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[[Image:KarlMarx.jpg|right|frame|Karl Marx]]

[[Image:KarlMarx.jpg|right|frame|Karl Marx]]

'''Karl Marx''' (1818-1883) was born in Prussia, educated in Germany, and a writer in London. Marx was an economist who sought to set [[socialism]] and [[communism]] on, what he saw as, a scientific basis.  

'''Karl Marx''' (1818-1883) was born in Prussia, educated in [[Germany]], and a writer in [[London]]. Marx was an economist who sought to set [[socialism]] and [[communism]] on, what he saw as, a scientific basis.  

Marx saw "primitive" socialist thought as fundamentally a moral movement with no base in a practical science. Marx's solution was to ground an analysis of society on his principle of dialectical materialism.   

Marx saw "primitive" socialist thought as fundamentally a moral movement with no base in a practical science. Marx's solution was to ground an analysis of society on his principle of dialectical materialism.   

[[Capitalism]], according to Marx, is just one system in a long series of [[economic systems]] in the world. He held that [[capitalist society]] had strong internal inherent tensions. In the development of capitalism, [[capital]] (money) would be increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few people. <ref>See his "Law of the Centralization of Capital". []</ref> The difference in income between the poorest and richest would always increase. Through economic crises, the poor laborers would start to believe that the system would always be disadvantageous to them.

[[Capitalism]], according to Marx, is just one system in a long series of [[economic systems]] in the world. He held that [[capitalist society]] had strong internal inherent tensions. In the development of capitalism, [[capital]] (money) would be increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few people. <ref>See his "Law of the Centralization of Capital". []</ref> The difference in income between the poorest and richest would always increase. Through economic crises, the poor laborers would start to believe that the system would always be disadvantageous to them.

''Das Kapital'' (''Capital'') seeks to demonstrate that the bourgeoisie make [[profit]]s by [[exploitation]] of the proletariat.  The exploitation arises where the value of the goods produced by workers is much more than the wages paid, and this "[[surplus value]]" is stolen from workers by owners. Marx sought to show that the competition amongst the bourgeoisie forced them to exploit their workers as much as possible. If an individual bourgeois refused to continue the "exploitation" he would soon be forced into [[bankruptcy]] or be taken over by someone who would.  The result is a relentless increase in the misery of the proletariat who, eventually, would rebel and replace the existing capitalist system with a [[socialist]]/communist system.  

''Das Kapital'' ('' The Capital'') seeks to demonstrate that the bourgeoisie make [[profit]]s by [[exploitation]] of the proletariat.  The exploitation arises where the value of the goods produced by workers is much more than the wages paid, and this "[[surplus value]]" is stolen from workers by owners. Marx sought to show that the competition amongst the bourgeoisie forced them to exploit their workers as much as possible. If an individual bourgeois refused to continue the "exploitation" he would soon be forced into [[bankruptcy]] or be taken over by someone who would.  The result is a relentless increase in the misery of the proletariat who, eventually, would rebel and replace the existing capitalist system with a [[socialist]]/communist system.  

However, in his major works, Marx himself could not tell if this would make an end to the capitalist system: he knew there are too many factors in history to make a prediction possible. He did not have a clear idea about what the next stage after capitalism would be either. The increasing concentration, he thought, would facilitate a [[communist]] system. In that system, however, man also would have to eliminate his alienation. One possibility, which Marx put forward, was complete mechanization of production, so that any man could do any job<ref>Marx, K. Foundations of the Critique of Political Economy, Berlin</ref>.

However, in his major works, Marx himself could not tell if this would make an end to the capitalist system: he knew there are too many factors in history to make a prediction possible. He did not have a clear idea about what the next stage after capitalism would be either. The increasing concentration, he thought, would facilitate a [[communist]] system. In that system, however, man also would have to eliminate his alienation. One possibility, which Marx put forward, was complete mechanization of production, so that any man could do any job<ref>Marx, K. Foundations of the Critique of Political Economy, [[Berlin]]</ref>.

In the ''Communist Manifesto'', Marx went into greater detail about how this [[revolution]] would unfold. As well as proposing an economic system, Marx also advocated [[education]] for all including women and the lower classes who at the time were without any education.

In the ''Communist Manifesto'', Marx went into greater detail about how this [[revolution]] would unfold. As well as proposing an economic system, Marx also advocated [[education]] for all including women and the lower classes who at the time were without any education.

==Critique of Marxists==

==Critique of Marxists==

[[Mikhail Bakunin]] observed how rather than discussion of issues, the tried and tested method of [[leftism]] and [[Marxism]] was spread through the art of [[character assassination]], <ref>Guy A. Aldred, ''Bakunin'', Strickland Press, Glasgow, (1940). </ref> close associates of Marx were adept in the art of

[[Mikhail Bakunin]] observed how rather than discussion of issues, the tried and tested method of [[leftism]] and [[Marxism]] was spread through the art of [[character assassination]], <ref>Guy A. Aldred, ''Bakunin'', Strickland Press, [[Glasgow]], (1940). </ref> close associates of Marx were adept in the art of

{{Cquote|cowardly, odious and perfidious insinuations. They seldom make open accusation, but they insinuate, saying they "have heard - it is said - it may not be true, but', and then they hurl the most abominable calumnies in your face.}}

{{Cquote|cowardly, odious and perfidious insinuations. They seldom make open accusation, but they insinuate, saying they "have heard - it is said - it may not be true, but', and then they hurl the most abominable calumnies in your face.}}

Marx' view on [[religion]] is mostly based on [[Ludwig Feuerbach's]] ideas<ref>Feuerbach, L. ''The Essence of Christianity'', New York, 1957</ref>. Marx is considered very controversial in religious circles for his statement, "Religion...is the opium of the masses."  This was written in his 1843 work "A Contribution to the  [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1843/critique-hpr/intro.htm Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right]" and expresses Marx's belief that religion offers a false palliative to assuage the suffering of "the oppressed", which in his view essentially blames [[faith]] in [[God]] as the hindrance to carrying out the Marxist program.

Marx' view on [[religion]] is mostly based on [[Ludwig Feuerbach's]] ideas<ref>Feuerbach, L. ''The Essence of Christianity'', New York, 1957</ref>. Marx is considered very controversial in religious circles for his statement, "Religion...is the opium of the masses."  This was written in his 1843 work "A Contribution to the  [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1843/critique-hpr/intro.htm Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right]" and expresses Marx's belief that religion offers a false palliative to assuage the suffering of "the oppressed", which in his view essentially blames [[faith]] in [[God]] as the hindrance to carrying out the Marxist program.

Karl Marx is often labeled an [[anti-Semite]] or a "self-hating Jew" for statements such as, "Money is the [[jealous god]] of Israel, in face of which no other god may exist", "The god of the Jews has become secularized and has become the [[god of the world]]. The [[bill of exchange]] is the real god of the Jew. His god is only an illusory bill of exchange", and "What is the worldly religion of the Jew? Huckstering. What is his worldly God? Money."

Karl Marx is often labeled an [[anti-Semite]] or a "self-hating [[Jew]]" for statements such as, "Money is the [[jealous god]] of [[Israel]], in face of which no other god may exist", "The god of the Jews has become secularized and has become the [[god of the world]]. The [[bill of exchange]] is the real god of the Jew. His god is only an illusory bill of exchange", and "What is the worldly religion of the Jew? Huckstering. What is his worldly [[God]]? Money."

== See also ==

== See also ==