Competition and the Nature of Human Society in the Views of Marx, Darwin, and Nietzsche Three of the most influential, but extremely controversial, writers of the 19th and 20th centuries were Karl Marx, Charles Darwin and Friedrich Nietzsche. The philosophical, scientific, economic and social impact of their ideas is still felt in the 21st century. Without a doubt, Marx’s The Communist Manifesto altered the course of history by changing the governments and societies of Russia and many other countries. Charles Darwin’s, The Origin of the Species and The Descent of Man, generated scientific and religious debates that eventually led to the famous Scopes Trial and issues of creationism versus evolution. Friedrich Nietzsche’s, On the Genealogy of Morals and The Gay Science, proclaimed, “God is dead” and put forth his modernist ideas on morality. These three writers
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The manufacturing system led to modern industry and world markets. Even with all these changes, Marx still saw society as the oppressor and the oppressed. He identified the oppressor as the Bourgeoisie capitalists and the oppressed as the Proletariat workers. Marx stated, “We see, therefore, how the modern bourgeoisie is itself the product of a long course of development, of a series of revolutions in the modes of production and of exchange” (287). In his opinion, the “modern state is but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie” (287). Marx believed that the bourgeoisie had changed human society and had created many evils within family relations and the larger society. He identified many new forms of competition: dissatisfaction with old products and the desire for new products from global markets; civilization overpowering smaller nations; urbanization versus rural life; centralized government versus smaller independent provinces; man bringing Nature under his control through technology; and a new form of master and slave
The manufacturing system led to modern industry and world markets. Even with all these changes, Marx still saw society as the oppressor and the oppressed. He identified the oppressor as the Bourgeoisie capitalists and the oppressed as the Proletariat workers. Marx stated, “We see, therefore, how the modern bourgeoisie is itself the product of a long course of development, of a series of revolutions in the modes of production and of exchange” (287). In his opinion, the “modern state is but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie” (287). Marx believed that the bourgeoisie had changed human society and had created many evils within family relations and the larger society. He identified many new forms of competition: dissatisfaction with old products and the desire for new products from global markets; civilization overpowering smaller nations; urbanization versus rural life; centralized government versus smaller independent provinces; man bringing Nature under his control through technology; and a new form of master and slave