and his theory of history

8/14/2019 And His Theory of History

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KarlMarx

And his Theory of History


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Why Study Marx? Relevance? Influence? Communist States

China Vietnam North Korea Cuba

Ideology of the Enemy (Cold War)


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Economic

DeterminismMoney or lack of money determines

Where you live Where you go to school Who your friends are Who you will fall in love with

Who you will marryNo free will. No choice.


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View of HistoryHistory is objective

Can be measured, scientifically EXAMPLE: Peasants & Price of Bread

Future is predictable History has laws or rules History progresses in stages


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What Makes

History Go?Historical Dialectic = engine of historyEach stage has an unresolvedcontradiction

Thesis vs. AntithesisTHESIS = status quo

(of social-economic relationships)

ANTITHESIS = possible futureSYNTHESIS = resolution of contradiction


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History = Story of

Class StrugglesClass = defined by relationship to MOPMOP = means of production

Generates the goods of society Owned or controlled by the Haves Worked by the Have-Nots (powerless)


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Stage 2Feudalism

Haves own private property (nobles) Have-nots work land (peasants/serfs)

MOP = landThesis = status based on landAntithesis = status based on money


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Stage 3Capitalism

Haves bourgeoisie (industrialists) Have-nots proletariat (workers)

MOP = factories, factory machinesThesis = wealth for the fewAntithesis = equal distribution of wealthWages decrease & conditions worsen


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Stage 5Communism (final stage)

Socialism worldwide Government withers away NO Haves NO Have-nots

All contradictions resolvedHuman beings are truly free


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From each according

to his ability, to eachaccording to his need.

Louis Blanc

and his theory of history

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