Comparison of the materialist conception of the history of Marx (and Engels) and Adam Smith.

Question

Student Example to refer to or get an idea and info:

Karl Marx (Pg. 24-47) Reading Report

It’s interesting to me, how Marx views communism in his theories as well as how he

describes it through his descriptions of capitalism and the division of labor during the 18th

and 19th century. A concept of capitalism that stuck out to me is that Marx referred to it as

exploitative. He remarks this as a flaw of capitalism. It stuck out to me, because as we live in

a capitalist society, the way the capitalists or property owners (bourgeoisie) exploit their

slaves (laborers), is something that is considered normal. In the book, the example of the

Apple factory in China was used, which was a great example of how the division of labour is

high in that factory and workers can get paid as little as $17/day and are expected to survive

and feed their families on that income. But reflecting this concept into my own life; I work at

Swiss Chalet, I have been there for about 2.5 years, and it’s enlightening to see that as a

worker I have no genuine job security, and I am required to take on any task regardless of

the department that it is meant for. I make minimum wage for having a fairly low division of

labour, and take on essentially running the entire business on my own during the pandemic

on some days, yet the owner of this business gets all the profit while exploiting my physical

labour and paying me the bare minimum. In this sense I have experienced what Marx would

describe as Class Consciousness, I am displaying a sense of awareness for my position as

a wage laborer working in considerably oppressive conditions, for a landowner who expends

my physical labour for their own profit and the profit of the capitalists above him.

The German Ideology is, based on my observations, something moderately

connected to spiritualism. Hegel explains that he believes that change is the motor of history,

that change is caused by major ideological contradictions and oppositions throughout time.

For example, gender roles. What’s interesting to me is that he refers to an “absolute idea” as

being from God, and is an idea that is all embracing, yet produces an idea that opposes it,

an “antithesis.” If an antithesis is the opposition of an “absolute idea” which Hegel would

claim is from God, does that mean that an antithesis in Hegel’s view is not a good thing?

Does his belief about change in history clash with Marx at all?

(Instructions, and questions on this file) and all info to use will be posted in separate files as power

point, pdf, etc.

Instruction: - On the top right of your first page, please write your name, student number, and tutorial

number. No title page please. - No outside sources are permitted. Rely on the readings, PPT, lecture, and

tutorial discussion. - No bibliography needed. For citation: use WN for The Wealth of Nations, GI for The

German Ideology, Capital for Capital Volume 1, and EPM for Economic and Philosophic Manuscript of

1844, and CM for The Communist Manifesto; and put page number (page number of the textbook for

Marx). Example for German Ideology in the textbook page 66: (GI:66) - Max. 6 pages (Times New Roman

12 points; double spaced; standard margins; pagination and stapled) (single-space for quote, if more

than 4 lines) - Take the essay format, beginning your discussion with a brief introduction and ending

with a short conclusion. Discuss the questions in a logical manner and meet this page limit.

*Academic misconduct will be treated as a serious offence. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work

or ideas of others as your own, and involves not properly citing the work of others as well as having

someone else write a paper for you. Academic misconduct will result in severe penalties, including a

zero on the assignment in question or the entire course, as well as further sanctions from the provost

such as censure, suspension, or expulsion. This course strictly follows the Senate Policy and Guidelines

on Academic Honesty.*

Please discuss both questions:

1. Compare the materialist conception of history of Marx (and Engels) and Adam Smith, focusing on

their similarity and difference in theorizing the division of labor and its effects on social relations.

Discuss the extent of which these theories help to explain the distribution of wealth in our Canadian

society. (50 percent; maximum 3 pages) - Include in your discussion 2 quotes from “original texts” which

in your judgement demonstrate their key differences (1 quote for each theorist).

2. Marx and Engels theorize workers as the “grave diggers” of the capitalist system in The Communist

Manifesto. Has the proletariat, or working class, sunk deeper and deeper with the advance of industry

as they explained? Why or why not? How prevalent is the fetishism of commodities in contemporary

capitalist societies? What examples of commodity fetishism do you see in your own life and the lives of

your family and friends? (50 percent, max. 3 pages) - Include in your discussion the following concepts:

wage labor, labor theory of value, competition, crisis, and class polarization. - Include 2 quotes from

their “original texts.”