Post on 19-Jan-2016
transcript
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
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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