Summary
Marx criticizes the actual world, which he sees as perverted. In particular, he criticizes political society, that is the Prussian state, as a despotism whose principle is the dehumanization of man. The sole political person is the monarch, who rules through caprice.
Marx counterposes to this the notion of the liberation of a ‘thinking mankind’ and the formation of a ‘community of men that can fulfill their highest needs, a democratic state’. Marx sees the basis for this as the system of industry and commerce, the exploitation of man.
Some interesting quotes from the letters
“Here, as everywhere, rule and exploitation are identical concepts.”
This is a key concept in Marxism. There are two basic classes- the exploiters, and the exploited. You’re either one or the other.
“By the same token, the whole principle of socialism is concerned only with one side, namely the reality of the true existence of man. We have also to concern ourselves with the other side, I.e. with man’s theoretical existence, and make his religion and science, etc. Into the object of our criticism.”
Some of the basis of ‘critical theories’; the point being that relentless criticism must be leveled at all aspects of pre-revolutionary society in order to bring it down.
“Here is the truth, on your knees before it! It means we shall develop for the world new principles from the existing principles of the world. We shall not say: Abandon your struggles, they are mere folly; let us provide you with the true campaign slogans. Instead, we shall simply show the world why it is struggling and consciousness of this is a thing it must acquire whether it wishes or not. The reform of consciousness consists entirely in making the world aware of its own consciousness, in arousing it from its dream of itself, in explaining its own actions to it.”
This is a typical thought of Marxism. Marxism has the truth, those that don’t accept it must be shown “whether it wishes it or not”. Marxism believes it alone has truth, and any other belief is a dream, or not real. Marxism believes it alone can explain the actions of the non-believer, and it will push it whether we want it or not.