MarxismMarxism has no clear definitions. At it's core it comes down to one thing. Society inevitably reaching the point where everyone is equal in a classless society. Marx and Engels despised the rich bourgeoisie who would use their wealth, influence, and power to prey on the poor working class proletariat. This class struggle was the means at which the perfect society would come forth.
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Dialectical MaterialismThe class struggle that Marxism describes is a form of Dialectical Materialism. This is a philosophy that Marx applied to history to describe his theories. In history there would always be an idea accepted by the people; this idea was the thesis. Eventually a new idea would come up that challenged the preexisting idea; this new idea was called the antithesis. The thesis and antithesis would then create conflict and there would be a struggle between the ideas, when finally a new idea which was a synthesis of the previous ideas erupted as the "winner". This new idea would then become the norm, and the new thesis, and the whole cycle would begin again.
Through every cycle, the ideas improved and eventually the perfect idea would arise from this. Thesis + Anti-thesis = Syn-Thesis |
The Class StruggleDialectical Materialism when applied to Marxism symbolizes the class struggle. This was a struggle between the "Haves" (Bourgeoisie) and the "Have-nots" (Proletariat) of society. Marx and Friedrich both thought that throughout history people were progressing towards a perfect classless society. There would be a conflict between upper-class and lower-class, and from that conflict a new idea would arise. Marx saw history as...
Feudalism > Capitalism > Socialism > Communism Communism being the ideal society without class. Under Marxist's theory we today are living in only a chapter of this development. You can see the class struggle today in America when Billionaires buy private jets and the homeless go hungry. There is a struggle we can see around us, but we will be looking at the time period of Their Eyes Were Watching God. |