Marxist Class Division and Ideology Analysis
Marxist Perspectives on Class Division and Ideology
Marxists believe that capitalist society is divided into social classes, primarily focusing on two:
1. The Working Class or Proletariat
Marx defined this class as “individuals who sell their labor and have no means of production.” He considered them responsible for creating society’s wealth (e.g., buildings, bridges, furniture, and services). The proletariat can be further divided into:
- Ordinary Proletariat: Those who are regularly employed.
- Lumpenproletariat: Those living in extreme poverty and unable to find regular legal work, such as prostitutes, beggars, or the homeless.
2. The Bourgeoisie
These are those who “own the means of production” and employ the proletariat. The bourgeoisie can be divided into:
- Rich Bourgeoisie: Those who significantly profit from the labor of others.
- Petty Bourgeoisie: Those who employ labor but also work themselves, such as small landowners, farmers, or merchants.
According to Marxism, communism would be a society where class divisions are eliminated, the economic structure results from a “free association of producers,” and production and distribution of goods are based on the principle of “to each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
Ideology in Marxism
In sociology, ideology refers to a more or less systematic set of beliefs that attempt to explain humanity and the world, guiding behavior based on accepted values. In this broad sense, any theory of the world is an ideology, including reactionary, conservative, progressive, and radical views (including Marxism itself). As Engels stated, “everything that moves men must necessarily pass through their heads.” Marxism adds the following characteristics to this concept:
- Broad Definition: Ideology is broadly identified with culture. Marx’s ideology encompasses law, politics, religion, art, philosophy, and science.
- Distorted Description: Ideologies do not accurately describe humanity and its situation in the world but present a distorted or false view.
- Class Interest: This distortion serves the interests of the ruling class to maintain their dominant position. As Marx stated, “The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas.” The ruling class controls the means of material production and the production of spiritual goods, ensuring that their ideas prevail in society.
- Social Product: Ideologies are a “social product.” Human thoughts are a consequence of their society, particularly the current economic order.
- Lack of Self-Development: Various forms of ideology (religion, politics, philosophy) lack independent history or self-development. A history of philosophy that explains philosophical systems based on the problems and solutions philosophers have presented is inadequate. A proper history of philosophy must demonstrate the relationship between philosophical systems and the economic circumstances they reflect.
Given this interpretation of ideology as a form of alienation, a fundamental task of philosophy is to expose the supposed objectivity of ideological descriptions. Philosophy is essentially conceived as a critical philosophy. This is the intent of Marxism, for example, in its criticism of religion and classical political economy. It also leads Marxism to believe that developing class consciousness among the proletariat will be challenging because the exploiting class controls intellectual production, making it likely that the proletariat will defend ideas that do not serve their interests but rather those of the ruling class. The final overcoming of ideology can only be achieved with the disappearance of the exploitation of humanity by humanity.