The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts by: Marx people are masked and distorted through the exchange of

commodities. He explains that under capitalism, the value of a

The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 is a collection of
commodity is determined by the amount of socially necessary labor
early writings by Karl Marx, in which he explores various social,
embodied in it, but this fact is concealed, making it seem as if
economic, and philosophical ideas. The manuscripts contain Marx's
commodities have inherent value.
critical analysis of capitalism and its impact on human beings. Here
is a summary of the main themes and concepts presented in the Class Struggle: Marx emphasizes the central role of class struggle in
manuscripts: history. He argues that society is divided into two primary classes:
the bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the
Alienated Labor: Marx examines the concept of alienation resulting
proletariat (working class). The inherent conflict between these
from the capitalist mode of production. He argues that under
classes arises due to the exploitation of the proletariat by the
capitalism, workers become estranged from the products of their
bourgeoisie. Marx sees the proletariat as the revolutionary class
labor, the process of labor itself, their fellow workers, and their own
capable of overthrowing capitalism and establishing a communist
human nature. This alienation dehumanizes individuals and
society.
diminishes their fulfillment and freedom.
The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 provides a
Private Property and Communism: Marx critiques the institution of
foundational understanding of Marx's critique of capitalism, the
private property, arguing that it leads to social inequality,
concept of alienation, and his vision of communism as a means to
exploitation, and the alienation of individuals. He envisions
overcome social inequalities and restore human liberation. These
communism as an alternative system in which private property is
ideas laid the groundwork for Marx's later works, including "Capital"
abolished and the means of production are collectively owned by
and his contributions to socialist and communist movements around
the community, leading to a more equitable and liberated society.
the world.
Human Nature and Species Being: Marx explores the idea of
Wage Labor and Exploitation: Marx discusses how wage labor
"species being" or "species essence," which refers to the essential
under capitalism leads to the exploitation of workers. Workers are
characteristics that distinguish human beings from other animals. He
paid a fraction of the value they create through their labor, with the
argues that under capitalism, human potential and creativity are
surplus value going to the capitalist class.
stifled, and individuals are reduced to mere instruments of
production. Communism, in contrast, would allow individuals to Estrangement and Dehumanization: Marx emphasizes how
express their species being fully and develop their capacities to the capitalism alienates individuals from their own labor, their creative
fullest. potential, and their social relationships, resulting in a sense of
estrangement and dehumanization.
Commodity Fetishism: Marx discusses the phenomenon of
commodity fetishism, wherein the social relationships between
Division of Labor: Marx examines the division of labor in capitalist
production, arguing that it leads to the fragmentation of skills and
the devaluation of labor, as workers are reduced to performing
repetitive and specialized tasks.
Materialism and Historical Materialism: Marx's analysis is rooted in
historical materialism, which posits that the material conditions of
society, particularly the mode of production, shape its social,
political, and cultural institutions.
Critique of Political Economy: Marx critiques the foundations of
political economy, challenging the concepts of value, exchange, and
profit, and offering an alternative perspective based on labor theory
of value.
Emancipation and Revolution: Marx envisions the emancipation of
the proletariat through a revolutionary process. He argues that the
proletariat, as the exploited class, has the potential to overthrow
capitalism and establish a classless society.
Critique of Religion: Marx criticizes religion as a form of ideological
control that perpetuates and justifies the existing social order. He
argues that religion serves as an opiate of the masses, providing
false consolation and distracting individuals from the material
conditions of their lives.
Marx contends that religion, like other forms of ideology, functions
to maintain the status quo by diverting attention away from the
underlying economic and social relations of power. It creates a false
sense of fulfillment and hope, while neglecting the material realities
of inequality and exploitation. Marx sees religion as an expression of
alienation and calls for its transcendence through the establishment
of a more equitable and just society.
Historical Development and Human Liberation: Marx discusses the
historical development of societies and their various modes of
production. He argues that each mode of production carries within
it the seeds of its own transformation and eventual supersession.
Marx sees capitalism as a historically progressive mode of
production that has played a crucial role in the development of
productive forces. However, he also recognizes its inherent
contradictions and the suffering it imposes on the working class.
Marx believes that a revolutionary transformation can occur through
capitalism's contradictions and struggles. He envisions a future
communist society in which capitalism's inherent conflicts and
inequalities are resolved, leading to the emancipation of humanity
as a whole. This liberation involves the establishment of a classless
society where the free development of each individual becomes the
condition for the free development of all.
By emphasizing historical development and the possibility of human
liberation, Marx provides a perspective that extends beyond the
critique of capitalism and offers a vision of a fundamentally
transformed society based on principles of equality, cooperation,
and human flourishing.
THE 2 CLASSES
Marx primarily identifies two main classes in capitalist society: the
bourgeoisie (or capitalist class) and the proletariat (or working
class).
Bourgeoisie (Property Owners): The bourgeoisie refers to the
capitalist class who own and control the means of production, such
as factories, land, and machinery. They accumulate wealth and
capital through the exploitation of labor and the extraction of
surplus value. The bourgeoisie wield economic and political power
and use it to maintain their dominance and preserve the capitalist
system.

Proletariat (Propertyless Workers): The proletariat comprises the

working class, who own no means of production and must sell their
labor power to the bourgeoisie in exchange for a wage. They are
dependent on their employment for survival, and their labor is
exploited by the bourgeoisie to generate profit. The proletariat
typically lacks control over their working conditions, faces economic
precarity, and experiences alienation under capitalism.

Marx argues that the relationship between the bourgeoisie and the
proletariat is characterized by class struggle, as the interests of these
two classes are fundamentally opposed. The bourgeoisie seeks to
maximize profit and maintain its privileged position, while the
proletariat seeks better working conditions, higher wages, and
ultimately the overthrow of the capitalist system.

Marx believed that the proletariat, due to its numerical strength and
its central role in the production process, had the potential to unite
and organize in a revolutionary struggle to overthrow capitalism.
Through collective action and the establishment of a classless
society, Marx envisioned the liberation of the proletariat and the
end of the exploitation inherent in the capitalist mode of
production.

means of existence refer to the material conditions necessary for

human survival and development, including the production and
distribution of goods and resources.