(8) Analyze, explain and evaluate Marx and Engel’s argument in The Manifesto of the Communist Party. Why are Marx and Engels opposed to the economic system of capitalism? Why is capitalism exploitative? How does capitalism produce two distinct classes – i.e. the bourgeoisie and the proletariat? How is industrialized capitalism self-destructive? Why do the authors think that a socio-political revolution is inevitable? How does the Manifesto reply to the objection concerning the abolition of private property? How do the authors respond to the objection concerning the community of women? While Marx and Engels give us a clear outline of what the first stage of a communist society would look like – i.e. “the dictatorship of the proletariat’ the text is rather vague when it comes to describing what a full communist society would look like. What vision of the future do you think the authors have in mind
4 of 5 when they speak about a fully achieved communist society? Do any of the supposedly “communist” societies that have actually been established (present or historical) actually live up to this vision? What sense of morality seems to guide and motivate Marx and Engels in this text? In other words, what moral principle(s) do they seem to value? Clearly, the revolution that Marx and Engels envisioned has not happened. Do Adomo and Horkheimer and/or the Invisible Committee tell us anything of value as to why this has not &dyed’?
