Uncensored2008
Libertarian Radical
The first issue to be resolved when discussing Marxism is, just what is Marxism anyway?
Let's start with a few things that it is not, Marxism is not the model of Lenin, or Stalin, or Mao Tse Tung, or Pol Pot.
Marxism is those ideas and philosophies postulated and promoted by Karl Marx. So just who was Karl Marx? Marx was born in the German state of Prussia in 1818. Though Marx is often called German, he was born prior to Bismark forming Germany.
I hear terms like "Marx was an idiot" or other such statements. No, Marx was not an idiot, and was in fact highly educated. Born to a wealthy Jewish family, Marx followed the path that children of wealth often do, hating their parents and showing teen rebellion through attacking the systems that provided them comfort and advantage. Marx rebelled against his wealth and privilege by developing models that would end wealth.
Marx based his theories on dialectic materialism. Essentially, Marx believed that a dialectic exists between classes. Marx was a product of 19th Century Europe, where the trappings of feudalism remained strong. Class was a strong feature in life, the aristocracy still enjoyed not only wealth, but status that was denied others. Marx saw this as a natural part of life, that various castes of society were destined to perpetual war. A cycle of poverty which led to rebellion, with successful rebels assuming the role of a new aristocracy, with the cycle repeating. Marx had little problem with this. But a new caste arose, the Bourgeoisie, the middle class, which Marx viewed as the destruction of the cycle. As long as an Aristocracy ran roughshod on the Proletarians, then the cycle of revolution would continue. But the middle class found comfort in the status quo, ending the cycle of rebellion. The merchants, small land owners with farms and ranches, craftsmen and guilds all threatened the cycle.
Marx speaks fondly of dialectic materialism in Capital, Vol. 1; but does not suggest the restoration of the cycle per se, instead he proposes that society can be reshaped without a dialectic by creating a classless society. To do so, he envisioned placing authoritarian rule in the hands of the lowest caste, the Proletarians. Marx dubbed this the "dictatorship of the Proletariat." Marx postulates that with control of society in the hands of the lowest elements in a socialist state, equality of outcome can be achieved. With equality of outcome, where each is afforded according to their need, and each contributes according to their ability, the need for the state will fade, currency and government will become unneeded and a state of pure community will develop, Communism.
So Jake, tell us what the flaws in Marx's dialectic materialism are?
Refrences:
Economic Manuscripts: Capital: Volume One
Manifesto of the Communist Party
Let's start with a few things that it is not, Marxism is not the model of Lenin, or Stalin, or Mao Tse Tung, or Pol Pot.
Marxism is those ideas and philosophies postulated and promoted by Karl Marx. So just who was Karl Marx? Marx was born in the German state of Prussia in 1818. Though Marx is often called German, he was born prior to Bismark forming Germany.
I hear terms like "Marx was an idiot" or other such statements. No, Marx was not an idiot, and was in fact highly educated. Born to a wealthy Jewish family, Marx followed the path that children of wealth often do, hating their parents and showing teen rebellion through attacking the systems that provided them comfort and advantage. Marx rebelled against his wealth and privilege by developing models that would end wealth.
Marx based his theories on dialectic materialism. Essentially, Marx believed that a dialectic exists between classes. Marx was a product of 19th Century Europe, where the trappings of feudalism remained strong. Class was a strong feature in life, the aristocracy still enjoyed not only wealth, but status that was denied others. Marx saw this as a natural part of life, that various castes of society were destined to perpetual war. A cycle of poverty which led to rebellion, with successful rebels assuming the role of a new aristocracy, with the cycle repeating. Marx had little problem with this. But a new caste arose, the Bourgeoisie, the middle class, which Marx viewed as the destruction of the cycle. As long as an Aristocracy ran roughshod on the Proletarians, then the cycle of revolution would continue. But the middle class found comfort in the status quo, ending the cycle of rebellion. The merchants, small land owners with farms and ranches, craftsmen and guilds all threatened the cycle.
Marx speaks fondly of dialectic materialism in Capital, Vol. 1; but does not suggest the restoration of the cycle per se, instead he proposes that society can be reshaped without a dialectic by creating a classless society. To do so, he envisioned placing authoritarian rule in the hands of the lowest caste, the Proletarians. Marx dubbed this the "dictatorship of the Proletariat." Marx postulates that with control of society in the hands of the lowest elements in a socialist state, equality of outcome can be achieved. With equality of outcome, where each is afforded according to their need, and each contributes according to their ability, the need for the state will fade, currency and government will become unneeded and a state of pure community will develop, Communism.
So Jake, tell us what the flaws in Marx's dialectic materialism are?
Refrences:
Economic Manuscripts: Capital: Volume One
Manifesto of the Communist Party