Understanding Marx's Critique of Capitalism

Who is considered capitalism's most famous and ambitious critic?

• John Maynard Keynes

• Adam Smith

• Milton Friedman

• Karl Marx

Answer explanation

Karl Marx is widely regarded as capitalism's most famous critic, articulating his opposition to capitalist systems in works like 'The Communist Manifesto' and 'Das Kapital', where he analyzed class struggle and economic inequality.

What did Marx believe modern work leads to?

• Fulfillment

• Alienation

• Prosperity

• Unity

Answer explanation

Marx believed that modern work leads to alienation, where workers become disconnected from the products of their labor, their own humanity, and each other, resulting in a sense of isolation and lack of fulfillment.

What term did Marx use to describe the feeling of disconnection in modern work?

• Surplus value

• Commodity fetishism

• Entfremdung

• Primitive accumulation

Answer explanation

Marx used the term 'Entfremdung' to describe the feeling of disconnection or alienation that workers experience in modern industrial society, highlighting how labor becomes estranged from the worker's essence.

According to Marx, what makes the human being expendable in capitalism?

• Technological advancement

• Economic growth

• Increased competition

• Forces of production

Answer explanation

According to Marx, the 'forces of production' in capitalism lead to the devaluation of human labor, making individuals expendable as they can be replaced by machines or more efficient methods.

What did Marx call the process of capitalists shrinking wages to increase profits?

• Commodity fetishism

• Primitive accumulation

• Surplus value

• Capital accumulation

Answer explanation

Marx referred to the process of capitalists reducing wages to boost profits as 'primitive accumulation.' This concept highlights the initial accumulation of capital through exploitation and dispossession.

What is a crisis of abundance according to Marx?

• Inflation

• A shortage of resources

• Overproduction

• Economic recession

Answer explanation

According to Marx, a crisis of abundance occurs when there is overproduction, leading to a surplus of goods that cannot be sold. This results in economic instability, despite the availability of resources.

What did Marx believe should be made admirable due to the efficiency of modern production?

• Work

• Leisure

• Competition

• Profit

Answer explanation

Marx believed that the efficiency of modern production should allow for more leisure time, making it admirable. He argued that as productivity increases, people should enjoy the benefits of their labor through leisure rather than just work.

What did Marx argue was the psychological tendency caused by capitalism?

• Surplus value

• Primitive accumulation

• Alienation

• Commodity fetishism

Answer explanation

Marx argued that capitalism leads to commodity fetishism, where social relationships are obscured by the value of goods, causing individuals to prioritize material possessions over human connections.

What did Marx believe about bourgeois marriage?

• It was an extension of business

• It was a personal choice

• It was based on love

• It was a source of happiness

Answer explanation

Marx viewed bourgeois marriage as primarily a business arrangement, reflecting economic interests rather than personal choice or love. This perspective highlights how marriage served to reinforce social and economic structures.

What did Marx propose about the economic system's influence on ideas?

• It is irrelevant

• It only affects the poor

• It subtly colors our ideas

• It has no influence

Answer explanation

Marx argued that the economic system shapes our thoughts and beliefs, suggesting that it subtly colors our ideas rather than being irrelevant or having no influence. This highlights the connection between material conditions and ideology.