Therefore,thegreaterthisproduct,thelessishehimself.Theexternalization[Entausserung]oftheworkerinhisproductmeansnotonlythathislaborbecomesanobject,anexternalexistence,butthatitexistsoutsidehim,independentlyofhimandalientohim,andbeingstoconfronthimasanautonomouspower;thatthelifewhichhehasbestowedontheobjectconfrontshimashostileandalien.
  Letusnottakeacloserlookatobjectification,attheproductionoftheworker,andtheestrangement,thelossoftheobjet,ofhisproduct,thatthisentails.
  Theworkerscancreatenothingwithoutnature,withoutthesensuousexternalworld.Itisthematerialinwhichhislaborrealizesitself,inwhichitisactiveandfromwhich,andbymeansofwhich,itproduces.
  Butjustasnatureprovideslaborwiththemeansoflife,inthesenseoflaborcannotlivewithoutobjectsonwhichtoexerciseitself,soalsoitprovidesthemeansoflifeinthenarrowersense,namelythemeansofphysicalsubsistenceoftheworker.
  Themoretheworkerappropriatestheexternalworld,sensuousnature,throughhislabor,themorehedepriveshimselfofthemeansoflifeintworespects:firstly,thesensuousexternalworldbecomeslessandlessanobjectbelongingtohislabor,ameansoflifeofhislabor;
  and,secondly,itbecomeslessandlessameansoflifeintheimmediatesense,ameansforthephysicalsubsistenceoftheworker.
  Inthesetworespects,then,theworkerbecomesaslaveofhisobject;firstly,inthathereceivesanobjectoflabor,i.e.,hereceiveswork,and,secondly,inthathereceivesmeansofsubsistence.
  Firstly,then,sothathecanexistsasaworker,andsecondlyasaphysicalsubject.Theculminationofthisslaveryisthatitisonlyasaworkerthathecanmaintainhimselfasaphysicalsubjectandonlyasaphysicalsubjectthatheisaworker.
  (Theestrangementoftheworkerinhisobjectisexpressedaccordingtothelawsofpoliticaleconomyinthefollowingway:
  themoretheworkerproduces,thelesshehastoconsume;
  themorevaluehecreates,themoreworthlesshebecomes;
  themorehisproductisshaped,themoremisshapentheworker;
  themorecivilizedhisobject,themorebarbaroustheworker;
  themorepowerfulthework,themorepowerlesstheworker;
  themoreintelligentthework,thedullertheworkerandthemorehebecomesaslaveofnature.)Politicaleconomyconcealstheestrangementinthenatureoflaborbyignoringthedirectrelationshipbetweentheworker(labor)andproduction.Itistruethatlaborproducesmarvelsfortherich,butitproducesprivationfortheworker.Itproducespalaces,buthovelsfortheworker.Itproducesbeauty,butdeformityfortheworker.Itreplaceslaborbymachines,butitcastssomeoftheworkersbackintobarbarousformsoflaborandturnsothersintomachines.Itproducesintelligence,butitproducesidiocyandcretinismfortheworker.
  Thedirectrelationshipoflabortoitsproductsistherelationshipoftheworkertotheobjectsofhisproduction.Therelationshipoftherichmantotheobjectsofproductionandtoproductionitselfisonlyaconsequenceofthisfirstrelationship,andconfirmsit.Later,weshallconsiderthissecondaspect.Therefore,whenweaskwhatistheessentialrelationshipoflabor,weareaskingabouttherelationshipoftheworkertoproduction.
  Uptonow,wehaveconsideredtheestrangement,thealienationoftheworker,onlyfromoneaspect——i.e.,hisrelationshiptotheproductsofhislabor.Butestrangementmanifestsitselfnotonlyintheresult,butalsointheactofproduction,withintheactivityofproductionitself.Howcouldtheproductoftheworker’sactivityconfronthimassomethingalienifitwerenotforthefactthatintheactofproductionhewasestranginghimselffromhimself?Afterall,theproductissimplytheresumeoftheactivity,oftheproduction.Soiftheproductoflaborisalienation,productionitselfmustbeactivealienation,thealienationofactivity,theactivityofalienation.Theestrangementoftheobjectoflabormerelysummarizestheestrangement,thealienationintheactivityoflaboritself.
  Whatconstitutesthealienationoflabor?
  Firstly,thefactthatlaborisexternaltotheworker——i.e.,doesnotbelongtohisessentialbeing;thathe,therefore,doesnotconfirmhimselfinhiswork,butdenieshimself,feelsmiserableandnothappy,doesnotdevelopfreementalandphysicalenergy,butmortifieshisfleshandruinshismind.Hence,theworkerfeelshimselfonlywhenheisnotworking;whenheisworking,hedoesnotfeelhimself.Heisathomewhenheisnotworking,andnotathomewhenheisworking.Hislaboris,therefore,notvoluntarybutforced,itisforcedlabor.Itis,therefore,notthesatisfactionofaneedbutameremeanstosatisfyneedsoutsideitself.Itsaliencharacterisclearlydemonstratedbythefactthatassoonasnophysicalorothercompulsionexists,itisshunnedliketheplague.Externallabor,laborinwhichmanalienateshimself,isalaborofself—sacrifice,ofmortification.Finally,theexternalcharacteroflaborfortheworkerisdemonstratedbythefactthatitbelongsnottohimbuttoanother,andthatinithebelongsnottohimselfbuttoanother.Justasinreligionthespontaneousactivityofthehumanimagination,thehumanbrain,andthehumanheart,detachesitselffromtheindividualandreappearsasthealienactivityofagodorofadevil,sotheactivityoftheworkerisnothisownspontaneousactivity.Itbelongstoanother,itisalossofhisself.
  Theresultisthatman(theworker)feelsthatheisactingfreelyonlyinhisanimalfunctions——eating,drinking,andprocreating,oratmostinhisdwellingandadornment——whileinhishumanfunctions,heisnothingmorethananimal.
  Itistruethateating,drinking,andprocreating,etc.,arealsogenuinehumanfunctions.However,whenabstractedfromotheraspectsofhumanactivity,andturnedintofinalandexclusiveends,theyareanimal.
  Wehaveconsideredtheactofestrangementofpracticalhumanactivity,oflabor,fromtwoaspects:(1)therelationshipoftheworkertotheproductoflaborasanalienobjectthathaspoweroverhim.
  Therelationshipis,atthesametime,therelationshiptothesensuousexternalworld,tonaturalobjects,asanalienworldconfrontinghim,inhostileopposition.(2)Therelationshipoflabortotheactofproductionwithinlabor.Thisrelationshipistherelationshipoftheworkertohisownactivityassomethingwhichisalienanddoesnotbelongtohim,activityaspassivity[Leiden],powerasimpotence,procreationasemasculation,theworker’sownphysicalandmentalenergy,hispersonallife——forwhatislifebutactivity?——asanactivitydirectedagainsthimself,whichisindependentofhimanddoesnotbelongtohim.Self—estrangement,ascomparedwiththeestrangementoftheobject[Sache]mentionedabove.
  Wenowhavetoderiveathirdfeatureofestrangedlaborfromthetwowehavealreadyexamined.
  Manisaspecies—being,notonlybecausehepracticallyandtheoreticallymakesthespecies——bothhisownandthoseofotherthings——hisobject,butalso——andthisissimplyanotherwayofsayingthesamething——
  becausehelooksuponhimselfasthepresent,livingspecies,becausehelooksuponhimselfasauniversalandthereforefreebeing.
  Species—life,bothformanandforanimals,consistsphysicallyinthefactthatman,likeanimals,livesfrominorganicnature;andbecausemanismoreuniversalthananimals,sotooistheareaofinorganicnaturefromwhichhelivesmoreuniversal.Justasplants,animals,stones,air,light,etc.,theoreticallyformapartofhumanconsciousness,partlyasobjectsofscienceandpartlyasobjectsofart——hisspiritualinorganicnature,hisspiritualmeansoflife,whichhemustfirstpreparebeforehecanenjoyanddigestthem——so,too,inpracticetheyformapartofhumanlifeandhumanactivity.Inaphysicalsense,manlivesonlyfromthesenaturalproducts,whetherintheformofnourishment,heating,clothing,shelter,etc.Theuniversalityofmanmanifestsitselfinpracticeinthatuniversalitywhichmakesthewholeofnaturehisinorganicbody,(1)asadirectmeansoflifeand(2)asthematter,theobject,andthetoolofhislifeactivity.Natureisman’sinorganicbody——thatistosay,natureinsofarasitisnotthehumanbody.Manlivesfromnature——i.e.,natureishisbody——andhemustmaintainacontinuingdialoguewithitisheisnottodie.Tosaythatman’sphysicalandmentallifeislinkedtonaturesimplymeansthatnatureislinkedtoitself,formanisapartofnature.
  Estrangedlabornotonly(1)estrangesnaturefrommanand(2)
  estrangesmanfromhimself,fromhisownfunction,fromhisvitalactivity;
  becauseofthis,italsoestrangesmanfromhisspecies.Itturnshisspecies—lifeintoameansforhisindividuallife.Firstly,itestrangesspecies—lifeandindividuallife,and,secondly,itturnsthelatter,initsabstractform,intothepurposeoftheformer,alsoinitsabstractandestrangedform.
  Forinthefirstplacelabor,lifeactivity,productivelifeitself,appearstomanonlyasameansforthesatisfactionofaneed,theneedtopreservephysicalexistence.Butproductivelifeisspecies—life.Itislife—producinglife.Thewholecharacterofaspecies,itsspecies—character,residesinthenatureofitslifeactivity,andfreeconsciousactivityconstitutesthespecies—characterofman.Lifeappearsonlyasameansoflife.
  Theanimalisimmediatelyonewithitslifeactivity.Itisnotdistinctfromthatactivity;itisthatactivity.Manmakeshislifeactivityitselfanobjectofhiswillandconsciousness.Hehasconsciouslifeactivity.
  Itisnotadeterminationwithwhichhedirectlymerges.Consciouslifeactivitydirectlydistinguishesmanfromanimallifeactivity.Onlybecauseofthatisheaspecies—being.Or,rather,heisaconsciousbeing——i.e.,hisownlifeisanobjectforhim,onlybecauseheisaspecies—being.
  Onlybecauseofthatishisactivityfreeactivity.Estrangedlaborreversestherelationshipsothatman,justbecauseheisaconsciousbeing,makeshislifeactivity,hisbeing[Wesen],ameremeansforhisexistence.
  Thepracticalcreationofanobjectiveworld,thefashioningofinorganicnature,isproofthatmanisaconsciousspecies—being——i.e.,abeingwhichtreatsthespeciesasitsownessentialbeingoritselfasaspecies—being.Itistruethatanimalsalsoproduce.Theybuildnestsanddwelling,likethebee,thebeaver,theant,etc.Buttheyproduceonlytheirownimmediateneedsorthoseoftheiryoung;theyproduceonlywhenimmediatephysicalneedcompelsthemtodoso,whilemanproducesevenwhenheisfreefromphysicalneedandtrulyproducesonlyinfreedomfromsuchneed;theyproduceonlythemselves,whilemanreproducesthewholeofnature;theirproductsbelongimmediatelytotheirphysicalbodies,whilemanfreelyconfrontshisownproduct.Animalsproduceonlyaccordingtothestandardsandneedsofthespeciestowhichtheybelong,whilemaniscapableofproducingaccordingtothestandardsofeveryspeciesandofapplyingtoeachobjectitsinherentstandard;hence,manalsoproducesinaccordancewiththelawsofbeauty.
  Itis,therefore,inhisfashioningoftheobjectivethatmanreallyproveshimselftobeaspecies—being.Suchproductionishisactivespecies—life.Throughit,natureappearsashisworkandhisreality.
  Theobjectoflaboris,therefore,theobjectificationofthespecies—lifeofman:formanproduceshimselfnotonlyintellectually,inhisconsciousness,butactivelyandactually,andhecanthereforecontemplatehimselfinaworldhehimselfhascreated.Intearingawaytheobjectofhisproductionfromman,estrangedlaborthereforetearsawayfromhimhisspecies—life,histruespecies—objectivity,andtransformshisadvantageoveranimalsintothedisadvantagethathisinorganicbody,nature,istakenfromhim.
  Inthesamewayasestrangedlaborreducesspontaneousandfreeactivitytoameans,itmakesman’sspecies—lifeameansofhisphysicalexistence.
  Consciousness,whichmanhasfromhisspecies,istransformedthroughestrangementsothatspecies—lifebecomesameansforhim.
  (3)Estrangedlabor,therefore,turnsman’sspecies—being——bothnatureandhisintellectualspecies—power——intoabeingalientohimandameansofhisindividualexistence.Itestrangesmanfromhisownbody,fromnatureasitexistsoutsidehim,fromhisspiritualessence[Wesen],hishumanexistence.
  (4)Animmediateconsequenceofman’sestrangementfromtheproductofhislabor,hislifeactivity,hisspecies—being,istheestrangementofmanfromman.Whenmanconfronthimself,healsoconfrontsothermen.Whatistrueofman’srelationshiptohislabor,totheproductofhislabor,andtohimself,isalsotrueofhisrelationshiptoothermen,andtothelaborandtheobjectofthelaborofothermen.
  Ingeneral,thepropositionthatmanisestrangedfromhisspecies—beingmeansthateachmanisestrangedfromtheothersandthatallareestrangedfromman’sessence.
  Man’sestrangement,likeallrelationshipsofmantohimself,isrealizedandexpressedonlyinman’srelationshiptoothermen.
  Intherelationshipofestrangedlabor,eachmanthereforeregardstheotherinaccordancewiththestandardandthesituationinwhichheasaworkerfindshimself.
  Westartedoutfromaneconomicfact,theestrangementoftheworkerandofhisproduction.Wegavethisfactconceptualform:estranged,alienatedlabor.Wehaveanalyzedthisconcept,andinsodoingmerelyanalyzedaneconomicfact.
  Letusnowgoontoseehowtheconceptofestranged,alienatedlabormustexpressandpresentitselfinreality.
  Iftheproductoflaborisalientome,andconfrontsmeasanalienpower,towhomdoesitthenbelong?
  Toabeingotherthanme.
  Whoisthisbeing?
  Thegods?Itistruethatinearlytimesmostproduction——e.g.,templebuilding,etc.,inEgypt,India,andMexico——wasintheserviceofthegods,justastheproductbelongedtothegods.Butthegodsalonewereneverthemastersoflabor.Thesameistrueofnature.Andwhataparadoxitwouldbeifthemoremansubjugatesnaturethroughhislaborandthemoredivinemiraclesaremadesuperfluousbythemiraclesofindustry,themoreheisforcedtoforgothejoyorproductionandtheenjoymentoftheproductoutofdeferencetothesepowers.
  Thealienbeingtowhomlaborandtheproductoflaborbelong,inwhoseservicelaborisperformed,andforwhoseenjoymenttheproductoflaboriscreated,canbenoneotherthanmanhimself.
  Iftheproductoflabordoesnotbelongtotheworker,andifitconfrontshimasanalienpower,thisisonlypossiblebecauseitbelongstoamanotherthantheworker.Ifhisactivityisatormentforhim,itmustprovidepleasureandenjoymentforsomeoneelse.Notthegods,notnature,butonlymanhimselfcanbethisalienpowerovermen.
  Considertheabovepropositionthattherelationshipofmantohimselfbecomesobjectiveandrealforhimonlythroughhisrelationshiptoothermen.If,therefore,heregardstheproductofhislabor,hisobjectifiedlabor,asanalien,hostile,andpowerfulobjectwhichisindependentofhim,thenhisrelationshiptothatobjectissuchthatanotherman——alien,hostile,powerful,andindependentofhim——isitsmaster.Ifherelatestohisownactivityasunfreeactivity,thenherelatestoitasactivityintheservice,undertherule,coercion,andyokeofanotherman.
  Everyself—estrangementofmanfromhimselfandnatureismanifestedintherelationshiphesetsupbetweenothermenandhimselfandnature.
  Thus,religiousself—estrangementisnecessarilymanifestedintherelationshipbetweenlaymanandpriest,or,sincewearedealingherewiththespiritualworld,betweenlaymanandmediator,etc.Inthepractical,realworld,self—estrangementcanmanifestitselfonlyinthepractical,realrelationshiptoothermen.Themediumthroughwhichestrangementprogressesisitselfapracticalone.Sothroughestrangedlabormannotonlyproduceshisrelationshiptotheobjectandtotheactofproductionastoalienandhostilepowers;
  healsoproducestherelationshipinwhichothermenstandtohisproductionandproduct,andtherelationshipinwhichhestandstotheseothermen.
  Justashecreateshisownproductionasalossofreality,apunishment,andhisownproductasaloss,aproductwhichdoesnotbelongtohim,sohecreatesthedominationofthenon—produceroverproductionanditsproduct.Justasheestrangesfromhimselfhisownactivity,soheconfersuponthestrangerandactivitywhichdoesnotbelongtohim.
  Uptonow,wehaveconsideredtherelationshiponlyfromthesideoftheworker.Lateron,weshallconsideritfromthesideofthenon—worker.
  Thus,throughestranged,alienatedlabor,theworkercreatestherelationshipofanotherman,whoisalientolaborandstandsoutsideit,tothatlabor.Therelationoftheworkertolaborcreatestherelationofthecapitalist——orwhateverotherwordonechoosesforthemasteroflabor——tothatlabor.Privatepropertyisthereforetheproduct,result,andnecessaryconsequenceofalienatedlabor,oftheexternalrelationoftheworkertonatureandtohimself.
  Privatepropertythusderivesfromananalysisoftheconceptofalienatedlabor——i.e.,alienatedman,estrangedlabor,estrangedlife,estrangedman.
  Itistruethatwetooktheconceptofalienatedlabor(alienatedlife)frompoliticaleconomyasaresultofthemovementofprivateproperty.
  Butitisclearfromananalysisofthisconceptthat,althoughprivatepropertyappearsasthebasisandcauseofalienatedlabor,itisinfactitsconsequence,justasthegodswereoriginallynotthecausebuttheeffectoftheconfusioninmen’sminds.Later,however,thisrelationshipbecomesreciprocal.
  Itisonlywhenthedevelopmentofprivatepropertyreachesitsultimatepointofculminationthatthis,itssecret,re—emerges;namely,thatis(a)theproductofalienatedlabor,and(b)themeansthroughwhichlaborisalienated,therealizationofthisalienation.
  Thisdevelopmentthrowslightuponanumberofhithertounresolvedcontroversies.
  (1)Politicaleconomystartsoutfromlaborastherealsoulofproductionandyetgivesnothingtolaborandeverythingtoprivateproperty.Proudhonhasdealtwiththiscontradictionbydecidingforlaborandagainstprivateproperty[seehis1840pamphlet,Qu’est—cequelapropriete?].Butwehaveseenthatthisapparentcontradictionisthecontradictionofestrangedlaborwithitselfandthatpoliticaleconomyhasmerelyformulatedlawsofestrangedlabor.
  It,therefore,followsforusthatwagesandprivatepropertyareidentical:fortheretheproduct,theobjectoflabor,paysforthelaboritself,wagesareonlyanecessaryconsequenceoftheestrangementoflabor;similarly,wherewagesareconcerned,laborappearsnotasanendinitselfbutastheservantofwages.Weintendtodealwiththispointinmoredetaillateron:forthepresentweshallmerelydrawafewconclusions.
  Anenforcedriseinwages(disregardingallotherdifficulties,includingthefactthatsuchananomaloussituationcouldonlybeprolongedbyforce)wouldthereforebenothingmorethanbetterpayforslavesandwouldnotmeananincreaseinhumansignificanceordignityforeithertheworkerorthelabor.
  Eventheequalityofwages,whichProudhondemands,wouldmerelytransformtherelationofthepresent—dayworkertohisworkintotherelationofallmentowork.Societywouldthenbeconceivedasanabstractcapitalist.
  Wagesareanimmediateconsequenceofestrangedlabor,andestrangedlaboristheimmediatecauseofprivateproperty.Iftheonefalls,thentheothermustfalltoo.
  (2)Itfurtherfollowsfromtherelationofestrangedlabortoprivatepropertythattheemancipationofsocietyfromprivateproperty,etc.,fromservitude,isexpressedinthepoliticalformoftheemancipationoftheworkers.Thisisnotbecauseitisonlyaquestionoftheiremancipation,butbecauseintheiremancipationiscontaineduniversalhumanemancipation.
  Thereasonforthisuniversalityisthatthewholeofhumanservitudeisinvolvedintherelationoftheworkertoproduction,andallrelationsofservitudearenothingbutmodificationsandconsequencesofthisrelation.
  Justaswehavearrivedattheconceptofprivatepropertythroughananalysisoftheconceptofestranged,alienatedlabor,sowiththehelpofthesetwofactorsitispossibletoevolvealleconomiccategories,andineachofthesecategories——e.g.,trade,competition,capital,money——weshallidentifyonlyaparticularanddevelopedexpressionofthesebasicconstituents.
  But,beforewegoontoconsiderthisconfiguration,letustrytosolvetwofurtherproblems.
  (1)Wehavetodeterminethegeneralnatureofprivateproperty,asithasarisenoutofestrangedlabor,initsrelationtotrulyhumanandsocialproperty.
  (2)Wehavetakentheestrangementoflabor,itsalienation,asafactandwehaveanalyzedthatfact.How,wenowask,doesmancometoalienatehislabor,toestrangeit?Howitthisestrangementfoundedinthenatureofhumandevelopment?Wehavealreadygonealongwaytowardssolvingthisproblembytransformingthequestionoftheoriginofprivatepropertyintothequestionoftherelationshipofalienatedlabortothecourseofhumandevelopment.For,inspeakingofprivateproperty,oneimaginesthatoneisdealingwithsomethingexternaltoman.Inspeakingoflabor,oneisdealingimmediatelywithmanhimself.Thisnewwayofformulatingtheproblemalreadycontainsitssolution.
  Asto(1):Thegeneralnatureofprivatepropertyanditsrelationshiptotrulyhumanproperty.
  Alienatedlaborhasresolveditselfforusintotwocomponentparts,whichmutuallyconditiononeanother,orwhicharemerelydifferentexpressionsofoneandthesamerelationship.Appropriationappearsasestrangement,asalienation;andalienationappearsasappropriation,estrangementastrueadmissiontocitizenship.
  Wehaveconsideredtheoneaspect,alienatedlaborinrelationtotheworkerhimself——i.e.,therelationofalienatedlabortoitself.Andasproduct,asnecessaryconsequenceofthisrelationship,wehavefoundthepropertyrelationofthenon—workertotheworkerandtolabor.Privatepropertyasthematerial,summarizedexpressionofalienatedlaborembracesbothrelations——therelationoftheworkertolaborandtotheproductofhislaborandthenon—workers,andtherelationofthenon—workertotheworkerandtotheproductofhislabor.
  Wehavealreadyseenthat,inrelationtotheworkerwhoappropriatesnaturethroughhislabor,appropriationappearsasestrangement,self—activityasactivityforanotherandofanother,vitalityasasacrificeoflife,productionofanobjectaslossofthatobjecttoanalienpower,toanalienman.Letusnowconsidertherelationbetweenthisman,whoisalientolaborandtotheworker,andtheworker,labor,andtheobjectoflabor.
  Thefirstthingtopointoutisthateverythingwhichappearsfortheworkerasanactivityofalienation,ofestrangement,appearsforthenon—workerasasituationofalienation,ofestrangement.
  Secondly,thereal,practicalattitudeoftheworkerinproductionandtotheproduct(asastateofmind)appearsforthenon—workerwhoconfrontshimasatheoreticalattitude.
  Thirdly,thenon—workerdoeseverythingagainsttheworkerwhichtheworkerdoesagainsthimself,buthedoesnotdoagainsthimselfwhathedoesagainsttheworker.
  Letustakeacloserlookatthesethreerelationships.
  [FirstManuscriptbreaksoffhere.]
  TheEconomicandPhilosophicalManuscripts:2ndKarlMarx’sECONOMICANDPHILOSOPHICALMANUSCRIPTSSecondManuscriptTHERELATIONSHIPOFPRIVATEPROPERTYformstheinterestonhiscapital.Theworkeristhesubjectivemanifestationofthefactthatcapitalismancompletelylosttohimself,justascapitalistheobjectivemanifestationofthefactthatlaborismanlosttohimself.
  Buttheworkerhasthemisfortunetobealivingcapital,and,hence,acapitalwithneeds,whichforfeitsitsinterestandhenceitsexistenceeverymomentitisnotworking.Ascapital,thevalueoftheworkerrisesorfallsinaccordancewithsupplyanddemand,andeveninaphysicalsensehisexistence,hislife,wasandistreatedasasupplyofacommodity,likeanyothercommodity.
  Theworkerproducescapitalandcapitalproduceshim,whichmeansthatheproduceshimself;manasaworker,asacommodity,istheproductofthisentirecycle.Thehumanpropertiesofmanasaworker——manwhoisnothingmorethanaworker——existonlyinsofarastheyexistforacapitalwhichisalientohim.But,becauseeachisalientotheother,andstandsinanindifferent,external,andfortuitousrelationshiptoit,thisaliencharacterinevitablyappearsassomethingreal.So,soonasitoccurstocapital——whetherfromnecessityorchoice——nottoexistanylongerfortheworker,henolongerexistsforhimself;hehasnowork,andhencenowages,andsinceheexistsnotasamanbutasaworker,hemightjustaswellhaveburiedhimself,starvetodeath,etc.Theworkerexistsasaworkeronlywhenheexistsforhimselfascapital,andheexistsascapitalonlywhencapitalexistsforhim.Theexistenceofcapitalishisexistence,hislife,foritdeterminesthecontentofhislifeinamannerindifferenttohim.Politicaleconomy,therefore,doesnotrecognizetheunoccupiedworker,theworkingmaninsofarasheisoutsidethisworkrelationship.Theswindler,thecheat,thebeggar,theunemployed,thestarving,thedestitute,andthecriminalworkingmanarefigureswhichexistnotforit,butonlyforothereyes——fortheeyesofdoctors,judges,grave—diggers,beadles,etc.Nebulousfigureswhichdonotbelongwithintheprovinceofpoliticaleconomy.Therefore,asfaraspoliticaleconomyisconcerned,therequirementsoftheworkercanbenarroweddowntoone:theneedtosupporthimwhileheisworkingandpreventtheraceofworkersfromdyingout.Wages,therefore,haveexactlythesamemeaningasthemaintenanceandupkeepofanyotherproductiveinstrument,orastheconsumptionofcapitalingeneralwhichisnecessaryifitistoreproduceitselfwithinterest——e.g.,theoilwhichisappliedtowheelstokeepthemturning.Wages,therefore,belongtothenecessarycostsofcapitalandofthecapitalist,andmustnotbeinexcessofthisnecessaryamount.Itwas,therefore,quitelogicalfortheEnglishfactoryowners,beforetheAmendmentBillof1834[PoorLaws],todeductfromtheworker’swagesthepublicalmswhichhereceivedfromthePoorRate,andtoconsidertheseaimsasanintegralpartofthosewages.
  Productiondoesnotproducemanonlyasacommodity,thehumancommodity,manintheformofacommodity;italsoproduceshimasamentallyandphysicallydehumanizedbeingImmorality,malformation,stupidityofworkersandcapitaliststhehumancommodityAgreatadvancebyRicardo,Mill,etc.,onSmithandSay,todeclaretheexistenceofthehumanbeing——thegreaterorlesserhumanproductivityofthecommodity——tobeindifferentandevenharmful.Therealaimofproductionisnothowmanyworkersaparticularsumofcapitalcansupport,buthowmuchinterestitbringsinandhowmuchitsaveseachyear.Similarly,Englishpoliticaleconomytookabigstepforward,andalogicalone,when——whileacknowledginglaborasthesoleprincipleofpoliticaleconomy——itshowedwithcompleteclaritythatwagesandinterestoncapitalareinverselyrelatedandthat,asarule,thecapitalistcanpushuphisprofitsonlybyforcingdownwages,andviceversa.Clearly,thenormalrelationshipisnotoneinwhichthecustomerischeated,butinwhichthecapitalistandtheworkercheateachother.Therelationofprivatepropertycontainslatentwithinitselftherelationofprivatepropertyaslabor,therelationofprivatepropertyascapital,andtheconnectionofthesetwo.Ontheonehand,wehavetheproductionofhumanactivityaslabor——i.e.,asanactivitywhollyalientoitself,toman,andtonature,andhencetoconsciousnessandvitalexpression,theabstractexistenceofmanasamereworkmanwho,therefore,tumblesday—after—dayfromhisfulfillednothingnessintoabsolutenothingness,intohissocialand,hence,realnon—existence;and,ontheother,theproductionoftheobjectofhumanlaborascapital,inwhichallthenaturalandsocialindividualityoftheobjectisextinguishedandprivatepropertyhaslostitsnaturalandsocialquality(i.e.,haslostallpoliticalandsocialappearancesandisnotevenapparentlytaintedwithanyhumanrelationships),inwhichthesamecapitalstaysthesameinthemostvariednaturalandsocialcircumstance,totallyindifferenttoitsrealcontent.Thiscontradiction,driventoitsutmostlimit,isnecessarilythelimit,theculminationandthedeclineofthewholesystemofprivateproperty.
  Itis,therefore,yetanothergreatachievementofrecentEnglishpoliticaleconomytohavedeclaredgroundrenttobethedifferencebetweentheinterestontheworstandthebestlandundercultivation,tohaveconfutedtheromanticillusionsoftheland—owner——hisallegedsocialimportanceandtheidentityofhisinterestwiththeinterestofsociety,whichAdamSmithcontinuedtopropoundafterthePhysiocrats——andtohaveanticipatedandpreparedthechangesinrealitywhichwilltransformtheland—ownerintoaquiteordinaryandprosaiccapitalist,therebysimplifyingthecontradiction,bringingittoaheadandhasteningitsresolution.Landaslandandgroundrentasgroundrenthavetherebylosttheirdistinctioninrankandhavebecomedumbcapitalandinterest——or,rather,capitalandinterestwhichonlytalkhardcash.Thedistinctionbetweencapitalandland,betweenprofitandgroundrent,andthedistinctionbetweenbothandwages,industry,agriculture,andimmovableandmovableprivateproperty,isnotonewhichisgroundedinthenatureofthings,itisahistoricaldistinction,afixedmomentintheformationanddevelopmentoftheoppositionbetweencapitalandlabor.Inindustry,etc.,asopposedtoimmovablelandedproperty,onlythemannerinwhichindustryfirstaroseandtheoppositiontoagriculturewithinwhichindustrydeveloped,areexpressed.Asaspecialkindofwork,asanessential,important,andlife—encompassingdistinction,thisdistinctionbetweenindustryandagriculturesurvivesonlyaslongasindustry(townlife)isdevelopinginoppositiontolandedproperty(aristocraticfeudallife)andcontinuestobearthefeudalcharacteristicsofitsoppositeintheformofmonopoly,crafts,guilds,corporations,etc.Giventheseforms,laborcontinuestohaveanapparentlysocialmeaning,themeaningofgenuinecommunity,andhasnotyetreachedthestageofindifferencetowardsitscontentandofcompletebeing—for—itself——i.e.,ofabstractionfromallotherbeingand,hence,ofliberatedcapital.
  But,thenecessarydevelopmentoflaborisliberatedindustryconstitutedforitselfassuch,andliberatedcapital.Thepowerofindustryoveritsantagonistis,atonce,manifestedintheemergenceofagricultureasanactualindustry,whereaspreviouslymostoftheworkwaslefttothesoilitselfandtotheslaveofthesoil,throughwhomthesoilcultivateditself.
  Withthetransformationoftheslaveintoafreeworker——i.e.,ahireling——thelandownerhimselfistransformedintoamasterofindustry,acapitalist.Thistransformationatfirsttookplacethroughtheagencyofthetenantfarmer.Butthetenantfarmeristherepresentative,therevealedsecret,ofthelandowner;onlythroughhimdoesthelandownerhavehiseconomicexistence,hisexistenceasapropertyowner——forthegroundrentofhislandexistsonlybecauseofthecompetitionbetweenthetenants.So,inthepersonofthetenantthelandownerhasalreadyessentiallybecomeacommoncapitalist.Andthismustalsobeeffectedinreality;thecapitalistengagedinagriculture——thetenant——mustbecomealandlord,orvice—versa.Theindustrialtradeofthetenantistheindustrialtradeofthelandlord,fortheexistenceoftheformerpositstheexistenceofthelatter.
  But,rememberingtheirconflictingoriginsanddescent,thelandownerseesthecapitalistashispresumptuous,liberated,andenrichedslaveofyesterday,andhimselfasacapitalistwhoisthreatenedbyhim;thecapitalistseesthelandownerastheidle,cruel,andegotisticallordofyesterday;heknowsthatthelandownerisharmfultohimasacapitalist,andyetthatheoweshisentirepresentsocialposition,hispossessionsandhispleasures,toindustry;thecapitalistseesinthelandownertheantithesisoffreeindustryandfreecapital,whichisindependentofallnaturalforces——thisoppositionisextremelybitter,andeachsidetellsthetruthabouttheother.Oneonlyneedreadtheattackslaunchedbyimmovableonmovableproperty,andvice—versa,inordertogainaclearpictureoftheirrespectiveworthlessness.Theland—owneremphasizesthenoblelineageofhisproperty,thefeudalreminiscences,thepoetryofremembrance,hishigh—flownnature,hispoliticalimportance,etc.Whenheistalkingeconomics,heavowsthatagriculturealoneisproductive.
  Atthesametime,hedepictshisopponentasawily,huckstering,censorious,deceitful,greedy,mercenary,rebellious,heartless,andsoullessracketeerwhoisestrangedfromhiscommunityandbusilytradesitaway,aprofiteering,pimping,servile,smooth,affectedtrickster,adesiccatedsharperwhobreeds,nourishes,andencouragescompetitionandpauperism,crimeandthedissolutionofallsocialties,whoiswithouthonor,principles,poetry,substance,oranythingelse.(See,amongothers,thePhysiocratBergasse,whomCamilleDesmoulinshasalreadyflayedinhisjournalRevolutionsdeFranceetdeBrabant;seealsovonVincke,Lancizolle,Haller,Leo,Kosegarten,andSismondi.)
  MARXNOTE:SeealsothepompousOldHegeliantheologianFunke,who,accordingtoHerrLeo,toldwithtearsinhiseyeshowaslavehadrefused,whenserfdomwasabolished,toceasebeinganoblepossession.
  SeealsoJustusMoser’sPatriotischePhantasien,whicharedistinguishedbythefactthattheyneverforonemomentleavethestaunch,petty—bourgeois,"Home—baked",ordinary,narrow—mindedhorizonofthephilistine,and,yetstill,remainpurefantasy.ItisthiscontradictionwhichhasmadethemsoplausibletotheGermanmind.
  Movableproperty,foritspart,pointstothemiraclesofindustryandchange.Itisthechild,thelegitimate,only—begottenson,ofthemodernage.Itfeelssorryforitsopponent,whomitseesasahalf—witunenlightenedastohisownnature(anassessmentnoonecoulddisagreewith)andeagertoreplacemoralcapitalandfreelaborbybrute,immoralforceandserfdom.ItpaintshimasaDonQuixote,who,undertheveneerofdirectness,probity,thegeneralinterest,andstability,hidesaninabilityandevilintent.Itbrandshimasacunningmonopolist.Itdiscountenanceshisreminiscences,hispoetry,andhisenthusiasticgushings,byahistoricalandsarcasticrecitalofthebaseness,cruelty,degradation,prostitution,infamy,anarchy,andrevoltforgedintheworkshopsofhisromanticcastles.
  Movableproperty,itself,claimstohavewonpoliticalfreedomfortheworld,tohaveloosedthechainsofcivilsociety,tohavelinkedtogetherdifferentworlds,tohavegivenrisetotrade,whichencouragesfriendshipbetweenpeoplesandtohavecreatedapuremoralityandapleasingculture;
  tohavegiventhepeoplecivilizedinsteadofcrudewantsandthemeanswithwhichitsatisfythem.Thelandowner,ontheotherhand——thisidleandvexatiousspeculatoringrain——putsupthepriceofthepeople’sbasicprovisionsandtherebyforcesthecapitalisttoputupwageswithoutbeingabletoraiseproductivity,somakingitdifficult,andeventuallyimpossible,toincreasetheannualincomeofthenationandtoaccumulatethecapitalwhichisnecessaryifworkistobeprovidedforthepeopleandwealthforthecountry.Asaresult,thelandownerbringsaboutageneraldecline.Moreover,heinordinatelyexploitsalltheadvantagesofmoderncivilizationwithoutdoingtheleastthinginreturn,andwithoutmitigatingasingleoneofhisfeudalprejudices.Finally,thelandlord——forwhomthecultivationofthelandandthesoilitselfexistonlyasaheaven—sentsourceofmoney——shouldtakealookatthetenantfarmerandsaywhetherhehimselfisnotadownright,fantastic,cunningscoundrel,whoinhisheartandinactualfacthasforalongtimebeenpartoffreeindustryandwell—lovedtrade,howevermuchhemayresistthemandprattleofhistoricalmemoriesandmoralorpoliticalgoals.Alltheargumentshecangenuinelyadvanceinhisownfavorareonlytrueforthecultivatoroftheland(thecapitalistandthelaborers),ofwhomthelandownerisrathertheenemy;thus,hetestifiesagainsthimself.Withoutcapital,landedpropertyisdead,worthlessmatter.Thecivilizedvictoryofmovablecapitalhaspreciselybeentorevealandcreatehumanlaborasthesourceofwealthinplaceofthedeadthing.(SeePaul—LouisCourier,Saint—Simon,Ganilh,Ricardo,Mill,MacCulloch,DestuttdeTracy,andMichaelChevalier.)
  Therealcourseofdevelopment(tobeinsertedhere)leadsnecessarilytothevictoryofthecapitalist——i.e.,ofdevelopedprivateproperty——overundeveloped,immatureprivateproperty——thelandowner.Inthesameway,movementinevitablytriumphsoverimmobility,openandself—consciousbasenessoverhiddenandunconsciousbaseness,greedoverself—indulgence,theavowedlyrestlessandversatileself—interestofenlightenmentovertheparochial,worldly—wise,artless,lazyanddeludedself—interestofsuperstition,justasmoneymusttriumphovertheotherformsofprivateproperty.Thosestateswhichhaveaforebodingofthedangerofallowingthefulldevelopmentoffreeindustry,puremorality,andthattradewhichencouragesfriendshipamongpeoples,attempt——althoughquiteinvain——toputastoptothecapitalizationoflandedproperty.
  Landedproperty,asdistinctfromcapital,isprivateproperty,capital,whichisstillafflictedwithlocalandpoliticalprejudices,whichhasnotyetentirelyemergedfromitsinvolvementwiththeworldandcomeintoitsown;itiscapitalwhichisnotyetfullydeveloped.Inthecourseofitsformationonaworldscale,itmustattainitsabstract,i.e.,pure,expression.Therelationofprivatepropertyislabor,capital,andtheconnectionbetweenthesetwo.Themovementthroughwhichtheseparts[Glieder]havetopassis:
  First——Unmediateormediatedunityofthetwo.Capitalandlabor,atfirst,stillunited;later,separatedandestranged,butreciprocallydevelopingandfurtheringeachotheraspositiveconditions.
  Second——Oppositionofthetwo.Theymutuallyexcludeeachother;
  theworkerseesinthecapitalisthisownnon—existence,andvice—versa;
  eachtriestowrenchfromtheotherhisexistence.
  Third——Oppositionofeachtoitself.Capital=stored—uplabor=labor.Assuch,itdividesintoitself(capital)anditsinterest;thislatterdividesintointerestandprofit.Completesacrificeofthecapitalist.
  Hesinksintotheworkingclass,justastheworker——butonlybywayofexception——becomesacapitalist.Laborasamomentofcapital,itscosts.i.e.,wagesasacrificeofcapital.
  Labordividesintolaboritselfandwagesoflabor.Theworkershimselfacapital,acommodity.
  Hostilereciprocalopposition.
  TheEconomicandPhilosophicalManuscripts:3rdKarlMarx’sECONOMICANDPHILOSOPHICALMANUSCRIPTSThirdManuscriptPRIVATEPROPERTYANDLABORadpageXXXVI.[Marxnumberedthepagesofthesemanuscriptsinromannumerals.ThepagereferredtoisoneofthosemissingbetweentheFirstandSecondManuscripts.]
  Thesubjectiveessenceofprivateproperty,privatepropertyasactivityforitself,assubject,asperson,islabor.
  It,therefore,goeswithoutsayingthatonlythatpoliticaleconomywhichrecognizedlaborasitsprinciple(AdamSmith),andwhichthereforenolongerregardedprivatepropertyasnothingmorethanaconditionexternaltoman,canberegardedasbothaproductoftherealenergyandmovementofprivateproperty(itistheindependentmovementofprivatepropertybecomeconsciousofitself,itismodernindustryasself),aproductofmodernindustry,andafactorwhichhasacceleratedandglorifiedtheenergyanddevelopmentofthisindustryandtransformeditintoapowerbelongingtoconsciousness.Therefore,thesupportersofthemonetaryandmercantilesystem,wholookuponprivatepropertyasapurelyobjectivebeingforman,appearasfetish—worshippers,asCatholics,tothisenlightenedpoliticaleconomy,whichhasrevealed——withinthesystemofprivateproperty——
  thesubjectiveessenceofwealth.Engelswas,therefore,righttocallAdamSmiththeLutherofpoliticaleconomy[inEngels1843OutlinesofaCritiqueofPoliticalEconomy].JustasLutherrecognizedreligionandfaithastheessenceoftheexternalworldand,inconsequence,confrontedCatholicpaganism;justashetranscendedreligionexternalreligiositybymakingreligiositytheinneressenceofman;justashenegatedtheideaofpriestsassomethingseparateandapartfromthelaymanbytransferringthepriestintotheheartofthelayman;sowealthassomethingoutsideman,andindependentofhim——and,therefore,onlytobeacquiredacquiredandmaintainedexternally——isabolished[aufgehoben].i.e.,itsexternalandmindlessobjectivityisabolishedinasmuchasprivatepropertyisembodiedinmanhimselfandmanhimselfisrecognizedasitsessence——butthisbringsmanhimselfintotheprovinceofreligion.So,althoughpoliticaleconomy,whoseprincipleislabor,appearstorecognizeman,itis,infact,nothingmorethanthedenialofmancarriedthroughtoitslogicalconclusion:formanhimselfnolongerstandsinarelationofexternaltensiontotheexternalessenceofprivateproperty——hehimselfhasbecomethetenseessenceofprivateproperty.Whatwasformerlybeing—external—to—oneself,man’smaterialexternalization,hasnowbecometheactofalienation——i.e.,alienationthroughselling[Verausserung].Thispoliticaleconomy,therefore,startsoutbyseemingtorecognizeman,hisindependence,hisspontaneousactivity,etc.Sinceittransfersprivatepropertyintotheverybeingofman,itcannolongerbeconditionedbylocalornationalfeaturesofprivatepropertyassomethingexistingoutsideit.It(politicaleconomy)developsacosmopolitan,universalenergywhichbreaksthrougheverylimitationandbondandsetsitselfupastheonlypolicy,theonlyuniversality,theonlylimitation,andtheonlybond.Butthen,asitcontinuestodevelop,itisforcedtocastoffitshypocrisyandstepforthinallitscynicism.Thisitdoes,withouttroublingitsheadforonemomentaboutalltheapparentcontradictiontowhichthisdoctrineleads,bydevelopinginamoreone—sidedway,and,thus,moresharplyandmorelogically,theideaoflaborasthesoleessenceofwealth,byshowingthattheconclusionsofthisdoctrine,unliketheoriginalconception,areanti—human,andfinallybedeliveringthedeath—blowtogroundrent——thatlastindividualandnaturalformofprivatepropertyandsourceofwealthindependentofthemovementoflabor,thatexpressionoffeudalpropertywhichhasalreadybecomeentirelyeconomicandisthereforeincapableofputtingupanyresistancetopoliticaleconomy.(TheRicardoSchool.)
  NotonlydoespoliticaleconomybecomeincreasinglycynicalfromSmiththroughSaytoRicardo,Milletc.,inasmuchastheconsequencesofindustryappearedmoredevelopedandmorecontradictorytothelatter;thelatteralsobecamemoreestranged——consciouslyestranged——frommanthantheirpredecessors.Butthisisonlybecausetheirsciencedevelopsmorelogicallyandmoretruly.Sincetheymakeprivatepropertyinitsactiveformthesubject,therebymakingmanasanon—being[Unwesen]theessence[Wesen],thecontradictioninrealitycorrespondsentirelytothecontradictoryessencewhichtheyhaveacceptedastheirprinciple.Thediscordantrealityofindustry,farfromrefusingtheirinternallydiscordantprinciple,actuallyconfirmsit.Theirprincipleisinfacttheprincipleofthisdiscordance.
  ThephysiocraticdoctrineofDrQuesnayformsthetransitionfromthemercantilesystemtoAdamSmith.Physiocracyis,inadirectsense,theeconomicdissolutionoffeudalproperty,butitisthereforejustasdirectlytheeconomictransformationandrestorationofthatproperty.
  Theonlyrealdifferenceisthatitslanguageisnolongerfeudalbuteconomic.
  Allwealthisresolvedintolandandagriculture.Thelandisnotyetcapital;
  itisstillaparticularmodeofexistenceofcapitalwhosevalueissupposedtolieinitsnaturalparticularity.Butlandisauniversalnaturalelement,whereasthemercantilesystemconsideredthatwealthexistedonlyinpreciousmetals.Theobjectofwealth,itsmatter,hasthereforeattainedthegreatestdegreeofuniversalitypossiblewithinthelimitsofnature——insofarasitisdirectlyobjectivewealthevenasnature.Anditisonlythroughlabor,throughagriculture,thatlandexistsforman.Consequently,thesubjectiveessenceofwealthisalreadytransferredtolabor.But,atthesametime,agricultureistheonlyproductivelabor.Laboris,therefore,notyetgraspedinitsuniversalandabstractform,butisstilltiedtoaparticularelementofnatureasitsmatterandifforthatreasonrecognizedonlyinaparticularmodeofexistencedeterminedbynature.Itis,therefore,stillonlyadeterminate,particularexternalizationofman——justasitsproductisconceivedasadeterminateformofwealth,duemoretonaturethantoitself.Here,thelandisstillregardedaspartofnaturewhichisindependentofman,andnotyetascapital——i.e.,asamomentoflaboritself.Rather,laborappearsasamomentofnature.But,sincethefetishismoftheoldexternalwealth,whichexistsonlyasanobject,hasbeenreducedtoaverysimpleelementofnature,andsinceitsessencehasbeenrecognized——evenifonlypartiallyandinaparticularway——
  initssubjectiveessence,thenecessaryadvancehastakenplaceinthesensethattheuniversalnatureofwealthhasbeenrecognizedandlaborhas,therefore,beenelevatedinitsabsolute——i.e.,abstract——formtothatprinciple.ItispossibletoargueagainstthePhysiocratsthatagricultureisnodifferentfromaneconomicpointofview——thatis,fromtheonlyvalidpointofview——fromanyotherindustry,andthattheessenceofwealthisthereforenotaparticularformoflabortiedtoaparticularelement,aparticularmanifestationoflabor,butlaboringeneral.
  Physiocracydeniesparticular,external,purelyobjectivewealthbydeclaringlabortobeitsessence.But,forphysiocracy,laborisinthefirstplacemerelythesubjectiveessenceoflandedproperty——itstartsoutfromthetypeofpropertywhichappearshistoricallyasthedominantandrecognizedtype.Itsimpleturnslandedpropertyintoalienatedman.Itabolishesthefeudalcharacteroflandedpropertybydeclaringindustry(agriculture)tobeitsessence;butitsetsitsfaceagainsttheworldofindustryandacknowledgesthefeudalsystembydeclaringagriculturetobetheonlyindustry.
  Clearly,oncethesubjectiveessenceisgraspedofindustryconstitutingitselfinoppositiontolandedproperty——i.e.,asindustry——
  thisessenceincludeswithinitthatopposition.For,justasindustryabsorbsannulledlandedproperty,sothesubjectiveessenceofindustryatthesametimeabsorbsthesubjectiveessenceoflandedproperty.
  Justaslandedpropertyisthefirstformofprivateproperty,andindustryatfirstconfrontsithistoricallyasnothingmorethanaparticularsortofprivateproperty——or,rather,astheliberatedslaveoflandedproperty——sothisprocessisrepeatedinthescientificcomprehensionofthesubjectiveessenceofprivateproperty,oflabor;laborappearsatfirstonlyasagriculturallabor,butlaterassumestheformoflaboringeneral.
  Allwealthhasbecomeindustrialwealth,wealthoflabor,andindustryisfullydevelopedlabor,justasthefactorysystemistheperfectedessenceofindustry——i.e.,oflabor——andindustrialcapitalthefullydevelopedobjectiveformofprivateproperty.
  Thus,weseethatitisonlyatthispointthatprivatepropertycanperfectitsruleovermenandbecome,initsmostuniversalform,aworld—historicalpower.
  PRIVATEPROPERTYANDCOMMUNISM
  adpageXXXIX.[Thissection,"PrivatePropertyandCommunism",formedanappendixtopageXXXIXoftheincompleteSecondManuscript.]
  Buttheantithesisbetweenpropertylessnessandpropertyisstillanindifferentantithesis,notgraspedinitsactiveconnection,itsinnerrelation,notyetgraspedascontradiction,aslongasitisnotunderstoodastheantithesisbetweenlaborandcapital.Initsinitialform,thisantithesiscanmanifestitselfevenwithouttheadvanceddevelopmentofprivateproperty——as,forexample,inancientRome,inTurkey,etc.Insuchcases,itdoesnotyetappearasestablishedbyprivatepropertyitself.Butlabor,thesubjectiveessenceofprivatepropertyasexclusionofproperty,andcapital,objectivelaborasexclusionoflabor,constituteprivatepropertyinitsdevelopedrelationofcontradiction:
  avigorousrelation,therefore,drivingtowardsresolution.
  adibidem.
  Thesupersession[Aufhebung]ofself—estrangementfollowsthesamecourseself—estrangement.Privatepropertyisfirstconsideredonlyinitsobjectiveaspect,butstillwithlaborasitsessence.Itsformofexistenceisthereforecapital,whichistobeabolished"assuch"(Proudhon).
  Ortheparticularformoflabor——levelleddown,parcelled,and,therefore,unfree——istakenasthesourceoftheharmfulnessofprivatepropertyanditshumanlyestrangedexistence.Forexample,Fourier,likethePhysiocrats,regardedagricultureasatleastthebestformoflabor,whileSaint—Simon,ontheotherhand,declaredindustriallaborassuchtobetheessenceandconsequentlywantsexclusiverulebytheindustrialistsandtheimprovementoftheconditionoftheworkers.Finally,communism[thatis,crudeorutopiancommunism,likeProudhonetalabove]isthepositiveexpressionoftheabolitionofprivateproperty,and,atfirst,appearsasuniversalprivateproperty.Ingraspingthisrelationinitsuniversality,communismis(1)initsinitialformonlyageneralizationandcompletionofthatrelation(ofprivateproperty).Assuch,itappearsinadualform:
  ontheonehand,thedominationofmaterialpropertybulkssolargethatitthreatenstodestroyeverythingwhichisnotcapableofbeingpossessedbyeveryoneasprivateproperty;itwantstoabstractfromtalent,etc.,byforce.Physical,immediatepossessionistheonlypurposeoflifendexistenceasfarasthiscommunismisconcerned;thecategoryofworkerisnotabolishedbutextendedtoallmen;therelationofprivatepropertyremainstherelationofthecommunitytotheworldofthings;
  ultimately,thismovementtoopposeuniversalprivatepropertytoprivatepropertyisexpressedinbestialform——marriage(whichisadmittedlyaformofexclusiveprivateproperty)iscounterposedtothecommunityofwomen,wherewomenbecomecommunalandcommonproperty.Onemightsaythatthisideaofacommunityofwomenistherevealedsecretofthisasyetwhollycrudeandunthinkingcommunism.Justaswomenaretogofrommarriageintogeneralprostitution,sothewholeworldofwealth——i.e.,theobjectiveessenceofman——istomakethetransitionfromtherelationofexclusivemarriagewiththeprivateownertotherelationofuniversalprostitutionwiththecommunity.Thiscommunism,inasmuchasitnegatesthepersonalityofmanineverysphere,issimplythelogicalexpressionoftheprivatepropertywhichisthisnegation.Universalenvyconstitutingitselfasapoweristhehiddenforminwhichgreedreassertsitselfandsatisfiesitself,butinanotherway.Thethoughtsofeverypieceofprivatepropertyassuchareatleastturnedagainstricherprivatepropertyintheformofenvyandthedesiretoleveleverythingdown;hencethesefeelingsinfactconstitutetheessenceofcompetition.Thecrudecommunistismerelytheculminationofthisenvyanddesiretoleveldownonthebasisofapreconceivedminimum.Ithasadefinite,limitedmeasure.Howlittlethisabolitionofprivatepropertyisatrueappropriationisshownbytheabstractnegationoftheentireworldofcultureandcivilization,andthereturntotheunnaturalsimplicityofthepoor,unrefinedmanwhohasnoneedsandwhohasnotyetevenreachedthestageofprivateproperty,letalonggonebeyondit.
  (Forcrudecommunism)thecommunityissimplyacommunityoflaborandequalityofwages,whicharepaidoutbythecommunalcapital,thecommunityasuniversalcapitalist.Bothsidesoftherelationareraisedtoanunimaginaryuniversality——laborastheconditioninwhicheveryoneisplacedandcapitalastheacknowledgeduniversalityandpowerofthecommunity.
  Intherelationshipwithwoman,asthepreyandhandmaidofcommunallust,isexpressedtheinfinitedegradationinwhichmanexistsforhimself——forthesecretofthisrelationshiphasitsunambiguous,decisive,openandrevealedexpressionintherelationshipofmantowomanandinthemannerinwhichthedirect,naturalspecies—relationshipisconceived.Theimmediate,natural,necessaryrelationofhumanbeingtohumanbeingistherelationshipofmantowoman.Inthisnaturalspecies—relationship,therelationofmantonatureisimmediatelyhisrelationtoman,justashisrelationtomanisimmediatelyhisrelationtonature,hisownnaturalcondition.Therefore,thisrelationshiprevealsinasensuousform,reducedtoanobservablefact,theextenttowhichthehumanessencehasbecomenatureformanornaturehasbecomethehumanessenceforman.Itispossibletojudgefromthisrelationshiptheentirelevelofdevelopmentofmankind.
  Itfollowsfromthecharacterofthisrelationshipofthisrelationshiphowfarmanasaspecies—being,asman,hasbecomehimselfandgraspedhimself;therelationofmantowomanisthemostnaturalrelationofhumanbeingtohumanbeing.Itthereforedemonstratestheextenttowhichman’snaturalbehaviorhasbecomehumanortheextenttowhichhishumanessencehasbecomeanaturalessenceforhim,theextenttowhichhishumannaturehasbecomenatureforhim.Thisrelationshipalsodemonstratestheextenttowhichman’sneedshavebecomehumanneeds,hencetheextenttowhichtheother,asahumanbeing,hasbecomeaneedforhim,theextenttowhichinhismostindividualexistenceheisatthesametimeacommunalbeing.
  Thefirstpositiveabolitionofprivateproperty——crudecommunism——isthereforeonlyamanifestationofthevilenessofprivatepropertytryingtoestablishitselfasthepositivecommunity.
  (2)Communism(a)stillofapoliticalnature,democraticordespotic;
  (b)withtheabolitionofthestate,butstillessentiallyincompleteandinfluencedbyprivateproperty——i.e.,bytheestrangementofman.
  Inbothforms,communismalreadyknowsitselfasthereintegration,orreturn,ofmanintohimself,thesupersessionofman’sself—estrangement;
  butsinceithasnotyetcomprehendedthepositiveessenceofprivateproperty,orunderstoodthehumannatureofneed,itisstillheldcaptiveandcontaminatedbyprivateproperty.True,ithasunderstooditsconcept,butnotyetinessence.
  [Marxnowendeavorstoexploreifownversionofcommunism,asdistinctfromProudhonetalabove.]
  (3)Communismisthepositivesupersessionofprivatepropertyashumanself—estrangement,andhencethetrueappropriationofthehumanessencethroughandforman;itisthecompleterestorationofmantohimselfasasocial——i.e.,human——being,arestorationwhichhasbecomeconsciousandwhichtakesplacewithintheentirewealthofpreviousperiodsofdevelopment.Thiscommunism,asfullydevelopednaturalism,equalshumanism,andasfullydevelopedhumanismequalsnaturalism;itisthegenuineresolutionoftheconflictbetweenmanandnature,andbetweenmanandman,thetrueresolutionoftheconflictbetweenexistenceandbeing,betweenobjectificationandself—affirmation,betweenfreedomandnecessity,betweenindividualandspecies.Itisthesolutionoftheriddleofhistoryandknowsitselftobethesolution.
  Theentiremovementofhistoryisthereforeboththeactualactofcreationofcommunism——thebirthofitsempiricalexistence——and,foritsthinkingconsciousness,thecomprehendedandknownmovementofitsbecoming;whereastheothercommunism,whichisnotyetfullydeveloped,seeksinisolatedhistoricalformsopposedtoprivatepropertyahistoricalproofforitself,aproofdrawnfromwhatalreadyexists,bywrenchingisolatedmomentsfromtheirproperplacesintheprocessofdevelopment(ahobbyhorseCabet,Villegardelle,etc.,particularlyliketoride)andadvancingthemasproofsofitshistoricalpedigree.Butallitsucceedsinshowingisthatbefarthegreaterpartofthisdevelopmentcontradictsitsassertionsandthatifitdidnotonceexist,thentheveryfactthatitexistedinthepastrefutesitsclaimtoessentialbeing[Wesen].
  Itiseasytoseehownecessaryitisforthewholerevolutionarymovementtofindbothitsempiricalanditstheoreticalbasisinthemovementofprivatepropertyor,tobeexact,oftheeconomy.
  Thismaterial,immediatelysensuousprivatepropertyisthematerial,sensuousexpressionofestrangedhumanlife.Itsmovement——productionandconsumption——isthesensuousrevelationofthemovementofallpreviousproduction——i.e.,therealizationorrealityofman.Religion,thefamily,thestate,law,morality,science,art,etc.,areonlyparticularmodesofproductionandthereforecomeunderitsgenerallaw.Thepositivesupersessionofprivateproperty,astheappropriationofhumanlife,isthereforethepositivesupersessionofallestrangement,andthereturnofmanfromreligion,thefamily,thestate,etc.,tohishuman——i.e.,social——existence.Religiousestrangementassuchtakesplaceonlyinthesphereofconsciousness,ofman’sinnerlife,buteconomicestrangementisthatofreallife——itssupersessionthereforeembracesbothaspects.
  Clearlythenatureofthemovementindifferentcountriesinitiallydependsonwhethertheactualandacknowledgedlifeofthepeoplehasitsbeingmoreinconsciousnessorintheexternalworld,inidealorinreallife.
  Communismbeginswithatheism(Owen),butatheismisinitiallyfarfrombeingcommunism,andisforthemostpartanabstraction.Thephilanthropyofatheismisthereforeatfirstnothingmorethananabstractphilosophicalphilanthropy,whilethatofcommunismisatoncerealanddirectlybenttowardsaction.
  Wehaveseenhow,assumingthepositivesupersessionofprivateproperty,manproducesman,himselfandothermen;howtheobject,whichisthedirectactivityofhisindividuality,isatthesametimehisexistenceforothermen,theirexistenceandtheirexistenceforhim.Similarly,however,boththematerialoflaborandmanassubjectarethestarting—pointaswellastheoutcomeofthemovement(andthehistoricalnecessityofprivate—propertyliespreciselyinthefactthattheymustbethisstarting—point).
  Sothesocialcharacteristhegeneralcharacterofthewholemovement;
  justassocietyitselfproducesmanasman,soitisproducedbyhim.Activityandconsumption,bothintheircontentandintheirmodeofexistence,aresocialactivityandsocialconsumption.Thehumanessenceofnatureexistsonlyforsocialman;foronlyheredoesnatureexistforhimasabondwithothermen,ashisexistenceforothersandtheirexistenceforhim,asthevitalelementofhumanreality;onlyheredoesitexistasthebasisofhisownhumanexistence.Onlyherehashisnaturalexistencebecomehishumanexistenceandnaturebecomemanforhim.Societyisthereforetheperfectedunityinessenceofmanwithnature,thetrueresurrectionofnature,therealizednaturalismofmanandtherealizedhumanismofnature.[Marxnoteatthebottomofthepage:Prostitutionisonlyaparticularexpressionoftheuniversalprostitutionoftheworker,andsinceprostitutionisarelationshipwhichincludesnotonlytheprostitutedbutalsotheprostitutor——whoseinfamyisevengreater——thecapitalistisalsoincludedinthiscategory.]