Karl Marx’s Intellectual Genesis: Influences and Key Works
Karl Marx’s Intellectual Genesis
The genesis of Karl Marx’s thought, particularly between 1840 and 1848, was shaped by several key factors. The politically conservative stance of King Frederick William of Prussia and the spread of progressive ideas in German, French, and Southern regions led to increased censorship and a harsh police regime. In response, writers, historians, and journalists openly advocated for revolutionary change, shifting philosophical activity towards revolutionary action through the press and pamphlets.
The Socio-Political Landscape
The first half of the nineteenth century witnessed significant revolutions, including the Industrial Revolution and the bourgeois liberal revolutions. The Industrial Revolution enriched the bourgeoisie while intensifying the exploitation of workers. This revolution fueled the demand for raw materials and new markets, driving colonial expansion. Liberal bourgeois revolutions, on the other hand, recognized political and civil rights, state control through census-based elections, and private property protection, leading to a capitalist society based on supply and demand.
Cultural and Philosophical Currents
Culturally, two main streams emerged: Romanticism, which celebrated freedom with figures like Goethe, Delacroix, and Schumann, and Realism, which exposed poverty and misery through artists such as Stendhal, Dickens, and Mollet. Philosophically, four strands were prominent: Hegelian idealism, French utopian socialism, anarchism, and political economy.
Key Philosophical Strands
- Hegelian Idealism: Introduced the concept of alignment and dialectics of reality and history. The Hegelian Left, including Feuerbach, viewed God as a projection of human qualities, leaning towards materialism.
- French Utopian Socialism: Represented by Owen, Saint-Simon, and Fourier, criticized for not identifying the conditions for proletarian liberation and for proposing idyllic societies.
- Anarchism: Advocated for the abolition of the state, with prominent figures like Proudhon and Bakunin.
- Political Economy: Highlighted by Adam Smith and David Ricardo, whose analysis of capitalism was later critiqued.
Marx’s Development and Key Works
Marx’s philosophy was significantly influenced by his critique of Hegelian idealism and his development of scientific socialism, which he considered a more practical alternative to utopian socialism. He actively participated in revolutions and had to relocate due to his ideals. In 1842, he completed his doctoral thesis on the differences between the philosophies of Democritus and Epicurus.
Intellectual Growth and Collaboration
Between 1843 and 1848, Marx experienced his most prolific intellectual period, contributing to the Rheinische Zeitung and the Franco-German Annals. During this time, he engaged with socialist and communist revolutionary groups, particularly exiled German workers, which highlighted the need for a structured Communist Party. His collaboration with Engels was crucial, drawing from German philosophy, French socialism, and English political economy.
Key Works of the Period
Key works by Karl Marx during this period include:
- Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right
- Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts
- The Holy Family
- The German Ideology
- Theses on Feuerbach
- The Poverty of Philosophy
- Manifesto of the Communist Party
In 1849, Marx moved to London, where he wrote A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy and Capital. The former is a critical interpretation of the bourgeois capitalist system, not a comprehensive analysis of political economy.