Theoretical by Engels highlights various terms and arguments against the capitalist system. Engels starts off by introducing the idea of Historical materialism. In historical materialism one studies the means and forms of material production within society. It is production and exchange of products that determines how a society is formed and how class is divided. Distribution guarantees whether poverty will exist and whether the rich will get richer. Engels also argues that capitalism is contradictory, and that it will eventually lead to its own downfall. The growth and crash of the economy can only last momentarily before permanently failing. In this essay I will focus on the fundamental contradiction identified by Engels which is that products
…show more content…
Products were no longer produced only because of necessity but almost everything was turned into a commodity including labour work. With capitalists getting a hold of the means of production like materials, goods and land the working class where now forced into working for capitalist. Now many may argue and say that before the capitalists had taken over the system was similar, but in pre- capitalist societies labour was not owned by anyone but the individual itself. This guaranteed that the worker was receiving exactly what he worked for. However, that completely changed in the capitalist society, workers were now working for a wage, doing labour work for others not producing these products for their own individual needs. The labour work done by hundreds of workers is claimed by a few individuals that ‘own’ the labour of the workers and are making the profit. “the products, now socially produced, were not appropriated by those who had really set the means of production in motion and really produced the products, but by the capitalists” (Engels 295). Another issue that stems in capitalism is that "The mode of production rebels against the mode of exchange: The productive forces rebel against the mode of production, which they have outgrown." (Engels 302). The people who were once at the center of producing the supplies are now being replaced by more efficient machinery and because of this human labour becomes unnecessary. …show more content…
In in a capitalist society it is the complete opposite products are mass produced and are not created primarily because of necessity. Not only is one trouser being made, thousands are being made. The problem with this as Engels note is that “no one knows how much of the article he produces is coming onto the market, or how much demand there is for it; no one knows whether his individual product will meet a real need, whether he will cover his costs or even be able to sell it at all” (297). Any factory with complex machinery can easily produce more and more but the market is not always in need of these products. There are just not enough consumers for the number of commodities produced. For example, we make a good amount of potatoes that can provide for those in need. However, when these farming companies make too much they control the costs and overflow by dumping them in the ocean. With controlling costs, I mean the market, if the quantity of potatoes increases the price will decrease, and that will not create much profit. "Poverty is organized wealth."
Products were no longer produced only because of necessity but almost everything was turned into a commodity including labour work. With capitalists getting a hold of the means of production like materials, goods and land the working class where now forced into working for capitalist. Now many may argue and say that before the capitalists had taken over the system was similar, but in pre- capitalist societies labour was not owned by anyone but the individual itself. This guaranteed that the worker was receiving exactly what he worked for. However, that completely changed in the capitalist society, workers were now working for a wage, doing labour work for others not producing these products for their own individual needs. The labour work done by hundreds of workers is claimed by a few individuals that ‘own’ the labour of the workers and are making the profit. “the products, now socially produced, were not appropriated by those who had really set the means of production in motion and really produced the products, but by the capitalists” (Engels 295). Another issue that stems in capitalism is that "The mode of production rebels against the mode of exchange: The productive forces rebel against the mode of production, which they have outgrown." (Engels 302). The people who were once at the center of producing the supplies are now being replaced by more efficient machinery and because of this human labour becomes unnecessary. …show more content…
In in a capitalist society it is the complete opposite products are mass produced and are not created primarily because of necessity. Not only is one trouser being made, thousands are being made. The problem with this as Engels note is that “no one knows how much of the article he produces is coming onto the market, or how much demand there is for it; no one knows whether his individual product will meet a real need, whether he will cover his costs or even be able to sell it at all” (297). Any factory with complex machinery can easily produce more and more but the market is not always in need of these products. There are just not enough consumers for the number of commodities produced. For example, we make a good amount of potatoes that can provide for those in need. However, when these farming companies make too much they control the costs and overflow by dumping them in the ocean. With controlling costs, I mean the market, if the quantity of potatoes increases the price will decrease, and that will not create much profit. "Poverty is organized wealth."