Key Concepts in Marx's Philosophy

Marx vs. Hegel: The Human Being

In the first stage of Marx's philosophy, he confronts general idealistic philosophy and Hegel's philosophy in particular. Hegel's philosophy, Marx argues, has sanctioned or endorsed the liberal state as the guarantor of human freedom and progress. Marx believes that Hegel has forgotten the real, concrete human being, speculating instead on an abstraction that has little to do with real existence.

Capitalist Accumulation & Surplus Value

How does the capitalist order achieve progressive enrichment or capital accumulation? As the owner of the means of production, the capitalist's goal is to accumulate capital through the exchange of goods for profit. The way to achieve this is to appropriate a share of the value generated by the worker in their labor. If the wage were identical to the amount of value the worker adds to the goods, there would be no profit. Therefore, the capitalist retains the 'surplus value' (or 'plus value'), the increase in the value of the goods, which leads to progressive enrichment.

Alienation of the Worker

What does the alienation of man (worker) by man (the bourgeois) mean, and what are its consequences? The alienation of man by man means the expropriation of the human value par excellence, which is freedom. By extension, if a few alienate the freedom of many, the result is inequality among people. Equality is the second major value that capitalist society violates.

Marx's Solution: Revolutionary Praxis

Faced with this situation of injustice, what solution did Marx propose? In this situation of injustice, institutionalized and justified by ideology, Marx proposed revolutionary praxis. Marxist morality requires struggle to achieve human emancipation and freedom, and to abolish class differences to create a world of equal human beings. His political thought is the practical realization of his moral ideal.

Critique of the Liberal State

What are the flaws of the liberal State? It ignores the specific human being by not respecting their natural essence or social status. It alienates people and represents only the interests of a dominant bourgeois class. The liberal state declares people equal in the abstract political sphere but allows private ownership of the means of production by a few, thereby sanctioning or ratifying inequality.