cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/29626672

On May 5th, 1818, Karl Marx, hero of the international proletatiat, was born. His revolution of Socialist theory reverberates throughout the world carries on to this day, in increasing magnitude. Every passing day, he is vindicated. His analysis of Capitalism, development of the theory of Scientific Socialism, and advancements on dialectics to become Dialectical Materialism, have all played a key role in the past century, and have remained ever-more relevant throughout.

He didn’t always rock his famous beard, when he was younger he was clean shaven!

Some significant works:

Economic & Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844

The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte

The Civil War in France

Wage Labor & Capital

Wages, Price, and Profit

Critique of the Gotha Programme

Manifesto of the Communist Party (along with Engels)

The Poverty of Philosophy

And, of course, Capital Vol I-III

Interested in Marxism-Leninism, but don’t know where to start? Check out my “Read Theory, Darn it!” introductory reading list!

  • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.worldEnglish
    51·
    13 hours ago

    I fail to see a distinction between a Lord owning a farm with a mill that produced flour and a capitalist owning a factory that produces flour.

    Feudalism isn’t exactly capitalism but it’s splitting hairs. Nor do I agree with Engels that serfs had it better because it was in their Lord’s interests. If that was the case then a Capitalist would treat it’s workers better as well.

    • Prunebutt@slrpnk.netEnglish
      62·
      13 hours ago

      I fail to see a distinction between a Lord owning a farm with a mill that produced flour and a capitalist owning a factory that produces flour.

      The difference is that a feudal lord didn’t sell the flour for profit which he invested to buy more farmland (that’s the M -> C -> M' process Marx explains in “das Kapital”). You couldn’t buy land in feudal times.

      Nor do I agree with Engels that serfs had it better because it was in their Lord’s interests. If that was the case then a Capitalist would treat it’s workers better as well.

      You don’t need to agree with Engels. The industrial revolution lead to a stark, tangible decrease in living conditions for the proletariat/former serfs. That’s just a historical fact.

      • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.worldEnglish
        22·
        11 hours ago

        You couldn’t buy land in feudal times.

        In the medieval book, The Aristocracy in the County of Champagne, 1100-1300 (2007), Theodore Evergates dedicates an entire section to ‘The Market in Fiefs’

        Land was bought and sold all the time by lords.

        The industrial revolution lead to a stark, tangible decrease in living conditions for the proletariat/former serfs. That’s just a historical fact.

        The serfs left the farm because for all its hardships, it was better. They could have gone back but didn’t. The bigger factor reducing quality of life was population growth.

        • Prunebutt@slrpnk.netEnglish
          11·
          10 hours ago

          In the medieval book, The Aristocracy in the County of Champagne, 1100-1300 (2007), Theodore Evergates dedicates an entire section to ‘The Market in Fiefs’

          So… where were the medieval capitalists? O.o

          The serfs left the farm because for all its hardships, it was better. They could have gone back but didn’t.

          Nope, the enclosure of the commons prohibited the serfs to come back. If living conditions were so much better in the proletariat, the conditions wouldn’t have led to several revolutions.

          • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            10 hours ago

            So… where were the medieval capitalists?

            ??? You said there was no land sale. I proved that wrong with a cited source. The end.

            Nope, the enclosure of the commons prohibited the serfs to come back.

            Farmers ceased to exist? Enclosure riots started in 1530, 200 years before the industrial revolution.

            If living conditions were so much better

            The desire for progress today doesn’t mean the past was better. Did the civil rights riots of the 1960’s mean that slavery was better?

            • Prunebutt@slrpnk.netEnglish
              1·
              9 hours ago

              I can admit that I’m not enough of a history nerd to disprove you. I’m pretty sure Karl Marx uas, though.

              But yeah, if you say so: Capitalism is as old as humanity. From way back when people invented money to make barter easier, which never happend. Sure thing, bra. /s

              • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.worldEnglish
                2·
                7 hours ago

                But yeah, if you say so: Capitalism is as old as humanity

                Come on man, I only said I saw a Lord owning the means of production as the same as a businessman owning the means of production.