Why do Liberals share the same philosophy as Karl Marx?
Disagree. We don;t. I do care about the little people and the poor. ><
Philosophy: What is meant by a Marxist reading of history?
Marxists use a reading of history called “historical materialism”. It states that all human history is the history of class struggle. Essentially, if you look back throughout human history, you will always find a lower class (possibly several different ones) fighting against an upper class for control over society. Eventually, this conflict causes the present system to implode, allowing the next system to arise, and the cycle to begin anew. Marxists hold that this cycle will only end with a working-class revolution which dissolves the class structure for good, creating a classless and stateless society.In the context of Indian history (I’m assuming you’re referring to the actual history of India, not Native Americans) you can look at the caste system, one of the most rigid class structures in human history. That’s a massive example of class conflict at work; the only thing that prevented a lower-class revolution in India was that Hinduism, by far the dominant religion, justified the class system and claimed that following it was a religious duty. For other examples, you can look at the various empires which have controlled India throughout its history (such as the Gupta Empire), all of whom established a class system of some kind.
What do you think Karl Marx would do, if he were alive, as POTUS?
He'd probably do something very broadly, very loosely what Salvador Allende has done in Chile: introduced populist policies like Allende did (medical bus, etc), but also policies putting him on collision course with substantial chunk of American society that has broadly-defined conservative views. He'd most likely be in immediate and huge conflict with American Congress (just like Allende did).He'd try just what Allende tried: maneuver whatever policies he could do in place, suppress religions and roles of organized religions, protect his ideological buddies from court verdicts, etc. In short, a slow-motion train-wreck. How it would end is difficult to tell: like Allende, overwhelmed by his enemies, or victorious. One thing is certain: USA would look like post-Soviet Russia looked like.Or maybe not. Maybe he'd realize that none of his prophecies worked out, got depressed and quit the job.
Why do you think that marx's "dictatorship of the proletariat " did not happen?
In those societies that did have Communist revolutions, such as the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, local revolutionary political philosophers modified Marx's philosophy to varying degrees. The concept of the "vanguard of the proletariat" introduced a leadership class that would set the course for political and economic development. This quickly devolved to political fighting and purges amongst a powerful elite. In the west, most capitalistic societies, especially during the Great Depression, introduced social welfare programs that addressed the material concerns of the working class and sought to redistribute wealth to create more equal and stable societies. Instead of red revolutions, most western countries struck a balance between market economies and social programs financed by tax revenues. In the more general sense, while he made some valid critiques of the economic disparities between the classes of his day, much of Marx's philosophy was simply unworkable and unsustainable by actual human beings in practice. Many communistic societies have become brutal in no small part because they are trying to force people to behave in ways against their natural inclinations or create artificial incentives.
What do you think about Marxist-Lennonism? (Read details, this is priceless)?
Thank you, Hally M for starring this wonderful question. I must confess that I often confuse Nutopia with a sandwich spread. And let's hope for a lasting peace between the people of Marmite and Vegemite.
Why do we only hear of European philosophers and read books shaped by European philosophers like Karl Marx, Foucault, Dostoevsky, etc., but nothing from Africa or African literature?
Literacy and books have had a head start in Europe. To the extent that an entire society has greater literacy, one will naturally find more great writers. In other words, the economic and technological success of Europe has contributed to leadership in philosophy — at least for the time being.It’s also important to recognize that, if we go back many centuries, the Mediterranean Sea was, geographically, a remarkable opportunity for cultures to share information, and hence to produce remarkable advances in civilization, including philosophy. Note that this involved more than Europe. It also included the Middle East (e.g., Phoenicia), Egypt and North Africa.But this didn’t happen in, say, Sub-Saharan Africa. Cultures there could communicate, but not with the ease of Mediterranean societies.Alexandria, a city in Egypt, was, from roughly 300 BC to 300 AD, a major center in the development of philosophy. Modern European philosophy owes a great debt to the Alexandrian tradition — and, hence, to Africa.Further, St. Augustine, who exerted tremendous influence on Western Christianity, was North African.
What do you think Karl Marx would do/say, right now, if he was alive, and an American?
He would need not to adjust anything he did write. May be he would use more frequently the term “Proletarian” or working class, instead of “worker class”. Workers were the dominant proletarians or in the working class in his time.However, he would be surprised about the new possibilities of brainwash by modern media today. May be he would write more about this. But all the basics of it he already did write. E.g. he wrote - as far as I remind - something like:“The first issue to be solved to become a free press is, that it no longer is a business.”