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Book No. – 002 (Sociology)
Book Name – Sociology (C.N. Shankar Rao)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. KARL MARX A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
2. HISTORICAL MATERIALISM
2.1. Marx As a Prominent Champion of “Dialectical Materialism”
2.2. Essential Aspects of Dialectical Materialism. Thesis Anti-Thesis Synthesis
23. Historical Materialism or the Materialistic Interpretation of History
2.4. Essential Aspects of the Economic Interpretation
2.5. Relations Between the Modes of Production and Social Structures
2.6. Comments Against the Historical Materialism
3. MARX’S THEORY OF SOCIAL CHANGE
4. MARXIAN THEORY OF SOCIAL CLASS
4.1. Five Variables That Determine The Marxian Concept of Class
4.2. Only Two Major Classes: Haves’ and ‘Have-Nots’
4.3. Stages in the Evolution of Society and Development of Social Classes
4.4. Development of Social Classes
5. MARXIAN THEORY OF CLASS STRUGGLE OR CLASS CONFLICT
5.1. Essential Aspects of the Marxian Theory of Class Conflict
6. MARXIAN CONCEPT OF CLASSLESS SOCIETY
6.1. Circumstances Favouring the Emergence of “Classless Society”
6.2. Capitalist System is Sure to Fall – Marx
6.3. Establishment of the Classless “Communist” Society
6.4. Political Principles of the Classless Society
6.5. Transformation of Socialism into Communism under the “Dictatorship of the Proletariat
6.6. Main Economic Principles of the Classless Society
6.7. Society Meeting the Requirements of the People
6.8. Strengthening of the Societal Power Under the Classless Community Society
6.9. Critical Evaluation of the Marxian “Theory of Classless Society”
7. MARX’S CONCEPT OF ALIENATION
8. AN ASSESSMENT OF MARX’S CONTRIBUTIONS
8.1. Criticisms Against Marxian Views
8.2. Main Works of Karl Marx
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Karl Marx and His Thoughts
Sociology
Chapter – 53
KARL MARX: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
- Karl Marx was a significant 19th-century social thinker, known as the architect of socialism and the champion of communism.
- Born on May 5th, 1818 in Trier, Germany, to a middle-class family, his father was a lawyer who converted to Lutherianism.
- Marx’s early education was at Trier, later studying law at Bonn and Berlin Universities, and receiving a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Jena in 1841.
- His thesis focused on “The Difference Between the Democritean and the Epicurean Philosophy.”
- Marx began his career as a journalist at Rheinische Zeitung, later becoming its chief editor, but was forced to shut it down due to political pressure.
- In 1843, Marx migrated to Paris, where he started publishing German French Year Book and encountered French socialism and English Political Economy.
- In 1844, Marx met Fredrick Engels, who became his closest collaborator, and together they wrote influential works like The Holy Family and The German Ideology.
- Marx’s writings were influenced by Hegelianism, socialism, and political economy.
- Marx and Engels faced personal differences, but Engels supported Marx financially and contributed to his works.
- In 1845, Marx was expelled from Paris for his writings and moved to Brussels, where he continued his revolutionary activities and co-founded the Communist Correspondence Committee.
- In 1847, Marx joined the Communist League and co-authored the Communist Manifesto (1848), which called for workingmen of all countries to unite.
- Marx then moved to London after being deported from Germany and continued writing, especially his famous work Das Kapital (1867), which analyzed capitalism.
- During his time in London, Marx lived in poverty, relying on financial support from Engels and focusing on political activity.
- In 1864, Marx founded the International Working Men’s Association (First International) and gained prominence as a leader in the workers’ movement.
- Marx closely followed the developments in India, especially the Great Indian Revolt of 1857, and studied the British colonial rule in India.
- Marx developed significant sociological theories, such as Dialectical and Historical Materialism, surplus value, class conflict, and alienation.
- Marx was deeply disappointed by the failure of the Paris Commune of 1871 and the disintegration of the International by 1876.
- He died on March 14, 1883, in London after suffering from illness and personal disappointments. His funeral was attended by only a few people.
- After Marx’s death, Engels became the spokesman for Marxian thought, publishing the second and third volumes of Das Kapital.
- Marx’s influence on sociological thought, especially in social class, social change, and alienation, has had a lasting impact on modern socialist and communist movements.
- While Marx’s predictions about a worldwide revolution were not realized, his contributions to sociology remain significant, particularly his theories on class conflict and social change.
- Marx did not consider himself a sociologist, but his theories continue to shape fields like history, economics, political science, and sociology.
- Marxism is not synonymous with communism; Marx would likely have disapproved of some communist practices, and his theories have been interpreted and applied in various ways.