What does communism look like?
It abolishes: private property, division of labor, classes and markets
How do we get from capitalism to communism?
Revolution
Why does Marx think the transition from capitalism to communism is inevitable?
Nature of capitalism increases polarization between classes, degrading workers and proving worthlessness of bourgeoisie as managers of state and economy.
What are Marx’s 7 theses of historical materialism?
- social RoP exist 2. base and superstructure 3. laws of individual MoP 4. revolution and transformation 5. science and ideology 6. exhaustion and prefiguration 7. emancipation
What is Marx’s theory of the state?
At least two possibilities: instrument of capitalists or guardian of capitalist class
Capitalism vs communism
Division of labor -> voluntary activity, economic class -> real community
How do we achieve freedom?
To be free, we must first satisfy our material necessities (this is the move from the realm of necessity to realm of freedom)
realm of necessity
At best, a collectively-owned, rationally planned society of associated producers.
realm of freedom
activity that is an end in itself, that is beyond the realm of necessity. Concretely, this will mean among other things, a short working day.
Marx’s three complimentary theories of history
- succession of modes of production 2. unfolding of economic laws (FoP vs RoP) 3. class struggle
Why is revolution necessary to move to communism?
- Capitalists won’t just give up their wealth 2. revolution will transform our capitalistic mindset to a communist one.
How do Marx’s “theories” of history hold together?
Economic laws develop and eventually fetter forces of production. Transition from one mode of production to another occurs through revolution, This is a socially conscious decision based on ideology, not laws.
