social Change

© 2010 Sage/Pine Forge All rights reserved

Generate class consciousness—Awareness by working class of common relationship to the means of production

Power of Money in Bourgeois Society

Money: Universal medium of exchange

For a specific good or objectFor human qualities such as beauty, talent, or honesty

Connects people to life andRelationships with others

Not who we are, but what we have the power to buy

TR Use-Value & Exchange Value

Use-Value: Ability of a commodity to satisfy wants/needs

Exchange Value: How much of a given commodity (e.g., corn) it takes to equal the value of another commodity (e.g., iron)

Money: Universal exchange value

Commodities=Things made to be sold

Labor Theory of Value: Value of product= amount of labor time to produce it

Value=Workers’ labor time

Workers sell their labor power in order to survive

Exploitation inherent in capitalism

Commodities: Surplus Value

Difference between workers’ wages and

Price or value of goods they produce (profit)

Price of goods-Wages=Profit

Capitalism

Economic system based on:1. Private ownership of the means of

production

2. Pursuit of profit

3. Competition

4. No government intervention

Capitalism 1. Private ownership

Economy controlled by a few people Benefits individuals, not society

2. Pursuit of profit Useless products Harmful products Environmental/societal consequences Low wages No profit=No product

Capitalism 3. Competition Monopolies Oligopolies

4. No government intervention Price supports Subsidies Tariffs Trade agreements

Fetishism of Commodities

We treat goods we buy as if they have “magical” powers.

We forget that we create commodities and

Grant them power over us they do not have

The Communist Manifesto

Manifesto is a “scientific prophecy” detailing the downfall of the capitalist class and the rise of the proletariat

**The Communist Manifesto Cartoonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=0KUl4yfABE4&feature=relatedCommunist Smurfshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Qra0hlO6hZk&NR=1