Note: Thomas will facilitate a discussion of topics related to (some of) the readings below on Monday, November 4.
Read: (from the Marx-Engels Archive):
1845: Theses on Feuerbach
1846: Highlights of The German Ideology (marxists.org) (chapter 1)
1847: Principles of Communism
1848: The Communist Manifesto
Essay #2:
Compose a 2-3 pp. CRITO-based, argumentative essay following closely the guidelines as indicated in handout QA (which identifies the necessary components of a successful essay; namely, 1. the essay; 2. the outline for the essay; 3. a bibliography containing minimally one outside reference; and 4. two substantive, unanswered questions for class discussion). (Review as necessary handouts CR1-CR3.)
Alternatively, you may employ a different mode of presentation (fiction; dialogue; poetry, etc.). Simply attach the other three components (i.e., outline, bibliography, and 2 questions) to the body of your creation.
Topic: (choose 1; 1, moreover, that you have yet to tackle):
a. What is "human well-being," and how is it measured?
b. Does socialism violate rights?
c. Does capitalism violate rights?
d. Should socialists support animal liberation (and vice versa)?
e. Why does Gary Francione reject all forms of animal liberation that fall short of abolitionism? Is he right to do so?
f. In the German ideology, Marx writes:
"As individuals express their life, so they are. What they are, therefore, coincides with their production, both with what they produce and with how they produce. The nature of individuals thus depends on the material conditions determining their production."
What is the significance of this passage for Marx's theory of history?
g. Why, in "The Principles of Communism," does Engels (as does Marx elsewhere), compare wage-earners to slaves?
Due date: Wednesday, October 30, in class.
