Karl Marx Section: Economics Essays
He never spoke of his friends as a youth, and no one has ever came to speak of him through his life. He left high school in August of 1835 to go on to the University of Bonn in the fall of the same year to study law. His father wanted him to be a lawyer much like himself but when Karl´s reckless university life was getting in the way after a year Heinrich transferred him to Berlin. Also, he did not go to most lectures, and showed little interest in what was to be learned. Karl´s reckless ways were not tolerated at Berlin, a more conservative college without the mischievous ways of the other universities. While at Berlin, Marx became part of the group known as the Yong Hegelians. The group was organized in part due to the philosophy teacher Hegel that taught from 1818 to his death. The teachings of Hegel shaped the way the school thought towards most things. Those who studied Hegel and his ideals were known as the Young Hegelians.
Hegel spoke of the development and evolution of the mind and of ideas. Although Karl was younger than most in the group, he was recognized for his intellectual ability and became the focus of the group. While at Berlin He came to believe that all the various sciences and philosophies were part of one overarching, which, when completed, which would give a true and total picture of the universe and man. (Communist Manifesto, Marx (Francis B. Randal), page 15) Marx was an atheist, and believed that science and philosophy would prove everything. Thus he had no belief in a god of any type. Marx believed that Hegel must have been an atheist as well because of his strong belief in the mind. Marx´s doctoral thesis was competed in 1841. It carried the title The Difference Between the Philosophies of Nature of Democrtius and Epicurus.(The Making of Marx´s Critical Theory, Oakley, page 11) It had to do with the Greek philosopher Epicurus and how his beliefs related to Marxs´ of that day.
This thesis was an early indication of the thinking behind Karl Marx. Much of his later work and ideas are evident in this essay. He passed his thesis into the University of Jena because Bonn and Berlin required an oral part to the thesis. The quickness was also a matter in this. He passed it in early April, and got his degree in history and philosophy in April 15, 1841. After graduation he was unable to find work. This caused him to take a job with the German newspaper Rheinische Zeitung in early 1842. By the end of the year, Marx made editor- in-chief. A few months after that in 1843 because of his radical writings, and his social views, Marx was forced to step down as editor, and soon after that the paper closed altogether. He married Jenny von Westphalen, and with a member of the Young Hegelians, Arnold Ruge went to Paris to publish a radical journal on his beliefs. It was evident in his works that he was a revolutionary that advocated criticism of everything in existence. This was especially anticipated by the proletariat.
The proletariat were the working class of the day. They were the poor and made up the majority of people. Marx went on to believe that the proletariat would rise up against the bourgeoisie. Then in 1844 Marx met a man that would change his life forever.When going to England after doing military service, he meet Marx in Cologne in the offices of the Rheinische Zeitung. Both of them had gone through the German philosophic school and whilst abroad they came to the same conclusions but while Marx arrived at an understanding of the struggles and the demands of the age basis of the French Revolution, Engles did so on the basis of English industry. (The Story of His life, Mehring, page 93) Friedrich Engles was born in 1820 in the Rhine Province of the Kingdom of Prussia. Like Marx he was brought up with the German philosophies of Hegel, and like Marx, Engles began to follow the works of Hegel. These parallels between Marx and Engles formed a relationship that would last for the rest of each others lives.
They both contributed to each others works, and co-wrote many things. The similarity in background between the two also meant a similarity in ideas. The both believed in the struggle of the proletariat and that it would rise up against the bourgeoisie. Marx is considerate to be the greater of the two philosophies. The one contrast was the way in which one solved problems. Marx would use historical research to solve a problem, as apposed Engles who used his imagination and pure mind to come about a solution. These differences in culture and similarities in beliefs complemented each other well. This outlook on society and the class war was ingenious. It was their greatest work together, the communist manifesto, which achieved them their most popularity among the proletariat, and created the most problems with the government for the two. Communist Manifesto or Manifest der Kommunistischen Partel was a book written by Marx with collaboration from Engles. Basically meaning that Marx wrote it but he discussed the issues in the manifesto with Engles.
It documents the objectives and principals of the Communist League, an organization of arand intellectuals. It was published in London in 1848, shortly before the revolution in Paris. The manifesto is divided into four parts, and the beginning of the entire document reads A specter is haunting Europe. The first part outlines his ideas on history and a prediction on what is yet to come. He predicts a confrontation between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, the working class and the higher class. Because of the main logic behind capitalism the bourgeoisie will seek more power and more wealth. With them doing this, the living conditions of the proletariat will decrease. Numbers of proletariat will increase as well as their political awareness, and will revolt against the bourgeoisie and will eventually win. In the second part Marx discusses the importance of Communism, and if private property is abolished, class distinctions will be as well.
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