What two assumptions did Marx critique about the current political economy (dominant way of thinking)?
First;
-all societies are characterized by an exchange economy and private property (capitalism)
-the pursuit of profit is a natural instinct of people
Second;
-the assumption that economic relations can be treated separately to social relations
What critique did Marx give on those two assumptions in made in political economy?
Rejects these assumptions;
First;
-capitalism is not a universal system of production
-instead, it is an outcome of a historical process
Second;
-every economic phenomena is also a social phenomena
What were Marx’s basic beliefs on capitalism?
- it is a historically-specific system of production
- founded on a single class division
- classes are always in conflict
Who were the two class divisions in the single class division of capitalism?
- Bourgeoisie who own capital
- Proletariat who do not own capital
Who always wins in class conflict?
-Capitalists always win by maximizing profit
What was the Contemporary economic fact?
- the more capitalism advances the more impoverished the worker becomes
- this is because the surplus that capitalism makes possible is stolen by the capitalists
Does Marx agree with Industrial production?
-Yes
How did Marx use the term alienation?
- You must be alienated from something, it is relational
- you either are or are not alienated
- only find alienation in capitalism
What does Marx believe labour should be?
- the creative interplay of people and their environment
- fundamentally good
What do we build through labour according to Marx?
-we have natural capabilities and power that are built through labour and make us more fulfilled
Under capitalism what are humans alienated from?
-the product and the process of labour
What is the problem Marx has with labour under capitalism?
- workers are selling themselves to live
- devolves and dehumanizes people b/c capitalists appropriate wealth and own means of productions
Why are products alien to the workers?
-Workers do not have control of the result of the labour process even though they physically made it
Why are workers alien from the process of labour?
- because of the occupational specialization of the work itself
- becomes routine and undemanding
Why does Marx argue that people don’t want to work
-Individuals flee when not compelled to work, not satisfying their intrinsic need
What did Marx believe was the most important thing that come from the transition from a traditional society to a modern society?
Capitalism
Why did Marx say modern life is paradoxical?
- they had the greatest productive forces in human history
- but, they are only using this opportunity in such a way that labour prevents workers from developing
Why would Marx argue that capitalists were being alienated as well?
- the commodities they produce do not satisfy their intrinsic need
- capitalists are in competition with each other to maximize profit
What did Marx believe Alienation was a product of?
-it was an inevitable product of capitalism
What did Marx say was the only way to get rid of capitalism?
-to get rid of private property and have no wage labour
What was Marx’s solution to the consequences of capitalism?
- true communism
- would be a class society based on conscious awareness
What does Marx mean by conscious awareness?
- we would be aware of our dependence on one another
- in contrast to political economists belief that society is based on self-seeking individuals
