Practice vs. Theory: A Philosophical Examination

Most previous philosophers give primacy to theoretical philosophy over practice. Aristotle conceived of happiness as the ability to lead a contemplative life devoted to study and theoretical knowledge. Plato considered the role of knowledge, looking at the world consisting of ideas, in particular, the idea of good or supreme, but the term of such contemplation was fit to rule. Theory directs and governs the practical life from the supersensible world. The entire knowledge of Platonic politics is heading to its culmination, so knowledge of the theory makes sense when it becomes praxis.

Marx's Perspective on Human Essence

Karl Marx understands the human essence as linked to the way work distinguishes man from animals. It is not so much reason as the capacity to produce. Philosophy considers that practice must become action on reality. His idea is to build the theory to serve the following objective: to overcome the shortcomings of speculative knowledge in order to help build a more just social order. The blade is placed in the path of approach to life, to the concrete existence of man, and served for it in politics. But in the case of Marx, pure reason is the reality and becomes productive, releasing him from the alienation he is subjected to throughout history.

Alienation: Ideological, Religious, and Economical

Marx speaks of three types of alienation: the ideological, religious, and economical because he considers the essence of man relates to the nature of productively. To solve the situation of the proletariat in capitalist society, he performs his communist proposal. Man is freed when no possession establishes a relationship with things, and private property should be removed. Plato also believed private property was an obstacle to educational development and staff of the ruler. He proposes the elimination of particular properties.

Education and Equality: Plato vs. Marx

On the other side, as with Marx, Plato defends that education should be given by the state to men and women to do the task equally. The difference between these two authors lies in that Plato maintains a hierarchical society and excludes producers. Marx's communist proposal is to recover the liberation of humanity for the proletarian class. Plato advocates elitism and is against democratic principles. Marx's philosophy defends equality is utopian because the very nature distinguishes between people. Consider that Marxist communism may end in a totalitarian state.

Materialism and Atheism

As a direct consequence of reality, the theory of Marx's materialism maintains this idea comes first and is fundamental, but Marx is reality. The theory of reality of Marx remains at atheism. He puts it in one sentence: religion is the opium of the people.