Main Themes and Ideas in Marxs Thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Main Themes and Ideas in Marxs Thought - Essay Example Communism is a culmination of a period in history where there will be an abundance of material wealth; where the articles of production will be distributed according to every one’s need. It is a stage where Marx predicted, that will inevitably occur due to the conflicting forces in society. Karl Marx despised the idea of private ownership and capitalism. He believes that in an economic structure where the means of production or industry are owned privately, it will only be managed by the rich and the upper class, calling it as a â€Å"dictatorship of the bourgeoisie† and will only serve their self-interest. And because of these, conflict or social tension will be inevitable and will eventually lead to the downfall of the bourgeoisie. This process of â€Å"dialectical materialism†, where the thesis collides with the antithesis will bring out the synthesis or the rise of the masses. Marx argued that these structural contradictions in the private ownership of produc tion by capitalism will cause its own demise, giving birth to Socialism which will ultimately lead to Communism. To quote Marx: In countries where modern civilization has become fully developed, a new class of petty bourgeois has been formed, fluctuating between proletariat and bourgeoisie, and ever renewing itself as a supplementary part of bourgeois society. The individual members of this class, however, are being constantly hurled down into the proletariat by the action of competition, and, as modern industry develops, they even see the moment approaching when they will completely disappear as an independent section of modern society, to be replaced in manufactures, agriculture, and commerce, by overlookers, bailiffs and shopmen. ." (Karl Marx, 1848) The result of this conflict or tension will result in a new system called Socialism. This synthesis will topple the â€Å"dictatorship of the bourgeoisie† and will be replaced by the â€Å"dictatorship of the proletariat†. But this stage is only transitory. In the end, Marx espoused that this will eventually result on the ultimate stage where there will be an abundance of everything; where class distinction is no more that even the existence of states will no longer be necessary. The by-products brought by capitalism and private ownership like urbanization will increase the number of the working class or proletariat. And as their ranks increases, so will their consciousness. This class consciousness will eventually make them understand that they have to better the system (class struggle) to better their lot. Marx argued that if the private ownership of the means of production will be taken over by the working class, this would inspire a social movement that will benefit everybody equally. This will result in a society without an oppressive class in a system that is less susceptible to cyclical crises.