Key Concepts of Marxist Philosophy
Alienation
The human experience and its relationship with the world and existence affect the social and historical. Our visual world, assessments, actions, morals, laws, and economy justify the objectives of the mission. According to Marx, under capitalism, ideological deformations conceal and sublimate the role of human alienation.
Infrastructure
Marx posited that history is the social integration of two parts of a production mode: the economic part (structure) and the ideological condition (superstructure). Productive forces and relations of production constitute the infrastructure, which creates and modifies the superstructure. The superstructure also has an effect on the infrastructure.
Bourgeoisie
With the destruction of feudalism and the rise of industrialization, the bourgeoisie, through the acquisition of wealth, gradually replaced the aristocracy as the dominant economic and social class. The French Revolution solidified the political power of capitalism and its control mechanisms. For Marx, the bourgeoisie, who own the means of production, are the primary antagonists in the class struggle within capitalist society.
Superstructure
Dialectically influenced by and causing changes in the infrastructure, the superstructure comprises the “consciousness” of society—the creation of ideas, representations, thoughts—and a set of legal, political, and social institutions.
History
According to Marx, history is the continuity of production. It is a real production process. When existing production relations contradict the social productive forces, social revolution begins, slowly or quickly changing the economic base and, consequently, the superstructure. The totality of social changes leading to a new mode of production represents a new progressive step in history.
Ideology
Generally, ideology expresses the internal reality of a social system through a series of thoughts and ideas, necessary because humans always contextualize reality through thought. However, Marx also recognizes the existence of false ideology, which conceals and sublimates the conditions of human life. Overcoming this false consciousness requires critical analysis and understanding.
Social Revolution
A historical moment marked by the destruction of existing relations of production and the overthrow of the superstructure. When productive forces change, so must production relations. Resistance to this change creates the conditions for revolution, driven by the proletariat.
Communism
A socio-political organization based on communal ownership of assets. Communism rejects private property and class distinctions. Marx believed that the historical movement of social classes is directed towards the establishment and eventual disappearance of communism.
Marxist Materialism
Marx’s materialism posits that all reality, including human nature, is rooted in productive activity. This process of realizing nature and man dialectically leads to a historical understanding through the application of dialectics.
Praxis
Human practice and action. Humans, using their understanding and theoretical capacity, act upon and clarify the world through practical action. For Marx, philosophy serves not only theory but also the transformation of the world.
Productive Forces
Human labor and production capacities, including scientific theories, technology, tools, and human mental and physical capabilities. Changes in productive forces initiate changes in the mode of production throughout history.
Relations of Production
The relationships established between producers and owners of the means of production within a specific mode of production. These relationships create social conflicts and contradictions.
Modes of Production
The historical combination of infrastructure (economic base) and superstructure. The economic and political structure of the base and the ideological superstructure together form social formations.
Proletariat
The social class created by the development of capitalist society, standing in opposition to the bourgeoisie. Lacking means of production and private property, the proletariat must sell its labor power for wages, valid only for the duration of life. According to Marx, the proletariat is the class destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie and establish a classless society: communism.
Surplus Value
The portion of a worker’s labor that is appropriated by the capitalist as profit, forming the basis of capitalist accumulation.