The German Ideology, Vol. 1, Chapter 1: Feuerbach Notes and thoughts

German philosophy critiqued religion, emphasizing ideas over materialism, which shapes how people are defined by their production, setting them apart from animals. This connection between nations and production influences individual development and labor divisions, which are rooted in ownership.

The social structure is structured around family divisions, communal ownership, and the power dynamics of private property. Feudal property, under a military constitution, positioned peasants as the producing class, leading to the absence of significant divisions between nations.

Reality and consciousness are viewed as gibberish, with human evolution and thinking evolving together. People are shaped by their conditions and what they produce within those conditions. Philosophy, highlighting the significance of individuals shaping history, links materialism from fulfilling basic needs to family and procreation.

Cooperation and procreation are vital aspects of life, serving as production methods within society. Social and technological histories intertwine, distinct from religious and political histories. Language facilitates interaction, with consciousness as a human creation replacing animal instincts.

This consciousness is viewed as tribalistic, and the division of labor initially arose from distinctions in the sexual act. Individuals are at the core of everything, with the division of labor being the only aspect not contradictory. In early society, wives and children were viewed as the property of men, contradicting communal interests that rely on interdependence.

As long as society remains natural and individuals are divided involuntarily, people are enslaved by their actions. Duty and responsibility are imposed on individuals out of necessity for self-preservation, limiting their control over their actions. Communism allows people to share responsibilities through cooperation, leading to the dissolution of supply and demand, putting everything under people's control.

Materialism is a global concept, and humanity can fully appreciate human creations when barriers are removed and divisions eliminated. Cooperation fosters self-generation within the species, uniting humanity as a collective mind. Abolishing alienation means abolishing private property, requiring global unity to eliminate individual needs of nations and communities, fostering interdependence.

Communism necessitates a universal, simultaneous effort by all people, with the proletariat existing on a global scale. It is the real movement that transforms the current state of affairs. Civil society transcends state and nation, evolving alongside the bourgeoisie in production and trade.

History progresses through generations, each layering upon and reshaping inherited elements. It distorts to uphold past objectives, with modern history abstracting from prior events, all interconnected as world history rooted in materialism. Civil society, the bedrock of history, undergoes transformation by each generation, illustrating the interplay between individuals and their surroundings, reflecting human essence.

History, shaped by societal structures, isn't a linear evolution but a product influenced by material conditions. German history, biased by religious influence, prioritizes national supremacy over global history, with selective interpretations overshadowing broader historical truths.

Feuerbach, recognizing human interdependence in communism, could improve his theory by emphasizing the need to challenge the existing order. His focus on satisfaction as a human trait overlooks the impact of societal structures on individuals. Dissatisfaction, according to Feuerbach, leads to inevitable circumstances, with silence or rebellion as responses to discontent, highlighting individual actions in shaping conditions.

Slavery's abolition requires technological and industrial progress. Feuerbach's view suggests a perception of things as they appear, not as they truly are, lacking recognition of humanity's interconnectedness and the shaping of individuals by their conditions. In history, Feuerbach leans towards idealism over materialism.

The ruling class controls both materials and ideas, with a divide between intellectual and non-intellectual groups. They claim false universality in their ideas, while revolutionary classes truly represent universal interests across social classes. Thinkers often uphold these ideas as truth without considering current material conditions.

Farmers serve as a societal instrument of production, highlighting the divide between property owners and the propertyless, as well as the segmentation of labor. Urban areas foster authority and unity, while rural regions promote individualism and separation. Private property dehumanizes individuals and fosters conflict among them.

The abolition of private property is a crucial step towards ending the exploitation and alienation of humanity. City laborers lack organization and power, often functioning as wage slaves. Manufacturers operate without guilds, contributing to disorganization within the workforce.

The government protects national industry for the global market, emphasizing monetary interactions between nations. Large industry establishments establish hierarchies, with the state existing primarily to safeguard private property. Civil law serves to uphold the sanctity of private property, which is conceptual rather than tangible.

Classes are primarily formed to combat common adversaries, yet individuals within these classes often clash with one another. True freedom emerges from individual class unity, where communism advocates for liberation through communal association. True freedom can only be achieved when we prioritize collective well-being and adopt an altruistic culture over individual interests.

Class distinctions breed division, necessitating the abolition of the state for bottom classes to achieve equality. Where communism asserts the interconnectedness of all aspects of life within the collective, rejecting independence, various interest groups may incite evolutions for personal gain, impacting the whole.

Intelligence has the capacity to transcend state boundaries, as the state functions to uphold antiquated laws and only changes through revolution. Thus, colonization and monopolies frequently spark revolutionary movements. Big industry sets the stage for abolishing private property, dividing resources between private ownership and labor.

Production becomes detached from individuals, relying on collaborative efforts. Private property fosters division but also unites through collective labor. To liberate individuals from bondage, communal ownership must replace private property, nurturing a community willing to function collectively.

Communism emerges from conditions limiting people's participation in life, leading a specific class to seize control, eliminate class distinctions, and unite all individuals as one entity, impacting the entire population. A new society must be forged by discarding the old one.