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July 17, 2006
Classical
Liberal Roots of the Marxist Doctrine of Classes
by Ralph Raico
Few ideas
are as closely associated with Marxism as the concepts of class and class
conflict. It is, for instance, impossible to imagine what a Marxist philosophy
of history or a Marxist revolutionary theory would be in their absence.
Yet, as with much else in Marxism, these concepts remain ambiguous and
contradictory.[1] For instance, while Marxist doctrine supposedly grounds
classes in the process of production, The Communist Manifesto asserts
in its famous opening lines:
The
history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.
Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master
and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant
opposition to one another…[2]
On examination
these opposed pairs turn out to be, either wholly or in part, not economic,
but legal, categories.[3] (Read
the rest here. Click the "back button" to return to The
Price of Liberty.)
Editor's
Note: Follow the links to a greater understanding of the real free market
and individual liberty. Unless you understand these concepts - which are
impossible to separate - you can't be an effective voice or example for
liberty and justice. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose,
except some of the misconceptions learned in government "schools"
and the puppet media.
Other
articles at the von Mises Institute (There are thousands of them,
all free.)
Defense
Services on the Free Market
Let us, then, examine in a little more detail what a free-market defense
system ... On the free market, defense against violence would be a service
like any ...
Making
Economic Sense
... before the mighty Xerox 914 came on the market in the fateful fall
of 1959. ... But above all, the Xerox story is a tribute to what free
competition and ...
The
Trouble with NASA
In a more perfect world, or at least one in which the free market reigned,
the space shuttle accidents would be clear signals that government space
travel ...
Ludwig
von Mises Institute
Probably the most active Austrian institution today. It has a large range
of useful links for the...
The
Free Market, published by the Mises Institute
The Ludwig von Mises Institute is the research and educational center
of classical liberalism and the Austrian School of economics.
The
Independent Institute
A nonprofit, scholarly research and educational organization which sponsors
comprehensive studies...
Foundation
for Economic Education (FEE)
Offers online education, a bookstore, and links to its seminars.
Ayn
Rand Institute
Institute seeking to promote the philosophy of Objectivism via educational
and cultural programs....
Institute
for Humane Studies
Assists students by offering scholarships, grants, internships, and free
summer seminars.
National
Center for Policy Analysis
NCPA is a non-profit public policy research institute seeking innovative
private sector solutions to public policy problems.
Reason
Foundation
A national public policy think tank based in Los Angeles.
Acton
Institute
Promotes a free society informed by religious faith and moral absolutes.
Future
of Freedom Foundation
Advances its ideas through educational programs available online.
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