Karl Marx
by Karl Marx – the original creator of communism and/or socialism. As much of the world shunned these concepts a few decades previous, the times are turning many to think socialistically, even though they may not know it.
One of Marx’s many theories: step forward and look at what we have become.
“Men can be distinguished from animals by consciousness, by religion, or anything else you like. They themselves begin to distinguish themselves from animals as soon as they begin to produce their means of subsistence –their food, shelter and clothing” (Marx).
How did our predecessors produce food? They did not just walk to the supermarket on the corner. They went and hunted an animal, planted crops, or raised animals for use in labor and potential food sources. They were industrious at an individual level and accomplished the means of survival all on their own.
Eventually, they began to cultivate in communities. They worked together. One would tend the flocks, one would plant the food, and one would hunt the animals. They all had the same common goal: to eat and to survive. They used each other to survive. There were no rich nor poor or any other type of class distinction; they were one distinction trying to survive symbiotically.
Marx felt that ideas by themselves were not enough to change society. He insisted that in order to change society, “One had to see human beings as part of the material world.” Marx believed that “human behavior is determined by material forces, just like the behavior of any other natural object.” Hence, the study of humanity was in part, a scientific study of the natural world. Individuals that thought and philosophized in such a manner were called materialists. Marx considered materialism as a huge step forward from over the various religious and idealist notions in history that caused class distinction in the human race. He was keen that one could argue scientifically about changing social conditions and the fact that, “One no longer depended on praying to God for a spiritual change in people” (Marx).
Although Karl Marx was destined to prove influential to all of humanity after only a brief period of time, he lived in poverty for the majority of his life. In fact, his views were never accepted until after his death. He died on March 14, 1883 in London, England, passing away peacefully in his sleep while sitting on his arm chair. Marx had dedicated his whole life in attempt to make the world a better place for all mankind, in his eyes, fulfilling his dream to “work for the general good”.
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