Marxist theory Essays (2487 words) - Socialism, Marxist Theory

The latter part of the nineteenth century was teeming with evolved social and economical ideas. These views of the social structure of urban society came about through the development of ideals taken from past revolutions and the present clash of individuals and organized assemblies. As the Industrial Revolution steamed ahead paving the way for growing commerce, so did the widening gap between the class structure which so predominantly grasped the populace and their rights within the community. The development of a capitalist society was a very favorable goal in the eyes of the bourgeoisie. Using advancing methods of production within a system of free trade, the ruling middle class were strategically able to earn a substantial surplus of funds and maintain their present class of life. Thus, with the advancement of industry and the bourgeoisie's gain of wealth, a counter-action was undoubtedly taking place. The resultant was the degradation of the working-class, of the proletarians wh om provided labor to a middle-class only to be exploited in doing so. Exploitation is a quarrel between social groups that has been around since the dawn of mankind itself. The persecution of one class by another has historically allowed the advancement of mankind to continue. These clashes, whether ending with positive or negative results, allow Man to evolve as a species, defining Himself within the social structure of nature. Man's rivalry amongst one another allows for this evolution, through the production of something which is different, not necessarily productive, but differing from the present norm and untried through previous epochs. At this time in history, mankind was moving forward very rapidly, but at the price of the working-class. Wages were given sparsely, and when capital gain improved, the money paid for labor did not reflect this prosperity. This, therefore, accelerated the downfall of the proletarians and progressed towards a justifiable revolt against the oppressive middle class. The conclusion of this revolt was envisioned to be a classless society, one in which its people benefit from and that benefits from its people. The overthrow of capitalism would create a socialist society eventually flourishing into communism. Karl Heinrich Marx (1818 - 1883) was the philosophical analysis who created communism and saw it as an achievable goal. Marx denounced religion and created what were thought to be radical ideas, which resulted in the banishment from his native land of Germany and then France, eventually ending up in England. (Compton's Encyclopedia, 121) Through dialectical processing Marx was able to s ynthesize a theory of a classless society. This society would be achievable through the joint union of the proletarians and overthrow of the governing bourgeois. For the working-class man does not benefit from the labor which he provides. His labor is external to himself and is not actually belonging to his essential being. Therefore in work, the proletarian denies himself and does not validate his worthiness as an individual.(Marx from Haberman, 183) The worker has no existence except to work, which furthers the employer, but degrades the laborer and eventually results in a grasping individual. Marx realized that with the unification of the working-class, they would be able to better themselves and their lives, and in doing so, better society on the whole. The aspiration to achieve this was purely theoretical and though Marx felt attainable, it was undoubtedly flawed. The communist ideals are purely a utopian dream which cannot be reached because of humans? inescapable desire to satisfy their own egos. A proletarian society would not remain harmonious without individuals seeking personal satisfaction, and without a governing body chaos would result, paving a road which would lead to totalitarianism. Marx's views were of the proletarian class rising to crush the bourgeois ideals which governed their lives. This would result in a proletarian dictatorship, through which ends would have to be met in order to rid the community of the existing means of production and prosperity. The abolition of private property would be achieved by ridding the bourgeoisie's ownership of lands, a nd allowing them to be publicized. This would enable the removal of selfish individualism which splits society into segregated portions, and allow the rich and poor to become more economically equal in status. This however is only partially attainable,