Karl Marx

Karl Marx (5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, political theorist, sociologist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. Born in Trier, Prussia (now Germany), Marx studied law and philosophy at the universities of Bonn and Berlin. He was influenced by the ideas of Hegel, the German philosopher, and the Young Hegelians, a group of radical critics of the Prussian government and the established order.

In 1843, Marx moved to Paris, where he became a leading figure in the German socialist movement. He collaborated with Friedrich Engels, another German socialist, on a number of important works, including The Communist Manifesto (1848). The Manifesto is a short but influential political and philosophical text that outlines the fundamental principles of Marxism.

Marx was also a prolific writer and journalist. He wrote extensively on economics, history, politics, and philosophy. His most important work is Capital, Volume 1: The Process of Capitalist Production (1867). Capital is a complex and challenging work, but it is also one of the most influential works of economic thought ever written.

Marx's ideas have had a profound impact on the world. They have inspired socialist and communist revolutions in many countries, and they continue to be debated and discussed today.

Key Works

• The Communist Manifesto (1848)
• The German Ideology (1846)
• Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts (1844)
• Capital, Volume 1: The Process of Capitalist Production (1867)
• The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon (1852)
• Value, Price and Profit (1866)
• Wage, Labor and Capital (1869)
• Critique of the Gotha Programme (1875)

Quotes

• "The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it."
• "The working class must first conquer political power for itself."
• "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."
• "Religion is the opium of the people."
• "The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win."

Significance

Karl Marx was a major figure in the development of socialism and communism. 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 and communists around the world.