|
He never spoke of his friends as a youth, and no one has ever came to speak
of him through his life. He left high school in August of 1835 to go on to the
University of Bonn in the fall of the same year to study law. His father wanted
him to be a lawyer much like himself but when Karl's reckless university life
was getting in the way after a year Heinrich transferred him to Berlin. Also, he
did not go to most lectures, and showed little interest in what was to be
learned. Karl's reckless ways were not tolerated at Berlin, a more conservative
college without the mischievous ways of the other universities. While at Berlin,
Marx became part of the group known as the Yong Hegelians. The group was
organized in part due to the philosophy teacher Hegel that taught from 1818 to
his death. The teachings of Hegel shaped the way the school thought towards most
things. Those who studied Hegel and his ideals were known as the Young
Hegelians.
Hegel spoke of the development and evolution of the mind and of
ideas. Although Karl was younger than most in the group, he was recognized for
his intellectual ability and became the focus of the group. While at Berlin He
came to believe that all the various sciences and philosophies were part of one
overarching, which, when completed, which would give a true and total picture of
the universe and man. (Communist Manifesto, Marx (Francis B. Randal), page 15)
Marx was an atheist, and believed that science and philosophy would prove
everything. Thus he had no belief in a god of any type. Marx believed that Hegel
must have been an atheist as well because of his strong belief in the mind.
Marx's doctoral thesis was competed in 1841. It carried the title The Difference
Between the Philosophies of Nature of Democrtius and Epicurus.(The Making of
Marx's Critical Theory, Oakley, page 11) It had to do with the Greek philosopher
Epicurus and how his beliefs related to Marxs' of that day.
This thesis was an
early indication of the thinking behind Karl Marx. Much of his later work and
ideas are evident in this essay. He passed his thesis into the University of
Jena because Bonn and Berlin required an oral part to the thesis. The quickness
was also a matter in this. He passed it in early April, and got his degree in
history and philosophy in April 15, 1841. After graduation he was unable to find
work. This caused him to take a job with the German newspaper Rheinische Zeitung
in early 1842. By the end of the year, Marx made editor- in-chief. A few months
after that in 1843 because of his radical writings, and his social views, Marx
was forced to step down as editor, and soon after that the paper closed
altogether. He married Jenny von Westphalen, and with a member of the Young
Hegelians, Arnold Ruge went to Paris to publish a radical journal on his
beliefs. It was evident in his works that he was a revolutionary that advocated
criticism of everything in existence. This was especially anticipated by the
proletariat.
The proletariat were the working class of the day.
They were the poor and made up the majority of people. Marx went on to believe
that the proletariat would rise up against the bourgeoisie. Then in 1844 Marx
met a man that would change his life forever.When going to England after doing
military service, he meet Marx in Cologne in the offices of the Rheinische
Zeitung. Both of them had gone through the German philosophic school and whilst
abroad they came to the same conclusions but while Marx arrived at an
understanding of the struggles and the demands of the age basis of the French
Revolution, Engles did so on the basis of English industry. (The Story of His
life, Mehring, page 93) Friedrich Engles was born in 1820 in the Rhine Province
of the Kingdom of Prussia. Like Marx he was brought up with the German
philosophies of Hegel, and like Marx, Engles began to follow the works of Hegel.
These parallels between Marx and Engles formed a relationship that would last
for the rest of each others lives.
They both contributed to each others works,
and co-wrote many things. The similarity in background between the two also
meant a similarity in ideas. The both believed in the struggle of the
proletariat and that it would rise up against the bourgeoisie. Marx is
considerate to be the greater of the two philosophies. The one contrast was the
way in which one solved problems. Marx would use historical research to solve a
problem, as apposed Engles who used his imagination and pure mind to come about
a solution. These differences in culture and similarities in beliefs
complemented each other well. This outlook on society and the class war was
ingenious. It was their greatest work together, the communist manifesto, which
achieved them their most popularity among the proletariat, and created the most
problems with the government for the two. Communist Manifesto or Manifest der
Kommunistischen Partel was a book written by Marx with collaboration from Engles.
Basically meaning that Marx wrote it but he discussed the issues in the
manifesto with Engles.
It documents the objectives and principals of the
Communist League, an organization of arand intellectuals. It was published in
London in 1848, shortly before the revolution in Paris. The manifesto is divided
into four parts, and the beginning of the entire document reads A specter is
haunting Europe. The first part outlines his ideas on history and a prediction
on what is yet to come. He predicts a confrontation between the proletariat and
the bourgeoisie, the working class and the higher class. Because of the main
logic behind capitalism the bourgeoisie will seek more power and more wealth.
With them doing this, the living conditions of the proletariat will decrease.
Numbers of proletariat will increase as well as their political awareness, and
will revolt against the bourgeoisie and will eventually win. In the second part
Marx discusses the importance of Communism, and if private property is
abolished, class distinctions will be as well.
|
