'All too often, Karl Marx has been regarded as a demon or a deity - or a busted flush. This fresh, provocative, and hugely enjoyable book explains why, for all his shortcomings, his critique of modern society remains forcefully relevant even in the twenty-first century.'
Francis Wheen, author of Karl Marx
In recent years we could be forgiven for assuming that Marx has nothing left to say to us. Marxist regimes have failed miserably, and with them, it seemed, all reason to take Marx seriously. The fall of the Berlin Wall had
enormous symbolic resonance: it was taken to be the fall of Marx as well as of Marxist politics and economics.
This timely book argues that we can detach Marx the critic of current society from Marx the prophet of future society, and that he remains the most impressive critic we have of
liberal, capitalist, bourgeois society. It also shows that the value of the 'great thinkers' does not depend on their views being true, but on other features such as their originality, insight, and systematic vision. On this account too Marx still richly deserves to be read.
Preface
Introduction
Marx's Life and Works
The Plan of This Book
1: Early Writings
Introduction
Religion
The Philosophy of Historical Materialism
Labour and Alienation
Money and Credit
Liberalism
Emancipation
2: Class, History, and
Capital
Class
History
The Economics of Capitalism
The Transition to Communism
The Nature of Communism
3: Assessment
Introduction
Early Writings
Theory of History
Economics
Communism
Human Nature
Conclusion
Guide to References and
Further Reading
Index
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Jonathan Wolff is Professor of Philosophy at University College London. His books include the successful An Introduction to Political Philosophy, OUP.
