Friedrich Engels

Friedrich Engels (28 November 1820 – 5 August 1895) was a German philosopher, economist, political theorist, sociologist, revolutionary socialist, and historian. He was born in Barmen, Prussia (now Wuppertal, Germany), to a wealthy family of industrialists. Engels studied at the University of Berlin, where he was influenced by the ideas of Hegel and the Young Hegelians.

Engels was a close friend and collaborator of Karl Marx, and the two men co-authored a number of important works, including The Communist Manifesto (1848) and Anti-Dühring (1877). Engels also wrote extensively on his own, producing works on economics, history, politics, and philosophy.

Engels made significant contributions to the development of Marxist thought, particularly in the areas of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. He also played a key role in the development of the international socialist movement, and he was a leading figure in the First International (1864-1876).

Engels died in London, England, in 1895. He was 74 years old.

Key Works

• The Condition of the Working Class in England (1845)
• The Holy Family (1845)
• The German Ideology (1846)
• The Communist Manifesto (1848)
• Anti-Dühring (1877)
• Socialism: Utopian and Scientific (1880)
• The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State (1884)

Quotes

• "The working class must first conquer political power for itself."
• "Freedom is the right to live and not to be tyrannized over."
• "The greatest result of human industry is the subjection of man to man."
• "Religion is the opium of the people."
• "History is made by men, not by nature."

Significance

Friedrich Engels was a major figure in the development of Marxism and the international socialist movement. He was a brilliant thinker and a tireless advocate for the working class. His works continue to be studied and debated today, and they remain an important source of inspiration for socialists around the world.