Final answer:
Karl Marx theorized that societal evolution is driven by class struggles, particularly between the owners of production means and workers, which during the Industrial Revolution gave rise to capitalism and subsequently would lead to a proletarian revolution and socialism as per Marxist philosophy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Karl Marx developed a theory concerning the evolution of societies through various stages, primarily influenced by class struggles related to the means of production. During the Industrial Revolution and the rise of capitalism, Marx observed significant wealth disparities between factory owners (the bourgeoisie) and workers (the proletariat). He believed capitalism created structural conflict and predicted that the proletariat would inevitably rise against the bourgeoisie in a revolution leading to a socialist utopia. Marx and his associate, Engels, outlined this philosophy, which became known as Marxism, and envisioned a society without class distinctions where all property would be common.