Das Kapital (SparkNotes Philosophy Guide)

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Das Kapital (SparkNotes Philosophy Guide)
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SparkNotes Philosophy Guides are one-stop guides to the great works of philosophy–masterpieces that stand at the foundations of Western thought. Inside each Philosophy Guide you’ll find insightful overviews of great philosophical works of the Western world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SparkNotes
• Release date: Aug 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781411473065

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Cover of SparkNotes Guide to Das Kapital by SparkNotes Editors

Das Kapital

Karl Marx

© 2003, 2007 by Spark Publishing

This Spark Publishing edition 2014 by SparkNotes LLC, an Affiliate of Barnes & Noble

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Contents

Context

Summary

Terms

Chapter 1: The Commodity (Section one)

Chapter 4: The General Formula for Capital

Chapter 6: The Sale and Purchase of Labor-Power

Chapter 7: Labor and Valorization Processes

Chapter 10: The Working Day

Chapter 14: The Division of Labor and Manufacture

Study Questions and Suggested Essay Topics

Review & Resources

Please Note!

Context

Karl Marx (1818–1883) was a German philosopher, economist and sociologist, as well as a political revolutionary. Capital was one of his most important works, and Marx spent about thirty years writing it. The first volume (which this study guide focuses on exclusively) was published in 1867. It was the only volume to be completed before his death. Marx's friend and collaborator Friedrich Engels (1820–1895) edited and published volumes two and three after Marx's death.

Marx had several important intellectual influences. One of his primary influences comes from the work of G.W.F. Hegel. Hegel's theory presents history as a process of the world becoming conscious of itself as spirit. Marx took this idea and instead argued that it was man that was alienated from himself in the material world. Escape from this alienation requires a revolution. Marx also responds to the economic theories that were dominant in his time. He addresses several economists by name, such as Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill.

Marx's theory should be understood in the context of the hardships suffered by 19th century workers in England, France and Germany. The Industrial Revolution