Karl Marx

Karl Marx is widely considered one of the most influential authors of the 19th century. He was a German philosopher, economist, Marxist revolutionary, and sociologist who wrote widely concerning the social and economic problems of the modern world. Marx's writings gave rise to a new academic field known as Marxist theory, which has since been adopted by many different disciplines.

Marx was born in Trier, Germany in 1818. His family was of Jewish heritage, and his father was a successful lawyer. Marx attended the University of Berlin as a young man, where he studied law, history, and philosophy. In addition, he was actively involved in student politics, attending the Free Men's group, later known as the Young Hegelian. His studies in the human sciences led him to form the basis of his famous dialectic materialism theory.

In 1844, Marx moved to Paris, where he became heavily involved in a variety of political activities. In 1845 he joined the “League of the Just”, which later became the Communist League. Here, he wrote the famous Communist Manifesto with Frederich Engels. This would become a revolutionary text, calling for the proletariat’s overthrow of the capitalist bourgeoisie and ushering in a new era of socialism.

In 1848, Marx and Engels returned to Paris, where they were again up to their political activities. Marx wrote a number of articles and pamphlets, most notably The Class Struggles in France and The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte.

Afterwards, Marx and his family moved to London, where he spent the rest of his life in exile. Here, he was able to focus more of his energy on writing. He published a number of works, most notably Das Kapital, Volume 1 and 2, which are regarded as the fundamental foundation of Marxist thought. In these publications, he directly critiqued the capitalist system, the profit motive, and the political structures that silently oppressed the working classes. He also suggested steps for changing the current system and creating a more equitable and progressive society.

At the time of his death in 1883, Karl Marx was an incredibly influential figure. His writings and ideas have inspired revolutions, sparked political debate, and provided the modern left with a theoretical foundation and inspiration.

Marx’s key contribution to philosophy was encouraging people to focus on and be conscious of their social and economic condition. Through his work, he highlighted the cracks in the capitalist system and suggested possible pathways to the future which could lead to a socialist utopia. He argued that the working class needed to be conscious of its plight and take action to improve their position.

The legacy of Karl Marx continues even today, with many universities offering entire degree programs dedicated to Marxist theory and analysis. He is perhaps the most influential intellectual of the 19th century, and his writings have shaped our modern understanding of history and human behavior. If you would like to learn and explore more about Karl Marx’s ideas and philosophy, then his vast body of work is well-worth a read.