Marx and the Bourgeoisie
In this essay I plan to analyze the claim by Karl Marx that the bourgeoisie class produces its own "gravediggers". I will first present a definition of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat classes along with what Marx means by his claim. After discussing Marx's claim and his support I will assert that his claim is false and was based on a false assumption. I will argue that Marx does not allow the possibility of an adaptation on behalf of the bourgeoisie. Furthermore, that Marx contradicts his claim with his own ideologies from his critique of capitalism. Finally, Marx adopts historical determinism to support his view which has proven to be flawed. The claim that the bourgeoisie produces its own gravediggers is based on circumstantial evidence and is therefore false.
In order to comprehend the claim made by Marx one would have to understand the bourgeoisie and proletariat classes,
the proletariat are those who control no significant means of production and must make a living by selling the use of their labor powers to other who do. The bourgeoisie are these others, people exercising significant control over means of production and mainly deriving their income from the sale of what proletarians working these means produce. The two classes are "two great hostile camps," since the competitive bourgeois drive for profits creates relentless pressure to reduce wages and to eliminate individualized ways of working that conflict with industrial routines (Miller, 408).
A general definition provided by Richard Miller, from an introduction to Karl Marx, allows an understanding of the two classes. With history of class conflicts and the rise of capitalism, Marx claims that the bourgeoisie have created their own gravediggers.
The development of modern industry, therefore, cuts from under its feet the very foundation on which the
In order to comprehend the claim made by Marx one would have to understand the bourgeoisie and proletariat classes,
the proletariat are those who control no significant means of production and must make a living by selling the use of their labor powers to other who do. The bourgeoisie are these others, people exercising significant control over means of production and mainly deriving their income from the sale of what proletarians working these means produce. The two classes are "two great hostile camps," since the competitive bourgeois drive for profits creates relentless pressure to reduce wages and to eliminate individualized ways of working that conflict with industrial routines (Miller, 408).
A general definition provided by Richard Miller, from an introduction to Karl Marx, allows an understanding of the two classes. With history of class conflicts and the rise of capitalism, Marx claims that the bourgeoisie have created their own gravediggers.
The development of modern industry, therefore, cuts from under its feet the very foundation on which the
Cited: Marx, Karl. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844. In Political Philosophy; The Essential Texts. Steven M. Cahn ed. New York: Oxford University Press 2005. Marx, Karl. Manifesto of the Communist Party. In Political Philosophy; The Essential Texts. Steven M. Cahn ed. New York: Oxford University Press 2005. Miller, Richard. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. In Political Philosophy; The Essential Texts. Steven M. Cahn ed. New York: Oxford University Press 2005. Walker, Kathryn. Social and Political Philosophy, Philo: 2060. York University. 20 July 2005.