Karl Marx Flashcards
(12 cards)
The Industrial Revolution
a period of major change when industry and factory work replaced farming
Capitalism
An economic system where businesses are privately owned and run for profit
Communism
a system where property and resources are owned collectively or by the state
Bourgeoise
The wealthy class who own businesses and control production
Proletariat
The working class who sell their labour for wages
Alientation
a sense of disconnection from one’s work, product, or self
According to Marx, how did the Industrial Revolution make society feel?
more unstable and unfair for many people by rapidly changing their traditional way of life
How did Marx explain the difference in power between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat?
The bourgeoisie own the means of production and the proletariat are the workers who do not own anything except for their labours
Why did Marx think that society was still unequal even though people could now earn wealth?
Resources were shared unequally because the bourgeoise hold all the power and the economy works in their interests rather than the interests of everyone
Why did Marx believe that factory work made humans feel less human or less fulfilled?
It alienated them from the final product of their labour
How does Marx’s idea of alienation help to explain why some work might not feel good or worthwhile?
The worker is separated from the products of their labour. Therefore, they do not get credit and in some cases may not even see the finished product
Why did Marx believe religion stopped people from recognising or changing unfairness in society?
Religion made the proletariat feel that they had some kind of purpose in life and made them feel less alienated. The bourgeoise used religion as a form of control to prevent the proletariat from rising up and defeating the capitalist system.
