Marx's radical critique of capitalist society : a reconstruction and critical evaluation

Exactly what did Marx find objectionable about capitalist society? Scattered throughout his writings (and those of his collaborator, Engels) is a systematic--and thoroughly radical--answer to this question. Marx believed that the ills of capitalist society are neither accidental nor incidental; instead they are embedded in the very structure of the capitalist economic system. This book articulates and critically evaluates the Marxist charges against capitalism of exploitation and alienation, and argues that Marx's radical critique of capitalist society presupposes a set of alternative institutions without the defects attributed to capitalism. A careful analysis of Marx's vision of the two phases or stages of post-capitalist society (later called "socialism" and "communism") reveals that neither vision could be realized. It has often been said that Marxism works in theory but not in practice; this book contends that it does not work in theory. What did Marx find objectionable about capitalist society? Scattered throughout his & Engels' writings is a systematic, radical answer to this question. Marx believed that the ills of capitalist society are neither accidental nor incidental. They are embedded in the very structure of the capitalist economic system. This book articulates & critically evaluates the charges against capitalism of exploitation & alienation, arguing that Marx' radical critique of capitalist society presupposes a set of alternative institutions without the defects attributed to capitalism. A careful analysis of his vision of the two phases or stages of post-capitalist society (socialism & communism) reveals that neither vision could be realized. It's oft been said that Marxism works in theory but not in practice. This book contends it doesn;t work in theory. Preface The very idea of a radical critique 1 Reconstruction Alienation Exploitation: Marx & Bhm-Bawerk Parasite exploitation Property relations exploitation Post-Capitalist society: relations of production & the coordination of production Post-Capitalist society: distribution, the state & the good society 2 Critique The realizability of the 2nd phase of post-Capitalist society The unrealizability of the 1st phase of post-Capitalist society The Market Socialist alternative & concluding observations Notes Bibliography index The belief that capitalist society is deeply and irredeemably flawed is fundamental to Marxist theory. In this study, N.Scott Arnold explicates and critically examines Marx's critique of capitalism. N. Scott Arnold. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 321-326.