The influence of Karl Marx on the understanding of economics, philosophy, history, sociology, and revolutionary work is immeasurable. The theories put forth by Marx were concerned with underlining the issue of capitalism’s exploitation of the working class, and they were essential to the formation of a new movement that challenged the established hierarchy and inequality that persisted in society. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore the contribution of Karl Marx not only to the socialist movement’s history but also to global society as it is known today.
The childhood and development of Marx had a significant impact on his later work. Born into a family of nine children from a very early age, Marx was heavily influenced by the radical ideas and social policies of the Enlightenment era. The Jewish background of his parents exposed Karl to immense discrimination and prejudice, leading to his questioning of the part of religion and desire for change in the social landscape. At school, Marx studied the history of art, Greek and Roman mythology, and was heavily engaged in student social activities. In October 1836, Marx enrolled at the University of Berlin to continue studying art and philosophy, where he got introduced to Hegel’s ideology.
“The Hegelian pressure in the revolutionary student culture was powerful, and Marx joined a society called the Doctor Club” (Feurer). Hesitant to embrace the philosophy at first, Marx changed his mind, which has a started his work in social philosophy.
In contrast to the many nineteenth-century opponents of industrial capitalism, Marx was a real revolutionary. The works that he had written were all intended to serve as a background for the communist transformation, as evidenced by “The Communist Manifesto.” The dedicated following illustrates the impact of the works that the philosopher managed to attain. After his passing, communist movements did not end, “not exactly where or how Marx imagined they would, but, nevertheless, in his name” (Menand). Thus, by the mid-twentieth century, more and more people around the world that lived under various regimes called themselves and believed themselves to be Marxists. This is a crucial point to consider because the principles of Karl Marx’s philosophy imply the unification between practice and thought.
The role of Marx’s “Capital” is important for the consideration of the philosopher’s contribution. After living in different countries across Europe, Marx settled in Lindon as The New York Daily Tribune correspondent. During that time, he felt “isolated from fellow London Communists, and focused more on developing his economic theories […] Three years later, Marx published the first volume of “Capital” (Das Kapital) as an economic law of motion of modern society” (History.com Editors). The importance of the work lies in the author’s creation of the theory of capitalism implying a dynamic and multi-dimensional system that would have the seeds of its self-destruction that would subsequently lead to the triumph of communism as an ideology.
To conclude, the ideas laid out by Karl Marx are essential to the understanding of the political, social, and economic development of global society. By postulating that human societies evolve through the conflict between classes, the manifests of Marx have embedded themselves into the research and philosophical tradition of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Today, the political agenda of the US includes discussions of giving the working class more power to decide the future of the country.
Works Cited
Menand, Louis. “Karl Marx, Yesterday and Today.” The New Yorker. 2016. Web.
History. Editors. “Karl Marx.” History. 2019. Web.
Feuer, Lewis. “Karl Marx. German Philosopher.” Britannica. 2021. Web.