Questions About Das Kapital

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Answered Questions (5)

On a scale of 1 to 10, how heavy (i.e. difficult to get through) would you rate Das Kapital to be? For eg., let's say "Who moved my cheese?" is a 1-heaviness book (i.e. very light reading), Freakonomics is a 3, and Kant's "The Critique of Pure Reason" is an 8 - then, where would Das Kapital lie on that scale?

Domhnall 7. Despite some dry chapters it is readable and has many changes of style to maintain interest. Don't give up on the dry stretches. It works best when…more7. Despite some dry chapters it is readable and has many changes of style to maintain interest. Don't give up on the dry stretches. It works best when you decide to read actively by taking some aspect up and thinking about it's implications. That can include trying to show if it is wrong as long as you are engaged with the content. When you find a way to incorporate this material into a wider framework - such as a debate about economic policy - it comes to life in unexpected ways. After all it is a classic. It is good enough to withstand your handling.(less)

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Domhnall Marx wrote and completed volume 1 of this book in London. Engels produced volumes 2 and 3 after Marx died.

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What is the difference between Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto?

Sol The Communist Manifesto is a short book, written by Marx and Engels, a program of a communist party and it's part in a class struggle. There is a lot …moreThe Communist Manifesto is a short book, written by Marx and Engels, a program of a communist party and it's part in a class struggle. There is a lot of books with that name and many of them are compilation of their works, with text as Socialism Utopian and Scientific added as well.

The Capital is an economy critique, it is not a communism builder manual or anything like that (and as many people think). This work is much larger and was started by Marx and finished by Engels.(less)

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How doe the industrial revolution relate to the book Das Kapital?

Domhnall The history of the Industrial Revolution was only possible because it went alongside the history of modern capitalism. Volume 1 incorporates a histori…moreThe history of the Industrial Revolution was only possible because it went alongside the history of modern capitalism. Volume 1 incorporates a historical survey, especially in Chapters 26 to 33 (Part 8). The ingredients for an industrial revolution were present in earlier epochs, notably in the Hellenic world, and Marx explains why this did not take place. (less)

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Domhnall Because you can assemble a complex argument in a coherent way and present it clearly and readably, laced with humour and litrary asides which transfor…moreBecause you can assemble a complex argument in a coherent way and present it clearly and readably, laced with humour and litrary asides which transform a dry economic text into a cultural classic. Engels was himself a significant writer and thinker, contributing many of the insights for Capital, but made a decision to defer to Marx because he accepted that he could not match Marx's style. (less)

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