POL 2103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Social Reproduction, Materialism, Proletariat

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL 2103
• Professor: De Larrinaga Miguel

Document Summary

Marxism: some basic concepts phenomena we have to proceed via a historical analysis: history to understand present economic, social and political, epistemological orientation: based on a historical mode of understanding, materialism. History must be analyzed from the standpoint of the material reproduction of society. Material needs are the basis of the reproduction of life (social reproduction) Infrastructure economic basis of social reproduction importance of the economic sphere of human activity (primordial: dialectics. The art of critical examination into the truth of an opinion; the investigation of truth by discussion. Seeks to explain that all phenomena must be understood as a result of historical tendencies and counter tendencies. It produces a surplus of goods and capital (plus value vs. subsistence) It creates new social classes (bourgeoisie (the owners) and the proletariat (who own only their capacity to work)) that preceded it. Everything becomes a commodity or merchandise (even the labour force and nature)