Notes and thoughts on 'Karl Marx: A Brief Biographical Sketch with an Exposition of Marxism' by Lenin.

Note before you read: At the 50-minute mark of the audiobook, it's talking about economics and the volumes of capital, and it's like, "Who cares, simplify, get to the point already, and move on."

Summarized: Marx believed that the working class should support the peasants, and his ideas faced a lot of opposition and censorship. His work influenced socialist and international movements. Marxism combines different philosophies and forms the basis of modern materialism and scientific socialism. Marx argued that man is a product of nature. The question of whether spirit or nature is primary divides people. He rejected idealism, linking it to religion, and believed that freedom comes from understanding necessity. By recognizing natural laws and dialectics, necessity can turn into freedom, but this doesn't always consider human progress and actions in various fields.

Marx and Engels believed they rescued conscience dialectics from idealism and applied it to a materialist view of nature. They saw nature as proof of dialectics, with its process being dialectical rather than metaphysical. In dialectical philosophy, nothing is final or sacred. Dialectics, under Marx, encompasses the theory of knowledge and evolution, representing a universal process of laws. Materialism is the result of existence, and social consciousness stems from social existence. Technology is how humanity interacts with nature, shaping human life. The mode of production in political life eventually clashes with materialism, leading to social revolution. As the means of production change, so must political ideology.

According to Marx, class struggle arises from definite laws governing changes and conflicts. In society, people's desires often clash with one another, creating contradictions and conflicts throughout history. Marxism serves as a guide to the laws governing this chaos. Social opposition leads to struggles where one group thrives while the other faces challenges. Capitalist societies are divided into the rich and the workers, with Marx focusing on the working class as the revolutionary force. He believed that as modern industry advanced, other classes would diminish. The lower middle class and other groups fight to avoid extinction, leading to political and class struggles.

Every class conflict has political implications, and throughout history, these struggles are interconnected, influencing transitions between classes. Ultimately, all products that satisfy needs and can be exchanged are created through labor, showcasing the diversity of goods produced for trade. Abstract labor is like the total sum of all goods out there. Not all work is equally important in society. The value of stuff is based on the work put into making them. Money is what we use to buy things and pay for labor. Workers work to cover the cost of their labor and then create extra stuff.

Marx dives into economics, which can be a bit dull. Negotiations with workers determine wages and hours. Companies use cooperation, different tasks, and technology to up their production game. Capitalism sets up this divide between the rich and poor, leading to unemployment. It creates a gap between workers and the wealthy. A totally free market controlled by capitalists can harm workers, making them feel less free. This can lead to more oppression and rights violations, but it can also spark revolutions. Private ownership can lead to big companies dominating the market, and workers can end up exploiting each other.

Capitalism keeps many folks on the edge of poverty through exploitation. While cooperatives might help in some areas, they don't fully get rid of poverty. Splitting up farmland can be a way to weaken the power of farm workers. Private property in capitalism can lead to monopolies and worker exploitation, which perpetuates poverty. Marx predicted that socialism would emerge from the proletariat's struggle, dismantling national borders and leading to a society where the means of production are communally owned. However, the transition to cooperative property is complex, as it challenges personal ideologies, such as social Darwinism, which can influence peasants to value individual success over the collective well-being, even though Marx assumes the peasants will be selfless.

Marx and Engels discussed revolution tactics, emphasizing the importance of objectives. Marx believed that unity among workers should outweigh wages. He highlighted the need for workers to fight for both the present and future of the working class. Marx stressed the necessity of an alliance with peasants to protect the bourgeoisie. He supported legal and illegal means of revolution as long as there was a revolutionary spirit and a readiness to take necessary action.