Freedom and Equality According to Marx and Engels - Essay Example

?Freedom and Equality Introduction: Freedom and equality are two terms that are used interchangeably in ordinary English language but greatly differ when deeper aspects are considered. To approach these words in multi-dimensional manner, they offer various dimensions especially when history and political science is concerned. As these words compete with each other in terms of their usage in a political system, various leading principles involving history and political science would be able to differentiate them in a more justified meaning and relationship. According to Marx and Engels In the manifesto originated by Karl Marx and Engels, they had collaborated some ideas that are evidently speaking of freedom and equality in deeper sense. As this manifesto had influenced many of the communist countries such as Korea, Cuba, China, Vietnam and of course many countries in Europe, both Marx and Engel can be considered as two important people that shaped world history. Marx and Engels ideals and principles declared publicly evolved the Marxism principle which is now an interesting subject and topic under political science. The principles embodied in the manifesto had developed the so called communist form of government. Marx had considered communism in relation to socialism very closely. As an advanced form of socialism, communism is very near to anarchism, viewed freedom and equality as vain, illusionary and incomplete. Generally, the right to freedom is considered as equality. Engels and Marx had issued freedom as bounded with fullness of material considerations. Freedom in morality also considered the absence of alienation and that man is the only bearer of this so called freedom. The manifesto pointed out that freedom is achievable only in the community when a man submits his total will and desires to serve the community and its demands. “Society as a whole is more and more splitting into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Burgeoisie and Protletariat” (Marx and Engels). There are two classes of men stated in the manifesto: the bourgeoisie- the so-called owners of the production living off with man’s profit; and the proletariat- the one who labored and lived on their salary. These men live in a community where there is difference in their life style and status. There are men who labored hard to survive in this world while there are men belonging to chosen few who derives their means of living in behalf of the other working class. This capitalist world has been criticized by Marx and Engels. There are human struggles produced in the lower striving class which are demonstrated in strikes, riots, and other revolutionary actions in search for enlightenment. The manifesto criticizes this kind of society. Accordingly, there is the absence of equality and freedom among the two classes of men. Individuals make up the society. Engels and Marx are calling in behalf of the lower class in search for freedom, that is, the Marxist way, to liberate society from the capitalist way of living. As quotes from the Communist Manifesto: “The executive of the modern state is but a committee for the managing of the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie…..They are unfit to rule because it is incompetent to assure an existence to its slave within his slavery, because it cannot help letting him sink into such a state, that is has to feed him, instead of being fed by him. Society can no longer live under this bourgeoisie, in other words, its existence is no longer compatible with society.” In the same manner, Engels pointed out in his book “The Condition of the Working Class in England” about his concerns of the citizens laboring themselves physically during the Industrial age. He considered the working class as being exploited and being subjected to societal crimes. In his point of view, there is no freedom and equality in the time of the industrialization period as these working men are being subjected to labor for the food the upper class of men. He even described the scenario as murder. Based on his article “When one individual inflicts bodily injure upon another, such injury that death results, we call the deed manslaughter…. to prove that society in England daily and hourly commits what the working men’s organs, with perfect correctness, characterize as social murder, that is has placed the workers under conditions in which they can neither retain health nor live long…”(Engels) The Communist Manifesto and The Condition of the Working Class in England contested the absence of freedom in a society with the presence of the two ruling classes of men. As equality is embedded in freedom, these two are in vain when the society is living in a state not living in one common vision; that is to abolish the current way of life and lead a revolutionary life of communism. “Communism deprives no man of the power to appropriate the products of society; all that it does is to deprive him of the power to subjugate the labor of others by means of such appropriation… Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarian have nothing to lose but their chains. WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!” (Marx and Engels). The communist point of view of equality and freedom is indeed in vain though the two still come together. History itself would suffice that communism does not grant equality and freedom to individuals. This can be proved by the many countries that followed such principle, but then failed. According to John Locke Another historical man with great influence in the form of modern government is John Locke. His many ideals and principles were considered as the heart of French revolution. Historically, many European countries like France are ruled by monarchial form of government. In this type of government, Kings and Queens are set above over the ordinary people. The French revolution has brought out a great change to France as well as to the rest of the world. The Guillotine- the symbol for the French revolution, has proven that all men are equal and can die of the same blade whether one belongs to the monarchial family, or ordinary people. Many kings had died of this blade such as King Loius XVI. The French revolution was a tough time for France but the events that occurred that time were historically significant and influential. Monarchy ended in France and the succeeding form of government was greatly influenced by John Locke’s ideals. Democracy gave birth until then. John Locke has a different outlook with equality and freedom. He stated that men by nature are equal unless some declaration of will would set one individual above the others. His views of natural freedom have influenced modern way of thinking and principles in government after the French revolution. As the monarchy form of government is fading in history, John Locke had defined the human freedom quite ecstatically with the Declaration of the Rights of Man last August 26, 1789. According to the Declaration of the Right of Man: “….the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties….” Based on this statement, John Locke emphasized the rights of men to be on top of the government concerns. The stated rights of men are embedded in the list wherein, the government and the ruling people are required to consider highly. Further, Locke stated that equality and freedom are natural rights of men since the day they are born. The government should not deny these rights to anyone. Jean Jacques Rousseau: Another great philosopher in political realm is Jean-Jacques Rosseau. He is also a by-product of the French revolution. His contribution to freedom and equality in the government has touched history and has been applied until now. One of the major works of Rousseau “The Social Contract” has explicitly stated how he viewed freedom and equality of men. There is a great relevance between these terms are they are closely linked and almost interchangeable. In his idea of society, it is the citizens of the society that must have complete rule over the government. This is the current idea of democracy where many countries all over the world have adapted. There is the presence of general will and a consideration of good of all at all times. Individuals collectively join together as one moral body to come up what is best for the society. This idea is written in his Social Contract, as it goes: “But , as men cannot engender new forces, but only unit and direct existing ones, they have no other means of preserving themselves than the formation, by aggregation, of a sum of forces great enough to overcome the resistance. These they have to brings into play by means of a single motive power, and cause to act in concert.” “This sum of forces can arise only where several persons come together: but, as the force and liberty of each man are the chief instruments of his self-preservation, how can he pledge them without harming his own interests, and neglecting the care he owes to himself? …..The problem is to find a form of association which will defend and protect with the whole common force the person and goods of each associate, and in which each, while uniting himself with all, may still obey himself alone, and remain as free as before. This is the fundamental problem of which the Social Contract provides the solution.” Rousseau also viewed freedom as something derived from birth. According to his Social Contract, “Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they.” Freedom and equality are being bounded with each other with a special link, that is, to result to a better way of living. Conclusion Equality is having the rights of men naturally given during birth. It is a very broad subject to consider as many aspects about life would be tackled. It includes life in general, and man’s pursuit to happiness. Freedom on the other hand is given free. With freedom there is equality. This is a natural thing that man is packaged with as soon as he spring forth in this world. They are very much related as one result from the other. The absence of freedom means that there is no equality. This can be seen from the various political perspectives that history has experienced. From old forms of government, monarchy, communism and the latter democracy has always touched on freedom and equality. These two terms must come together without compromise. That is, freedom can’t be exercised while sacrificing on equality. Freedom should be for all men, regardless of gender, status, age and capacity and life. Works Cited Engels, Friedrich. Industrial Manchester. 1844. PDF. Locke, John. Declaration of Rights of Man. 1789. PDF. Marx, Karl and Engels, Friedrich. The Communist Manifesto. 1848. PDF. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract. 1762. PDF. Read More