Karl Marx 2e

This is one of the most respected books on Marx's philosophical thought. Wood explains Marx's views from a philosophical standpoint and defends Marx against common misunderstandings and criticisms of his views. All the major philosophical topics in Marx's work are considered: the central concept of alienation; historical materialism and Marx's account of social classes; the nature and social function of morality; philosophical materialism and Marx's atheism; and Marx's use of the Hegelian dialectical method and the Marxian theory of value. The second edition has been revised to include a new chapter on capitalist exploitation and new suggestions for further reading. Wood has also added a substantial new preface which looks at Marx's thought in light of the fall of the Soviet Union and our continued ambivalence towards capitalism, exploring Marx's continuing relevance in the twenty-first century.

Table of Contents
Preface Biographical Sketch Introduction
Part One: Alienation
1. The Concept of Alienation
2. The Human Essence
3. Human Production
4. Alienation and Capitalism
Part Two: Historical Materialism
5. Production and Society
6. Classes
7. Materialist Explanations
8. Materialism, Agency and Consciousness
Part Three: Marxism and Morality
9. Marx on Right and Justice
10. Morality as Ideology
Part Four: Philosophical Materialism
11. Materialism Naturalism
12. Materialist Realism
Part Five: The Dialectical Method
13. The Hegelian Dialectic
14. The Marxian Dialectic
15. Dialectic in Capital
Concluding Remark
Notes
Bibliography
Index