Module: Understanding Social Change
Seminar 2 – Capitalism, Communism, Karl Marx, False Consciousness
This link shows the alternative views:
https://roehampton.kanopy.com/video/family-labor-evolves-factory-work
Communist Manifesto – it has all the famous quotes and understandings from Marx
which is worth reading.
What happened to bring about capitalism?
What was the social event that brought about capitalism? Industrialisation, social
conflict, collapse of feudalism.
What was Marx’s understanding about societal change? What was the process?
Revolution
What were those phased changes in society called? Historical materialism. For
Marx, Communism was the end point.
If Capitalism is a stage onto Communism, why aren’t we there yet? What, to him, is
blocking our way? False consciousness – are you prepared to give up everything
you own? Communism is about equality/sharing.
Why would a false consciousness not necessarily be a bad thing for Marx?
Expansion of the proletariat – creates resource pressure on society. As a proletariat,
you have a vested interest to make sure that capitalism keeps on functioning.
Competition between workers – to compete with other proletariats for the same job.
Stocks held by workers – if you have got a pension, then you hold stocks and shares
– you are a proletariat in the closet.
State intervention – to make sure people still have a job. State intervention
compensates the worst effects of capitalism.
Unionization of labour – protects workers against accesses of exploitation.
Consumption – if you like consumption, then you won’t like communism.
Seminar 2 – Capitalism, Communism, Karl Marx, False Consciousness
This link shows the alternative views:
https://roehampton.kanopy.com/video/family-labor-evolves-factory-work
Communist Manifesto – it has all the famous quotes and understandings from Marx
which is worth reading.
What happened to bring about capitalism?
What was the social event that brought about capitalism? Industrialisation, social
conflict, collapse of feudalism.
What was Marx’s understanding about societal change? What was the process?
Revolution
What were those phased changes in society called? Historical materialism. For
Marx, Communism was the end point.
If Capitalism is a stage onto Communism, why aren’t we there yet? What, to him, is
blocking our way? False consciousness – are you prepared to give up everything
you own? Communism is about equality/sharing.
Why would a false consciousness not necessarily be a bad thing for Marx?
Expansion of the proletariat – creates resource pressure on society. As a proletariat,
you have a vested interest to make sure that capitalism keeps on functioning.
Competition between workers – to compete with other proletariats for the same job.
Stocks held by workers – if you have got a pension, then you hold stocks and shares
– you are a proletariat in the closet.
State intervention – to make sure people still have a job. State intervention
compensates the worst effects of capitalism.
Unionization of labour – protects workers against accesses of exploitation.
Consumption – if you like consumption, then you won’t like communism.
