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PHL202Arts Unitsintermediate

Fundamental Of Marxism

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Marxism, exploring Karl Marx's views on human nature, society, morality, and history. It examines the historical antecedents to Marx's philosophy, including capitalism, Hegel, and Feuerbach. The course delves into scientific socialism, dialectical materialism, and historical materialism. Students will critically analyze Marx's theories and assess their contemporary relevance, addressing criticisms and practical failures.

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42h
Study Time
13
Weeks
3h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
MarxismSocialismCapitalismDialectical MaterialismHistorical Materialism

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Socialism

2

Scientific Socialism

3

Historical Materialism

4

Dialectical Materialism

5

Capitalism

6

Alienation

7

Revolution

8

Class Struggle

Total Topics8 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (4 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

presentations

Team-based learning and peer interaction

Group Work

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Political Analyst

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Social Worker

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Policy Advisor

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Journalist

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Activist

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Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

GovernmentNon-profit organizationsResearch institutionsMediaActivism

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Understanding Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 1: Defining Socialism

2 study hours
  • •Define socialism and its key characteristics
  • •Explore the historical evolution of socialism
  • •Discuss different types of socialism, including utopian, revolutionary, and democratic socialism
Week
2

Module 1: Understanding Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 2: Meaning, Nature and Principles of Scientific Socialism

2 study hours
  • •Define science and scientific methods
  • •Explain the relationship between science and socialism
  • •Outline the principles of scientific socialism, including materialism and dialectics
Week
3

Module 1: Understanding Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 3: Historical Antecedents to Karl Marx's Scientific Socialism 1→Hegel Idealism

2 study hours
  • •Study Hegel's biography and his influence on Marx
  • •Understand Hegel's idealism and dialectical method
  • •Analyze Hegel's conception of history and its impact on Marx's thought
Week
4

Module 1: Understanding Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 4: Historical Antecedents to Karl Marx's Scientific Socialism 2→Ludwig Feuerbach

2 study hours
  • •Explore Feuerbach's life and works
  • •Understand Feuerbach's critique of Hegel's conception of religion
  • •Analyze Feuerbach's anthropological analysis of religion
Week
5

Module 1: Understanding Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 5: Historical Antecedents to Karl Marx's Scientific Socialism 3→ The Capitalist World System

2 study hours
  • •Define capitalism and its key characteristics
  • •Explore the history of capitalism and its evolution
  • •Understand the capitalist world system and its impact on society
Week
6

Module 2: Karl Marx's Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 1: A brief introduction to Marx's Scientific Socialism

2 study hours
  • •Study Marx's biography and his intellectual development
  • •Understand the scientific nature of Marx's socialism
  • •Explore the key concepts of Marx's scientific socialism
Week
7

Module 2: Karl Marx's Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 2: Marx on Human Nature

2 study hours
  • •Define human nature from Marx's perspective
  • •Explore the biological and historical dimensions of human nature
  • •Understand the role of needs and desires in shaping human nature
Week
8

Module 2: Karl Marx's Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 3: Theses on Feuerbach

2 study hours
  • •Analyze Marx's critique of Feuerbach's anthropological conception of religion
  • •Understand the social dimension of religion
  • •Explore the relationship between religion and alienation
Week
9

Module 2: Karl Marx's Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 4: Marx on Religion

2 study hours
  • •Understand Marx's theory of religion
  • •Explore the social construction of religion
  • •Analyze the role of religion in capitalist society
Week
10

Module 2: Karl Marx's Scientific Socialism

2h

Unit 5: Dialectical Materialism

2 study hours
  • •Define dialectical materialism and its key principles
  • •Understand the dialectical method and its application to society
  • •Explore the historical development of society through dialectical materialism
Week
11

Module 3: Understanding Historical Materialism

2h

Unit 1: The Materialist Conception of History

2 study hours
  • •Define historical materialism and its key principles
  • •Understand the materialist conception of history
  • •Explore the role of economic substructure in shaping society
Week
12

Module 3: Understanding Historical Materialism

4h

Unit 2: Labor and Alienation

2 study hours
  • •Define labor and alienation from Marx's perspective
  • •Understand the concept of alienated labor in capitalist society
  • •Explore the consequences of alienated labor on human beings

Unit 3: Commodity Fetishism

2 study hours
  • •Define commodity fetishism and its key characteristics
  • •Understand the relationship between commodity fetishism and alienated labor
  • •Explore the consequences of commodity fetishism on human relations
Week
13

Module 3: Understanding Historical Materialism

4h

Unit 4: Surplus Value

2 study hours
  • •Define surplus value and its key characteristics
  • •Understand the relationship between surplus value and capitalist exploitation
  • •Explore the consequences of surplus value on the working class

Unit 5: The State

2 study hours
  • •Understand Marx's theory of the state
  • •Explore the role of the state in capitalist society
  • •Analyze the relationship between the state and class struggle

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key historical events and figures discussed in the course.

2

Develop concept maps linking dialectical materialism, historical materialism, and class struggle.

3

Practice applying Marx's theories to contemporary social and economic issues.

4

Review criticisms of Marx's theories and formulate counter-arguments.

5

Focus on understanding the core concepts of alienation, surplus value, and commodity fetishism.

6

Prepare summaries of each module, highlighting key arguments and concepts.

7

Review all self-assessment exercises and discussion questions from the course materials.

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