In 1867 Karl Marx wrote about class differences and how they relate to capitalism. Marx distinguishes two different classes based on two criteria, ownership of the means of production and control of labor power. As we have learned in an earlier reading these three classes are, capitalists, who own the means of production and purchase labor; and workers who neither have the means of production or purchase labor, but can sell their own labor.
In the chapter Marx wrote in a confusing format of discussing a thought and then going back to the beginning and reassessing his thought another time. As, I read this it was important to remember what capitalism is and how Marx didn’t agree with private or corporately owned businesses. He constantly theorized what made capitalism work and how inefficient it was for society has a whole. This led him to study capitalism and class differences closer.
The capitalist mode of production is based on three major classes in modes of production; wage labors, capitalists, and land owners.
Marx believed that England was a classical economic structure. Yet, even England had problems with the middle class destroying division lines of class. Marx believed that no matter how badly the class division is we have a “continual tendency” to drift toward a capitalist mode of production. By having this “capitalist mode of production” we break everything into smaller pieces; his examples were “labor into wage labor and the means of production into capital”.
Then, Marx refers back to what constitutes as a “class”. He questions all the parts of the three major modes of production.
He continues to find the answers to his questions, thinking maybe revenue is the cause for division. Everything to us is based on money and worth. We are how much we make, property we own, and money stashed away in the bank.
I certainly believe he was on to something there. Isn’t that how we view social class to this day? How much we make, where we live, what we drive, etc. These claims of class seem very real even if some of his ideas are a little out dated.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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3 comments:
Karl Marx would have most likely been a very interesting person to have a conversation with about all the different views and ideas he believes. Hopefully, having a conversation with Marx in person would not be as challenging as trying to grasp what he has written. After re-reading the passage several times I have come to some-what understand what Marx is discussing. I believe that Hunt1kp completed a good summary of chapter 10. Marx talks about how there is different classes and what makes you part of those classes. I think Marx is correct about the difference between the classes. There is definitely a clear difference of classes between who owns the means of production (Bourgeoisie) and who the labor’s are (Proletariat). This idea created by Marx is still in effect today. For example, look at any of the three major motor companies. The “Bourgeoisie” or in other terms, the owners of production would be the CEO’s. They control everything that happens within the company. The “Proletariat” also known as the labors can be looked at as middle management and factory workers. The differences between these two are clear. The Bourgeoisie own and control every aspect of the company and make more money than the Proletariat. On the other hand, the Proletariat own nothing, but what they provide to the company and do not make the same amount of money as the Bourgeoisie. The differences of the classes and who really holds the power can be considered confusing. Both classes need to work together in order for either of the classes to perform properly. This is a problem we have experienced today. One of the challenges the American motor companies are facing are that the Proletariat have formed groups such as the UAW (United Auto Workers) and have become too powerful for the Bourgeoisie to control. The UAW demand higher wages, more benefits, more of what the Bourgeoisie cannot provide. This is what causes strikes, loss of benefits, and job layoffs.
I do not think money is the main reason why there is a difference between these two classes, however I believe this is far more complex than a money issue. Although money is the main goal for many today, I believe there is more than how much money we make, what we wear, and how nice the car we drive is that defines what social class we are part of.
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