An argument against Marx's theories of a socialist, utopian society.

Marx could not have expected his ideas to turn into reality. He was strongly against capitalism, stating that communism must be obtained "...by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions" ("Civilizations", 671). While his theories were popular because they represented a change for workers during the industrial revolution, they were not practical. People were desperate for any way to weasel out of their current 15-hour days and low wages, and so they looked to extreme ideas for extreme change. However, Marx's ideas were not the solution. He wrote that a ruling class essentially had to be eliminated, leaving workers in charge of themselves. "... The Proletariat would rise up and take over the means of production" ("Civilizations", 672). This simply can never work.

Although during the industrial revolution in many European countries the ruling class was abusing their power and oppressing the proletariat, a ruling class is always necessary.

Over London–by Rail from London: A Pilgrimage (1...

English: Watt's steam engine at the lobby of the H...

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

There are no examples in history of utopian societies working: societies where everyone works according to their own needs and no governing is needed. Instead we need to recognize the human nature, much as how Marx did, and build in rules to accommodate our shortcomings. To be more specific, Marx wrote of "... The classless society in which ' each person would work according to his ability and receive according to his need.'... As the classless society evolved, the state would wither away." ("Civilizations", 672). This is simply not practical.

Even today the capitalist system works: one where an upper class exists to regulate the workers. However, there are very rarely disputes between the two classes, unlike how in the period of industrial revolution dissatisfaction with the ruling class was common. We even have means of settling differences. For example on November 4, 2003, the University of Minnesota settled...