Question

Explain Marx’s criticisms of capitalism. Pick at least two ideas, one drawing on the early Marx and the other drawing from the later Marx. That is, what is one of Marx’s moral criticisms of capitalism (from his early period) and what is one of Marx’s economic criticisms of capitalism (from his later period)? What does Marx think happens to the proletariat under capitalism?

a) Marx criticizes capitalism for exploiting labor and creating class divisions, leading to the alienation of workers.
b) Marx criticizes capitalism for its focus on profit, leading to moral degradation and loss of human values.
c) Marx believes that capitalism leads to the emancipation of the proletariat, enabling them to achieve social equality.
d) Marx argues that capitalism promotes individual freedom and innovation, benefiting society as a whole.

Answer 1

Marx's moral criticism of capitalism includes the alienation and exploitation of workers, while his economic criticism predicts the concentration of wealth and inevitable economic collapse, leading to a proletariat revolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

Karl Marx's Criticisms of Capitalism

Karl Marx offered both moral and economic criticisms of capitalism throughout his works. From his early writings, one of Marx's moral criticisms of capitalism concerns the alienation of the proletariat.

He argued that in a capitalist society, workers lose the ability to determine their life and destiny, become estranged from their own labor, and are reduced to mere commodities. Capitalism not only exploits labor but also leads to wide class divisions, with the working class suffering impoverishment and depersonalization.

In his later works, particularly in 'Das Kapital,' Marx provided an economic criticism of capitalism. He foresaw that the relentless pursuit of profit in a capitalist economy would result in the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, leading to exacerbated social inequalities and the eventual economic collapse of capitalist society.

Under capitalism, Marx believed the proletariat—the working class—would continue to be exploited and marginalized until these tensions necessitated a revolution, culminating in the establishment of a communist society.

Contrary to the notion that capitalism promotes the welfare of all, Marx predicted that the inherent inequalities and exploitation would only increase, until the proletariat is driven to a revolutionary breaking point.

Hence, options (c) and (d) are inconsistent with Marx's view that capitalism would eventually lead to the overthrow by the proletariat, not their emancipation or societal benefit under the current system.