Example research essay topic: Rich And Poor Matter Of Time - 1,391 words

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Philosophy (1) There are many left-wing intellectuals in our time, which try to convince us that Marx's ideas were being wrongly interpreted and that theyre essentially beneficial to mankind. This point of view is becoming especially popular in our days, when the memories of communist paradise slowly begin to fade out. In this essay we will try to prove that Marxism could not benefit people, because it is based on false theoretical assumptions. Marxism opposes Capitalism against Communism and suggests that there can be no reconciliation between them. Let us analyse the essence of both concepts.

There is no doubt that if relations between workers and employers in Capitalist society are not being regulated, it will inevitably lead to a situation when capitalists will begin to take advantage of workers, which will result in the increase of social tension, within society. At the same time, we cannot seriously suggest that Capitalism, as social concept, is based on social injustice. The fact that human society has always been socially stratified only reflects biological inequality among people. Therefore, we cannot say that the differences in social status among people need to be associated with injustice.

Capitalism is based on the valid suggestion that strive towards private ownership is one of human basic instincts. At the same time, Capitalism idealizes this drive and puts above everything else, which leads to a situation when this instinct slowly turns into irrational greed. In this respect Capitalism is similar to Communism, because these two political doctrines are utterly materialistic. If left unchecked, the natural development of Capitalism will lead to widening the gap between rich and poor, as we can observe now, after the collapse of Communist system. There can be only one reason for the government to regulate market to protect national businesses and to insure that desire to make profit, on the part of capitalists, does not negatively affects national interests.

This, of course, can only be done in society that has a clear purpose for its existence. In classical democratic societies, governments attempts to regulate economy will inevitably result in worsening of overall socio-political situation. (2) In 1848 Karl Marx and Frederic Engel published Communist Manifesto, which stated that all people in the world are divided on bourgeoisie and proletariat, which are the biggest enemies and there can be no reconciliation reached between them. They predicted that historically, the bourgeoisie is doomed to physical annihilation, to prevent it from exploiting proletariat any further. Marx and Engel suggested that there is no other purpose of ones existence, but materialistic one. If person is not hungry all his needs are satisfied.

The reason why so many people were strongly opposed against Communism is because it openly proclaims its immediate goals: The immediate aim of the Communists is the same as that of all other proletarian parties: Formation of the proletariat into a class, overthrow of the bourgeois supremacy, conquest of political power by the proletariat in the whole world. (Communist Manifesto, part 2). Up until the collapse of the Soviet Union, its symbol used to be a hammer and the sickle over the globe. Soviet constitution openly stated that USSR only temporarily consists of 15 republics and it is only the matter of time before all the countries in the world become part of it. Marxism is contradictory theory, because it proclaims the priority of individual values, on one hand, but on another, it regards such individual as social nucleus. It strives for the integral functioning of society, but this can only be accomplished if powerful bureaucratic authority is established. But then, the social progress in every Communist society becomes stagnant, as bureaucracy is not concerned with anything else, but pursuing its own secular agendas.

The bearded prophet of universal brotherhood suggested that the forces that define political structure in every society are of purely economical nature. Just like Freud, he takes one of many human traits and builds universal theory around it, while denying other traits any significance whatsoever. Just as Freud, who idealized human sexuality, Marx idealizes economy. He says that the peoples actions are always motivated by their class affiliations, even though that they often do not even realize this fact.

Therefore, workers from England and Papua-New Guinea, for example, will be much more likely to find an understanding between each other, than with representatives of their own ruling class. Only because of this, we cannot seriously consider Marx's theory as having any philosophical value. Marx predicted that the first Communist revolutions would occur in highly industrialized countries of Europe, which had a proletariat as well established social class. Yet, it was the semi-feudal Russia, where Communists had first taken over the political power. The reason for this was the simple fact that the majority of Russians were more devout to Christianity than people in Europe. The Communist theory appealed to their inner subconscious drives, as it is basically nothing but a Christian doctrine, designed for the twentieth century.

Marx promoted the idea of dictatorship of proletariat, which was to insure that other social classes would gradually cease to exist. As history shows, very often Marxist revolutionaries were not patient enough to wait until it happens naturally, so they would use mass executions to speed up the process. Marx anticipated the time when there would be no national states. His vision of future resembles anarchist utopia, from certain prospective. Yet, he also theorized that masses cannot effectively rule themselves, which is why he suggested that the ruling elite should be created out of idealist promoters of workers cause, such as himself. The significance of Marxism, as political philosophy, can be compared to the significance of Christianity, as religion of death and decay, which helped to seal the fate of Roman civilization.

Both are based on the denial of scientifically proven fact of peoples natural inequality. Also, the practical implications of both doctrines resulted in enormous amount of suffering throughout the history. The Marxism prepared the ground for Communism, which almost succeeded in destroying Western civilization. (3) There is an alternative to both Capitalism and Communism, which proved to be so effective, that capitalists and communists had to combine their efforts to put an end to it National-Socialism. This doctrine was able to eliminate contradiction between peoples instinct of private ownership and their striving towards social justice and equality. Hitler was able to expose the sheer absurdity of Marx's idea that the violent struggle between rich and poor is inevitable. Even the most hard-core critics on National-Socialism admit that, from time when Hitler came to power to the outbreak of Second World War, Germany underwent a miraculous transition.

For the first time in history workers were being guaranteed 8 hours work day. They enjoyed unprecedented social benefits, such as paid vacations abroad and free housing. It was for the workers that Volkswagen Beetle was being designed. The workers living standards in Germany simply could not even be compared to the living standards of workers in Soviet Union, where they did not have any rights at all, while being turned into slaves, who could be sentenced to 10 years in jail, if they showed up at work 5 minutes late. Communism had failed ideologically; this is why it will never become popular as social doctrine. National-Socialism, on the other hand, had only failed militarily and its appeal becomes stronger, as time goes by.

Therefore, it is wrong to suggest that Capitalism is the last economic system. In fact, it now undergoes a process of decline, because Liberal governments in Western countries deploy social policies that undermine Capitalism economic efficiency. For example, companies are now required to celebrate diversity, without being explained the economic benefits of such practice. As a result, the workforce is becoming increasingly unqualified. This goes along with process of Globalization, which will eventually result in situation when governments will no longer be able to exercise a political authority, because they will become puppets of transnational corporation. When this happens, workers will to loose their last social rights.

Then, it is going to be only the matter of time before new economic doctrine, based on the idea of justice, will become popular among people. One thing is certain this could never be Communism again. Bibliography: Marx, Karl and Engels, Frederik Manifesto of the Communist Party. 1848. 2001. Marxism Page. 2 Apr. 2007. web

Research essay sample on Rich And Poor Matter Of Time