The Social Side of Political Economy as Presented by Karl Heinrich Marx: A Review of “Le Misére De La Philosophie” (The Poverty of Philosophy)

The Social Side of Political economy as presented by Karl Heinrich Marx

A Review of “Le Misére De La Philosophie” (The Poverty of Philosophy)

By Jan Freidun Taravosh 12th of december 2009

“There is never a political movement which is not at the same time social.” 

- Karl Marx

Introduction:

Those who are not particularly into economy, but still feel the need to get aquatinted with the basic idea of Karl Marx thoughts on the economy. 

As you may already be well aware  "The Capital" -one of the most classic titles in the canon of Scientific Socialism-  is not an easy read. However In 1847, Karl Marx was committed to a different task - finishing La Misère De La Philosophie - translated into English later as (the Poverty of Philosophy), a swift and witty polemic towards the abstract and (for the most part) nonsensical economic and philosophical system of thought as professed by the Frenchman Proudhoun - An anarchist who seems as historically rootless as he seems utopian.

 

While  Marx with his book exposes the limitations of Proudhouns whimsical and essentially unscientific system of thought a - long the way Marx also describes the basic principles of other famous economists such as Adam Smith, Sismondi and Ricardo.  The best thing with “Le Misére” is however not that it brings the reader clear cut view of the important subject economy itself. More importantly Karl Marx underlines the social dynamics of economy which at the time was quite  unprecedented.

 

 The Correlation Between Economy, Philosophy and Social Science

When developing Economic systems and Philosophy, at the time when this book was published  was mainly  leisure activity   for the  academic upper-class, and thus remained utopian.

 On the other hand Karl Marx although well educated took time to explore economy in a social and historical context. Karl Marx work therefore aimed at the Common People, rather than the establishment. This is particularly apparent in the following:

“Why are cotton, potatoes and spirits the pivots of bourgeois society? Because the least amount of 

labour is needed to produce them, and, consequently, they have the lowest price. Why does the 

minimum price determine the maximum consumption? Is it by any chance because of the 

absolute utility of these objects, their intrinsic utility, their utility insomuch as they correspond, in 

the most useful manner, in the needs of the worker as a man, and not to the man as a worker? No, 

it is because in a society founded on poverty the poorest products have the fatal prerogative of 

being used by the greatest number” 

Scientific Socialism, as a workout look thus is a genuinely progressive world outlook at always relates to the relevant context of the daily activities of the Common People.

There is Never a Political Movement Which is Not at the Same Time Social

Karl Marx was a social scientist, a economist, but also a politician and a committed  revolutionary. For Marx he saw his commitment to studying the economy vitally important as he did it so as to help Common People to raise their awareness of the world around them. 

Therefore Karl Marx unlike the philosophers of the establishment  bourgeoisie, saw it as key to rid economy and philosophy as well as politics from all kinds of abstraction and Utopian nonsense.  “Le Misére” was at the time it was released only a polemic towards Proudhon, yet as time goes by even if many people have forgotten Proudhon, Marx teachings remain as alive as ever - why? basically because. Scientific Socialism is more dynamic and more down to earth than any of the utopian philosophies. I.E. it is relevant to the common people, it’s scientific and it makes sense.

 It is not only, economical or only political, but also social. 

The  establishment may be keen on hiding this truth but as the author himself puts it in “Le Misére De la Philosophie”  

“Do not say that social movement excludes political movement. There is never a political 

movement which is not at the same time social.” 

I Read this book in Swedish first but it has been translated into many languages.

 It’s an enlightening read. it carries a universal message and particular knowledge about French society or French philosophers before hand is by no means necessary, this book just happened to be written in French for polemic reasons.

It is not merely an economic pamphlet, and the book does not focus on  economic formulas and equations but more on the social dimensions of economy . 

All in all the book is divided into two main chapters, where the first focuses mainly on economy the second embraces the subject of philosophy. In reading it one can truely sense how well Marx understood the plight of the working masses, and how much he cared for the Common PeopleWhile it might be difficult to come by a printed copy, I am certain you can find it online for free.