MARXISM

The world is faced with the crisis of capitalism that needs to be changed
fundamentally. These events are the result of series of unfortunate accidents which
according to ruling class and reformist must be “rationally” acted upon. But this does not
explain anything and it solves even less.
Marxism is the science of the underlying laws which govern nature and society. It is
only by studying these laws that we not only achieve the best understanding of society, but
also discover the role and tasks of revolutionaries.

LEARNING COMPETENCY
Analyze the social inequalities in terms of class conflict.
L E A R N I N G O BJ E C T I V E S
 Explain key concepts of Marxism
 Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the approach.

Encircle the letter of your choice.

1. Which two philosophers developed the principal concepts of Marxism?

A. Engels and Voltaire C. Marx and Engels
B. Marx and Aristotle D. Plato and Aristotle
2. What word did Marx label the Ruling Class with?
A. Bourgeoisie B. Landlords C. Monopolizers D. Proletariat
3. What were the workers named by Marx?
A. Beggars B. Peasants C. Proletariat D. Vagabonds
4. Which of the following are the two different branches of Marxism?
A. Humanist and Functional C. Behavioral and Functional
B. Humanist and Structural D. Humanist and Behavioral
5. If Humanist Marxism is where moral leaders will help the workers break free from exploitation,
what do you think Marx thought would happen in his Structural Marxism theory?
A. The economy would go into melt down.
B. The workers would go on strike and the Ruling class would increase their wages.
C. The workers would keep being exploited until they could no longer cope and violent
revolution would occur.
D. A world war would break out

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You were able to explain the social functions/dysfunction, manifest and latent function from
the last lesson. This time you will explore another approach in the Social Sciences – Marxism, its
history, effects, strengths and weaknesses.
In the latter, you will interpret your personal and social experiences using this approach.

ACTIVITY 1: Review questions: Answer in 2-3 sentences.

1. How do you differentiate social functions from social dysfunctions?
2. What are the differences between manifest and latent functions?

SOCIAL SCIENCES are group of academic

disciplines dedicated to examine the society. This branch of
science studies how people interact with each other,
behave, develop as a culture, and influence the world.
You will be able to explore three disciplines of Social
Science in this lesson. The nature and functions of
Anthropology, Economics and Geography.
ACTIVITY 2: PICTURE ANALYSIS
1. What can you say about the picture?
2. Why do you think this scenario occurred?
3. Write a one-paragraph essay about the problems
that may result from the existence of social
inequalities.

Study the major branches of each discipline.

Answer the activities that follow.

Conflict Perspective
Society consists of different groups who struggle with one another to attain the
scarce societal resources that are considered valuable, be they power, prestige, or the
authority to impose one’s values on society. The third important sociological framework is
the conflict theory. Unlike the structural functional theory, which views society as a peaceful
unit, conflict theory interprets society as a struggle for power between
groups engaging in conflict for limited resources.
Each system in society has a specific function that relies on and is
associated to other systems. When these systems function, it leads to
social stability. Dysfunction in one or more systems leads to social
instability. Both functions and dysfunctions can be latent or manifest.
Manifest functions or dysfunctions are deliberate and known. While latent
functions or dysfunctions are unintended and/or go unrecognized by

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many.
KARL MARX AND FRIEDRICH ENGELS
Karl Marx (5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a revolutionary German
economist, philosopher, and socialist revolutionary- the founder of the
Communist movement. He addressed the matters of alienation and
exploitation of the working class, the capitalist mode of production and
historical materialism. He is famous for analyzing history in terms of class
struggle, summarized in the initial line introducing The Communist
Manifesto (1848): "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of
class struggles"

Friedrich Engels (28 November 1820 – 5 August 1895) was a German

political philosopher who together with Marx co-developed communist
theory. Marx and Engels first met in September 1844. Discovering that they
had similar views of philosophy and socialism, they collaborated and
wrote works such as Die heilige Familie (The Holy Family). After Marx was
deported from France in January 1845, they moved to Belgium, which
then permitted greater freedom of expression than other European
countries. In January 1846, they returned to Brussels to establish the
Communist Correspondence Committee.
In 1847, they began writing The Communist Manifesto (1848), based on Engels' The Principles
of Communism. Six weeks later, they published the 12,000-word pamphlet in February 1848.
In March, Belgium expelled them and they moved to Cologne, where they published the
Neue Rheinische Zeitung, a politically radical newspaper. By 1849, they had to leave
Cologne for London. The Prussian authorities pressured the British government to expel Marx
and Engels, but Prime Minister Lord John Russell refused.
After Marx's death in 1883, Engels became the editor and translator of Marx's writings.
With his Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State (1884) – analyzing
monogamous marriage as guaranteeing male social domination of women, a concept
analogous, in communist theory, to the capitalist class's economic domination of the
working class—Engels made intellectually significant contributions to feminist theory and
Marxist feminism.
Marxism
Marxism refers to the economic and political theories expounded by Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels that argue there is a struggle between the working class (proletariat) and
the owners of the means of production (bourgeoisie), that struggle is needed for historical
change and will lead to capitalism being replaced by communism.
Under the capitalist mode of production, this struggle materializes between the
minority (the bourgeoisie) and the vast majority of the population (the proletariat). Starting
with the conjectural premise that social change occurs because of the struggle between
different classes within society who are under contradiction against each other, a Marxist
would conclude that capitalism exploits and oppresses the proletariat, therefore capitalism
will inevitably lead to a proletarian revolution. In a socialist society, private property—in the
form of the means of production—would be replaced by co-operative ownership. A
socialist economy would not base production on the creation of private profits, but on the
criteria of satisfying human needs—that is, production would be carried out directly for use.
Marxian economics and its proponents view capitalism as economically
unsustainable and incapable of improving the living standards of the population due to its
need to compensate for falling rates of profit by cutting employee's wages, social benefits
and pursuing military aggression. The socialist system would succeed capitalism as
humanity's mode of production through workers' revolution. According to Marxian crisis
theory, socialism is not an inevitability, but an economic necessity.
[Note: The following websites provide more detailed information about Marxism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism and flowpsychology.com/10-marxism-strengths...]

Activity 3. QUESTIONS TO PONDER

3 Disciplines
Based on your understanding of the topic discussed, and Ideas
answer in the Social
the following Sciences
questions in
2-3 sentences:
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ACTIVITY 4: Read carefully the discussion and answer the questions that follow.
Historical Materialism
The materialist theory of history analyses the underlying causes of societal development
and change from the perspective of the collective ways that humans make their living. All
constituent features of a society (social classes, political pyramid, ideologies) are assumed to
stem from economic activity, an idea often portrayed with the metaphor of the base and
superstructure .
The base and superstructure metaphor describes the totality of social relations by which
humans produce and re-produce their social existence. According to Marx: "The sum total of
the forces of production accessible to men determines the condition of society" and forms a
society's economic base. The base includes the material forces of production, that is the labor
and material means of production and relations of production, i.e., the social and political
arrangements that regulate production and distribution. From this base rises a superstructure
of legal and political "forms of social consciousness" of political and legal institutions that
derive from the economic base that conditions the superstructure and a society's dominant
ideology.
Conflicts between the development of material productive forces and the relations of
production provokes social revolutions and thus the resultant changes to the economic base
will lead to the transformation of the superstructure. This relationship is reflexive, as at first the
base gives rise to the superstructure and remains the foundation of a form of social
organization, hence that formed social organization can act again upon both parts of the
base and superstructure so that the relationship is not static but a dialectic, expressed and
driven by conflicts and contradictions.
As Engels clarified: "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.
Marx considered class conflicts as the driving force of human history since these recurring
conflicts have manifested themselves as distinct transitional stages of development in Western
Europe. Accordingly, Marx designated human history as encompassing four stages of
development in relations of production:
1. Primitive communism: as in co-operative tribal societies.
2. Slave society: a development of tribal to city-state; aristocracy is born.
3. Feudalism: aristocrats are the ruling class; merchants evolve into capitalists.
4. Capitalism: capitalists are the ruling class, who create and employ the proletariat.
Social classes
Marx distinguishes social classes on the basis of two criteria: ownership of means of
production and control over the labor power of others. Following this criterion of class based
on property relations, Marx identified the social stratification of the capitalist mode of
production with the following social groups:
 Proletariat: "the class of modern wage laborers who, having no means of production of
their own, are reduced to selling their labor power in order to live."
 Bourgeoisie: those who "own the means of production" and buy labor power from the
proletariat, thus exploiting the proletariat. They subdivide as bourgeoisie and the petite
bourgeoisie.
o Petite bourgeoisie are those who work and can afford to buy little labor power
i.e. small business owners, peasant landlords, trade workers and the like.
 Lumpenproletariat: the outcasts of society such as the criminals, vagabonds, beggars,
or prostitutes without any political or class consciousness.
 Landlords: a historically important social class who retain some wealth and power.
 Peasantry and farmers: a scattered class incapable of organizing and effecting
socio-economic change, most of whom would enter the proletariat while some would
become landlords.
Class consciousness denotes the awareness—of itself and the social world—that a social
class possesses and its capacity to rationally act in their best interests, hence class

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 consciousness is required before they can effect a successful revolution and thus the
dictatorship of the proletariat.
The term political economy initially referred to the study of the material conditions of
economic production in the capitalist system. In Marxism, political economy is the study of the
means of production, specifically of capital and how that manifests as economic activity.
This new way of thinking was invented because socialists believed that common ownership
of the "means of production" (that is the industries, the land, the wealth of nature, the trade
apparatus, the wealth of the society, etc.) will abolish the exploitative working conditions
experienced under capitalism. Through working class revolution, the state is seized and used
to suppress the hitherto ruling class of capitalists and create the society of communism, which
Marxists see as true democracy. An economy based on co-operation on human need and
social betterment, rather than competition for profit of many independently acting profit
seekers, would also be the end of class society, which Marx saw as the fundamental division of
all hitherto existing history.
General criticisms
Philosopher and historian of ideas Leszek Kołakowski pointed out that "Marx's theory is
incomplete or ambiguous in many places, and could be 'applied' in many contradictory ways
without manifestly infringing its principles". Specifically, he considers "the laws of dialectics" as
fundamentally erroneous, stating that some are "truisms with no specific Marxist content",
others "philosophical dogmas that cannot be proved by scientific means" and some just
"nonsense". He believes that some Marxist laws can be interpreted differently, but that these
interpretations still in general fall into one of the two categories of error.
Okishio's theorem shows that if capitalists use cost-cutting techniques and real wages
do not increase, the rate of profit must rise, which casts doubt on Marx's view that the rate of
profit would tend to fall.
The allegations of inconsistency have been a large part of Marxian economics and the
debates around it since the 1970s. Andrew Kliman argues that this undermines Marx's critiques
and the correction of the alleged inconsistencies, because internally inconsistent theories
cannot be right by definition.
[More detailed information about Marxism can be found in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism and flowpsychology.com/10-marxism-strengths ...]

QUESTIONS TO PONDER : Based on your understanding of the topics discussed,

answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences:
1. What two criteria did Marx used in distinguishing the different social classes?
2. What are the four stages of development in relations of production according to Marx?
3. Cite the criticism of philosopher Leszek Kolakowski on Marx’s theory.

MARXISM STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

Economist, philosopher, sociologist, revolutionary socialist and journalist Karl Marx is
regarded in history as the Father of Marxism, where much of the philosophy has to do with
his obsession with the ideas of George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, who has been called the
“Aristotle” of modern times” and used his system of dialectics to explain the whole of the
history of philosophy, art, science, religion and politics. Basically, Marx was a communist,
political journalist and an advocate for human rights, but his philosophy—Marxism—is a very
important aspect in some of the world’s societies to identify. Here are its strengths and
weaknesses:
Strengths of Marxism
1. It tends to create a system of true equality.
2. It offers benefits to the society.
3. It helps with capitalism.
4. It reduces the tendency of debt.
5. It protects the rights of unions.
Weaknesses of Marxism
1. It tries to abolish religion.
2. It negatively affects the educational system.

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3. It does not value the concept of private ownership.
4. It limits opportunities for entrepreneurs.
5. It can lead to communism.
ACTIVITY 5. Match the following names and terminologies on Column
A with their corresponding descriptions on Column B. Write the letter
of the correct answer on the blanks provided before each item.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
_____1. Conflict theory A. They produce goods and services
B. Deliberate and known
_____2. Dialectic
C. A German political philosopher who co-developed
_____3. The Communist communist theory.
D. Co-operative tribal societies
Manifesto
E. Interprets society as a struggle
_____4. Base for power between groups
engaging in conflict for limited
_____5. Bourgeoisie
resources
_____6. Manifest functions F. They own the means of
Production
_____7. Karl Marx
G. The outcasts of society such as
_____8. Friedrich the criminals, etc.
H. "The history of all hitherto
_____9. Lumpenproletariat
existing society is the history of
_____10. Primitive communism class struggles"
I. The Father of Marxism
J. Expressed and driven by conflicts
and contradictions

ACTIVITY 6: Identify the terminologies and personalities being

referred by the following description by selecting words from the
box. Write your answers on the blanks before each item.

Petite bourgeoisie

Feudalism

Marxism

Leszek Kolakowski

Bourgeoisie

Karl Marx

Lord John Russell

Wilhelm Friedrich Heigel

Die heilige Familie

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 ACTIVITY 7
Complete the table below.
Refer to the illustration.

ECONOMIC SYSTEM HOW IT ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES IN

WORKS IN THE THE SOCIETY
SOCIETY
FEUDALISM
CAPITALISM
SOCIALISM
COMMUNISM

1. Differentiate Feudalism from Capitalism.

2. Differentiate Socialism from Communism.
3. Considering the Philippines is a free market country,
cite the strengths and weaknesses in this form of government.

ACTIVITY 8: Answer the following questions.

ACTIVITY 9: Read and understand the story.

THE NECKLACE by: Guy de Maupassant (Summary)
Mathilde Loisel was “pretty and charming” but felt she had been born into a family of
unfavorable economic status. She was married off to a lowly clerk in the Ministry of Education, who
can afford to provide her only with a modest lifestyle. Mathilde felt the burden of her poverty
intensely. She had one wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, but refused to visit her because of the
heartbreak it brought her.
One night, her husband returned home proudly bearing an invitation to a formal party.
Through her tears, she told him that she had nothing to wear and he ought to give the invitation to
one of his friends whose wife can afford better clothing. Her husband was upset by her reaction but
agreed that she may have the money.
Madame Forestier agreed to lend Mathilde her jewels, and Mathilde selected a diamond
necklace. She was overcome with gratitude at Madame Forestier’s generosity.
At the party, Mathilde was the most beautiful woman in attendance, she was intoxicated by
the attention and had an overwhelming sense of self-satisfaction. At 4 a.m., she finally looked for
Monsieur Loisel - her husband, who cloaked her in a wrap. But she felt ashamed at the shabbiness of
her wrap and followed Monsieur Loisel outside.
When they finally returned home, she discovered that her necklace was no longer around
her neck. In a panic, Monsieur Loisel went outside and retraced their steps but did not find the
necklace. He instructed her to write to Madame Forestier to explain that she had broken the clasp of
the necklace and was getting it mended.
They visited many jewelers, searching for a similar necklace, and finally found one for 36,000
francs. The Loisels spend a week scraping up money from all kinds of sources, mortgaging the rest of
their existence. After three days, Monsieur Loisel purchased the necklace. When Mathilde returned
the necklace, Madame Forestier was annoyed but did not open the case to inspect it. Mathilde was
relieved.
The Loisels began to live a life of crippling poverty. They dismissed their servant and move into
an even smaller apartment. Monsieur Loisel worked three jobs, and Mathilde spends all her time

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doing the heavy housework. This misery lasted ten years, but at the end they had repaid their
financial debts. Mathilde’s extraordinary beauty was gone: she looked just like the other women of
poor households.
One Sunday, Mathilde, spotted Madame Forestier. Madame Forestier did not recognize her,
and exclaimed that she looked different. Mathilde said that the change was on her account and
explains to her the long saga of losing the necklace, replacing it, and working for ten years to repay
the debts. At the end of her story, Madame Forestier clasped her hands and tells Mathilde the
original necklace was just costume jewelry and not worth anything.

Answer the following questions:

1. Describe what kind of person is Mathilde Loisel and her husband.
2. What were the requests of Mathilde Loisel, for her to attend to the party?
3. What problem did she encountered and how did she and her husband managed it?
4. What lessons did you learn from the story?

ACTIVITY 10: On the table below, cite events from

the story in relation to the topic, and how you
apply it in your personal life.

EVENTS IN THE STORY RELATION TO MARXISM APPLICATION TO

PERSONAL LIFE
1.

2.

3.

4.

A. Identify the terms and personalities

being referred by the following
information. Write your answers on the
blanks before each item.

________________ 1. Marx and Engels first written work when they collaborated.
________________ 2. It refers to the economic and political theories expounded by Karl
Marx and Friedrich Engels that argue there is a struggle between the
working class and the owners of the means of production.
________________ 3. It describes the totality of social relations by which humans produce
and re-produce their social existence.
________________ 4. Are those who work and can afford to buy little labor power i.e. small
business owners, peasant landlords, trade workers and the like.
________________ 5. Philosopher and historian who believes that some Marxist laws can be
interpreted differently, but that these interpretations still in general fall
into one of the two categories of error.

B. Read the following questions carefully and encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. In March 1848, Marx and Engels published in Cologne , a politically radical newspaper entitled;
A. The Communist Manifesto C. Neue Rheinische Zeitung
B. Die heilige Familie D. Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the state
2. The Communist Correspondence Committee was established on which year?

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 A. 1846 B. 1847 C. 1848 D. 1849
3. Which of the following stage of development in relations of production where a development of
tribal to city-state occurs and aristocracy is born?
A. Capitalism B. Feudalism C. Primitive communism D. Slave society
4. A historically important social class who retain some wealth and power.
A. Bourgeoisie B. Landlords C. Peasantry and farmers D. Proletariat
5. Which of the following is NOT considered as one of the strengths of Marxism?
A. It can lead to communism. C. It reduces the tendency of debt.
B. It protects the rights of unions. D. It tends to create a system of true equality.

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WHAT I KNOW ACTIVITY 1 : WHAT’S IN

Multiple Choice
Pre-Test 1. While functions are intended to be recognized, and
1. C may have positive effect on society, dysfunctions are
2. A unintended or unrecognized, and have a negative
3. C effect on society.
4. B
5. C 2. Manifest functions are the recognized and intended
consequences of any social pattern, while latent
functions are those unrecognized and unintended
consequences.

ACTIVITY 2 : ACTIVITY 3: WHAT IS IT

Picture Analysis 1. Structural functional theory, views society as a peaceful unit,
1-3. Answers conflict theory interprets society as a struggle for power
may vary for between groups engaging in conflict for limited resources
each student. 2. Due to its need to compensate for falling rates of profit by
cutting employee's wages, social benefits and pursuing military
aggression.
3. Answers may vary for each student.

ACTIVITY 4: DEEPENING Activity 5:

1. Marx distinguishes social classes on the basis of two criteria: ownership WHAT’S MORE
of means of production and control over the labor power of others. 1. E 6. B
2. Primitive communism, slave society, feudalism and capitalism
2. J 7. I
3. Philosopher Leszek Kołakowski pointed out that "Marx's theory is
3. H 8. C
incomplete or ambiguous in many places, and could be 'applied' in
many contradictory ways without manifestly infringing its principles". 4. K 9. G
5. F 10. D

Activity 6: GUIDED ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT

1. Karl Marx A. IDENTIFICATION
2. Lord John Russell 1. Die heilige Familie (The Holy Family)
2. Marxism
3. Feudalism
3. The base and superstructure metaphor
4. Bourgeoisie
4. Petite bourgeoisie
5. Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel 5. Leszek Kołakowski

ASSESSMENT Activity 7-10: Prepared by:

B. MULTIPLE CHOICE Answers may
1. C 3. D 5.A vary for each ROSARIO D. LOPEZ
2. A 4. B student. BECURAN HIGH SCHOOL

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