Final answer:
Karl Marx believed intellectuals should engage in praxis, which means they should actively work to change the world, not just theorize about it. This is rooted in Marxist theory and dialectical materialism, serving as a foundation for critical theory to question societal and power structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Karl Marx's thought that intellectuals should engage in praxis, meaning that they should not just theorize about the world but change it. This concept is closely related to Marxist theory and the idea of dialectical materialism. Marx's critique of capitalism, viewed through the lens of praxis, compels intellectuals to take an active role in transforming society, aiming to highlight and dismantle systems of oppression, and encouraging the proletariat to rise against the bourgeoisie to achieve an equitable society. This evolution of thought gave rise to critical theory, which fundamentally challenges Enlightenment beliefs by focusing on social and power structures that dictate knowledge and societal norms.
Marx also introduced the notion of class consciousness as essential for the proletariat to recognize their collective strength and potential for revolutionary change. Praxis, therefore, is a call to aware action, not just cerebral exercises, aligning with the principles of pragmatism which emphasize the application of ideas through active experimentation and change. Knowledge and ideas are tools for social alteration, grounded in the material reality and class struggles that define human development.