Karl Marx

Life

• Born: May 5, 1818, in Trier, Prussia (now Germany)
• Education:
• Studied law at University of Bonn (1835-1836)
• PhD in Philosophy from University of Jena (1841)
• Career Highlights:
• Journalist and editor (1842-1849)
• Political exile in London (1849-1883)
• Leading figure in the International Workingmen's Association (1864-1876)
• Death: March 14, 1883, in London, England

People Who Influenced Their Thought

• Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: Dialectical method foundation
• Adam Smith & David Ricardo: Classical political economy critique
• Ludwig Feuerbach: Materialist transformation
• Friedrich Engels: Lifelong collaborator and financial supporter

Main Ideas and Publications

• The Communist Manifesto (1848, with Engels): Revolutionary call to action
• Das Kapital (Vol. 1: 1867): Foundational critique of capitalism
• Theory of Historical Materialism: Social development through class struggle
• Alienation Theory: Worker estrangement under capitalism
• Labor Theory of Value: Economic value derives from labor

Controversies

• Implementation Failures: 20th century communist states' authoritarianism
• Economic Predictions: Capitalism's adaptability contradicted some prophecies
• Human Nature: Critics argue against materialist conception of humanity
• Revolutionary Violence: Debates about means justifying ends

Key People Influenced

• Vladimir Lenin: Russian Revolution leader
• Rosa Luxemburg: Democratic Marxist theorist
• Antonio Gramsci: Cultural hegemony concepts
• Frankfurt School: Critical theory development

Legacy

Marx created history's most influential critique of capitalism, inspiring revolutionary movements while leaving contested economic and philosophical legacy.