Marxism lecture 17: Critique of the Gotha Program: Karl Marx

This critical text, written in 1875, examines the foundational principles of socialist political programs and highlights Marx's vision for a post-capitalist society. Dr. Rahman provides a detailed analysis of key concepts such as the "dictatorship of the proletariat," the transition to communism, and Marx's critique of "vulgar socialism."
This lecture unpacks the enduring relevance of Marx's arguments, particularly his distinction between the first and higher phases of communism and his sharp critique of the Lassallean ideas present in the Gotha Program. Whether you're a student of political economy, a Marxist thinker, or simply curious about the philosophical underpinnings of socialism, this lecture offers invaluable insights.
Historical context of the Gotha Program
Marx's critique of the "equal right" principle
Labor, distribution, and social relations under socialism
The significance of Marx's analysis for contemporary socialism

[@vivalaleta]

Fair and equal distribution is arranged by the workers who run the businesses. No bosses and no landlords. Once the people hold the power, they will never willingly release it. Subscribed.

[@youknowwho5900]

Fair is not equal. I might need none and you might need 2. Fair is 0:2. Equal is 1:1. Distribution can't be arranged by workers. So, there emerges the distribution "class" which becomes the elite, the ruling class as it decides what is fair for everyone else. Example: party nomenclature in the USSR. In the end the idea is good-hearted but naive and fragile/not-working. The USSR was one such experiment.

[@diedoktor]

The social context in these videos always makes reading the text much easier.

[@MundaSquire]

Very clear analysis. Much appreciated.

[@mikeyan.]

nice, super succinct overview of this work

[@AsimAli-gn9td]

❤❤❤

[@MdISMAIL-xo2mc]

Where is the video of young marx, you mentioned in the first of the video?

[@xiaoyanzhang56]

Search KZbin young Karl Marx.

[@xiaoyanzhang56]

Search KZbin young Karl Marx

[@TaimurRahman-English]

@@MdISMAIL-xo2mc it’s a film called The Young Karl Marx.

[@vivalaleta]

Thanks. I will look it up. ​@@TaimurRahman-English

[@mintusaren895]

Social an ,philosophy.

[@tanujSE]

To understand in simple way socialism is development of productive force in classless way,which didn't happened in ussr and stalin have defended capitalist division of productive labour in his work

[@schadowizationproductions6205]

German :)

[@notadane]

I don't have any issues with Marx's criticism of his opponents. But you are seriously telling me that he wrote multiple hundred + pages critiques of people who had minor disagreements with him out of only fidelity to the cause, and not out of spite? Very difficult to believe. Marx was not particularly nice at dinner parties. Just see how he treated Weitling. Herr Vogt etc. Even Engels, how he goes hammer and tongs against Eugen Duhring. I'm glad they wrote those books, but man, they were not paragons of tahammul and husn zann lol

[@TaimurRahman-English]

@@notadane the people he was criticising we’re just as aggressive towards Marx.

[@karlthemarxist6806]

The criticisms were detailed and sincere. The motives of other people do not hang on whether you, me or anyone else find them "difficult to believe". That's merely a subjective accusation of bad faith. Marx may have not been a nice at dinner parties, but he was not one for fake politeness. That would be a form of lying, of being two-faced.

[@notadane]

@@karlthemarxist6806 good strategy for making allies and building movements - to slight and condescend against everyone who disagrees with you- and after all this, i wonder how its going for you guys? Going from strength to strength, eh? Winning elections, defeating extremists, and harkening the end of capitalism? I didn't think so.

[@karlthemarxist6806]

@ Going for us? Who cares. This isn't about "us". Marxism concerns itself by the political economy of capitalism. The working class themselves can replace the economic system.

[@karlthemarxist6806]

@@notadane Where's the slight? Who cares about us? The working class themselves can change the economic system.

[@widowsson8192]

Your response to the human nature critique of communism concerns lower communism! In higher communism doesn't human nature become one which would no longer care about being paid in proportion to the labor value he generates? The human nature critique is directed to higher phase communism. Which argue we will never get there due to the problem of human nature you address. So, if the point of socialism (lower communism) is higher communism, lower communism is rubbish.

[@TaimurRahman-English]

@@widowsson8192 human nature is not immutable.

[@widowsson8192]

@TaimurRahman-English thanks for responding. I enjoy your lectures. Is it fair to say that the point of lower communism is to transform human nature into one that is compatible with higher communism? That is how I always thought of it. Then, the question becomes if Marx's assertion about human nature is true.

[@TaimurRahman-English]

@@widowsson8192 yes. Here is an essay on this by Che Guevara. www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1965/03/man-socialism.htm