Intro to Marx

Question 1

What was Marx’s central concern?

Answer 1

The consequences of the transition to capitalism for individuals

Question 2

What was one of his more famous works?

Answer 2

The Communist Manifesto, which was used as a guide by people with political motives to create a more just society.

Question 3

What are Marx’s academic writings about?

Answer 3

They critique German Idealism

Question 4

What was is important to remember about his analysis on the German philosophical tradition (German Ideology)?

Answer 4

He maintained that the material/empirical level of existence cannot be inferred or understood from the study of the ideas.

Question 5

What is an example of Marx’s analysis?

Answer 5

The actual empirical state (government) cannot be inferred from the ideal state.

Question 6

What is an example of Marx’s analysis in relation to society?

Answer 6

In order to understand the social organization of society it is necessary to understand the material/empirical basis of society.

Question 7

What is another topic that Marx crtiqued?

Answer 7

Classical Political Economics (Adam Smith and David Ricardo)

Question 8

What is Classical Political Economics (CPE) about?

Answer 8

It focused on the material basis of society but failed to fully understand social development

Question 9

What was the issue with Classical Political Economics?

Answer 9

It conceptualized markets as separate from society (or unconnected from social behavior)

Question 10

What were the two false assumptions that kept CPE from understanding the real basis of society?

Answer 10

1.) CPE falsely assumed that economic relations can be treated as abstract entities
2.) CPE falsely assumed that the conditions of capitalism’s production characteristics can be attributed to all economic forms

Question 11

What does abstract entities mean?

Answer 11

Separate from social relationships

Question 12

What is an example of the second assumption that kept CPE from understanding the real basis of society?

Answer 12

Many CPEs assumed that the profit motive is a natural characteristic of humans but Marx says that the emphasis on profits is a capitalism characteristic.

Question 13

What is the definition of historical materialism?

Answer 13

Historical materialism explains change in human consciousness in terms of changes in the labor process

Question 14

What is human consciousness in Marx’s perspective?

Answer 14

Intellectual development

Question 15

What is the definition of labor?

Answer 15

The creative interchange between man and the physical/material environment

Question 16

What does homo faber mean?

Answer 16

Man the creator

Question 17

What is the relationship between labor and social change?

Answer 17

Understanding social change requires understanding change in labor activity and the organization of labor.

Question 18

How does human consciousness play a role in understanding the relationship between labor and social change?

Answer 18

Labor is where human consciousness develops and changes.

Question 19

What is the definition of Mode of Production (MOP)?

Answer 19

It is the social organization of economic activity

Question 20

What does each MOP entail?

Answer 20

It entails a stage of history that entails a definite set of social class relations

Question 21

Explain the relationship of MOP, social relations, and the stages of history.

Answer 21

1.) The MOP, or the organization of the way in which we produce, entails a specific set of social relations (class structure)
2.) The social relations are unique to each stage of history
3.) The production process unifies the society and contributes to its development

Question 22

What are the two key dimensions of each mode of production?

Answer 22

Relations of production (class relations) and Forces of production

Question 23

What does relations of production mean?

Answer 23

Determining the class relation. There are two primary classes in each MOP: those who control the means of production and those who do not.

Question 24

What are the forces of production?

Answer 24

Means of production, raw materials, and labor power

Question 25

What are some examples of means of productions?

Answer 25

Tools, machinery, and technology

Question 26

What is labor power?

Answer 26

The knowledge and skills of the producers

Question 27

Why does labor power vary over time?

Answer 27

Because the capacity of humans to produce depends on how developed the human consciousness is

Question 28

What is the definition of labor?

Answer 28

It is the actual performing of work

Question 29

What is something that all MOPs have? And what is its purpose in relation to the MOPs?

Answer 29

Superstructure and it contributes to MOPs stability

Question 30

What does the superstructure do specifically?

Answer 30

It reinforces the economic structure including class relations

Question 31

What is the relationship between the superstructure and ideology?

Answer 31

Ideology is the dominant ideas that legitimize the MOP and the ideas come from the dominant class

Question 32

What is the relationship between the state and the superstructure?

Answer 32

The state is the primary basis of legitimate authority in society and the dominant class controls the state.

Question 33

Explain the structure that is the basis of the superstructure.

Answer 33

The superstructure emerges from and legitimates the structure, which simultaneously ensures the privleged position of the dominant class.

Question 34

What is the definition of surplus value?

Answer 34

It is a value that remains after society reproduces itself.

Question 35

What is the context for the definition of surplus value?

Answer 35

A certain amount of value produced in society must be reinvested to ensure survival and preservation of society but the value that remains is known as surplus value.

Question 36

In a capitalist society why are the working class and the capitalist classes in conflict?

Answer 36

Because of the distribution of surplus

Question 37

What is the position of the capitalist in capitalist societies?

Answer 37

They are the owners of the means of production, which means they want higher profits.

Question 38

What is the position of the workers in the working class in capitalist societies?

Answer 38

They are nonowners, which means they want higher wages, safer workplaces, and benefits.

Question 39

What is the outcome of conflict that emerges over the distribution of surplus in society?

Answer 39

Social change

Question 40

Describe the characteristics of social change

Answer 40

Most social change is incremental and occurs within a MOP. There is also transformational change, which entails change form one MOP to another one (EX: feudalism to capitalism)

Question 41

Why does transformational change occur?

Answer 41

Because the contradiction within the mode of production became extreme

Question 42

Transformation change occurs when there is a disjunction between what?

Answer 42

The class with the most political power and the class that controls or owns the most efficient means of production

Question 43

What is the difference between the capitialist mode of production and previous modes of production?

Answer 43

In the capitalist MOP ownership of the means of production is unique compared to previous MOPs, where the dominant class controlled the means of production by force or threats of force.

Question 44

What are the obstacles that restrict the change in MOP?

Answer 44

The ruling class, which controls the superstructure (state and ideology)

Question 44

What two things make up the social structure?

Answer 44

State and ideology

Question 45

What is the basis of social change?

Answer 45

The contradiction between the forces and relations of production which result in extreme class conflict

Question 46

How occurs with incremental change?

Answer 46

A new class with control over the most efficient means of production

Question 47

Why does the new class try to gain control?

Answer 47

To have more political influence over the prevailing dominant class