"Marx discovered the simple fact that mankind must first of all eat, drink, have shelter and clothing, before it can pursue politics, science, art, religion." His works were completed before other theorists like, Tylor and Frazer. Marx published Capital, which focused on a critical study of economics. This led other countries in Europe like, Russia to revolt against their monarchy. Later, it influenced China when Mao took an army of poor peasants to fight against the current leadership. His idea of society was far reaching and empowering to many.
Hegel's system of thought at the same time Marx was on the scene was important for understanding Marxist ideas. Marx's "materialist" notion came from the general principle, that is fundamentally real about the world can be found in material forces rather than mental concepts, became the philosophical anchor for all of Marx's later thinking. For example, understanding the two themes that took center stage as his thought developed: the conviction that economic realities determine human behavior and second the thesis that human history is the story of class struggle, the scene of perpetual conflict in every society between those who own things, usually the rich, and those who must work to survive, usually the poor. Then if we wish to follow what humanity and human history are about we must understand the following: from their first emergence on earth human beings have been motivated not by grand ideas but by very basic material concerns, the elementary needs of survival. This is the first fact in the materialist view of history. Everyone needs food, clothing, and shelter. Once these needs are met, others, like the drive for sex, join them. Reproduction then leads to families and communities, which create still other material desires and demands. These can be met only by developing what Marx calls a "mode of production." The necessities and even comforts of life must in some way be produced -by hunting and gathering foods, by fishing, growing grain, or entering on some other labor. In Marx's opinion, this tribal communism was in a sense the most natural of human organizations. It allowed people to enjoy variety in their lives by participating in a healthy mix of meaningful work and refreshing leisure. However, a fateful turn occurred with the notion of private property. Its effects are most evident in the stage of history known as classical civilization. This idea of private property doesn't just include a house, but also one's goods. For instance, people dealt with each other by exchanging what they made-that is, by selling the products of their labor. Then before long, by talent, crime, or good fortune, some acquire more and better property while others are left with virtually nothing. These people do not just the products, but also the very means of production-the land on which crops are grown. Since the others don't they fall into the dependents, assistants, or even slaves. The idea of private property and agriculture are two hallmarks of early civilization thus help create the central crisis of all humanity: the separation of classes by power and wealth, and with it the beginning of permanent social conflict. Marx contended that capitalism and property ownership are all about profit rather than the equal exchange of value; they are about trading and investing to come out ahead rather than coming out even. "Where does this profit come from?" In capitalism the very thing about the clock or shoes which gives them their worth, the quantity of human labor-is being undervalued. Modern machinery allows them to do this in the mere fraction of a day, creating more surpluses for the owner of the factory. Surplus is the left over wages after the workers are paid. Marx claimed that this surplus notion wasn't from greed, but necessity in order to stay competitive. He must take most of the surplus funds it generates in order to invest in new, bigger factories that will exploit still more workers, so another factory owner doesn't undersell the product and ruin his factory. Marx believed that capitalism degrades the person to the level of the machinery. He felt that this position was able to be maintained through the base and superstructure of society.
Through all of history, he insists, economic facts have formed the foundation of social life; they are the base that generates the division of labor, the struggle of classes, and human alienation. The spheres of activities that are visible in daily life are: family, government, the arts, most of philosophy, ethics, and religion are considered the superstructure. The structure's role is to maintain control or provide a controlled release for the deep, bitter tensions that arise from the clash between the powerful and powerless. He viewed religion as a pure illusion for keeping society just the way the oppressors like it. Marx felt that religion was so fully determined by economics that it was pointless to consider its doctrines or beliefs on their own merits. Two elements in Marx's theory that distinguish it from others deserve our notice: first his strategy of functional explanation, which ends in its own distinctive form of reductionism, and second his stress on the strong ties that link religion to economics.
I personally enjoyed reading Marx's ideas because I am the most familiar with his ideas. I hadn't noticed before how connected religion and economics were. Also, his theory on how humanity evolved into the masses being the proletariat, and the owners continuing this vicious cycle for their personal gain, holds true today. I felt as though I could relate better with his theory than some of the others because it refers to how money controls everything. It is important to see focus on how in modern times greed for power and wealth has become the god of choice for many.
