Marxs Theory of History Essay - 899 Words

Marxs Theory of History The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. This crucial opening to The Communist Manifesto holds the key to understanding Karl Marxs conception of history. Marx outlines history as a two dimensional, linear chain of events. A constant progression of class divisions being created and overthrown, one after the other, until the result is the utopian endpoint, otherwise known as communism. Karl Marx, in writing the Communist Manifesto, argued that human history unfolds in a teleological manner; therefore it unfolds according to a distinct series of historical stages, each necessarily following the other. These stages ultimately lead to a given Utopian†¦show more content†¦According to Marxs account of history, every class is naturally unsound, and predestined for ultimate destruction due to its internal discrepancies. They will then bring rise to a new class, which has settled the discrepancies of its precursor but retains it own, which w ill cause its eventual passing. In more specific terms, Marx sketches the development of the capitalist bourgeoisie society from feudal society. From the surfs of the middle ages sprang the chartered burghers of the earliest towns. From these burgesses the first elements of the bourgeoisie were developed. (56) So Serfs gave rise to burghers who formed the beginnings of the new bourgeois class. The beginnings of European trade with America and the Far East contributed to the rapid development of the revolutionary element in the tottering feudal society(56). New markets, which became unable to be supported by the feudal systems means of production, caused that system to be replaced by the manufacturing system#8230;. The guild-masters were pushed aside by the manufacturing middle class; division of labor between the different corporate guilds vanished in the face of division of labor in a single workshop. (56) And, so, by an inevitable historical process, the modern bourgeoisie is itself the product of a long course of development, of a series of revolutions in the modes of production and of exchange.(57) And each of these has been accompanied by a correspondingShow MoreRelatedCan Marxs Theory of History Be Truly Scientific? Essay2205 Words   |  9 PagesKarl Marx is one of the most influential figures in history. Since his death and the widespread distribution of his works, his legacy has affected almost everybody alive on the planet today. He has had a huge influence on the arts: Literature, art, theatre, film and even music. Peter Singer, in his book about Marx likened his impact on the world to that of Jesus or Mohammed. His biggest influence, however, has been on the world of politics. 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