Abstract

Overall, this dissertation challenges two readings of Marx: Marx's historical materialism bars moral investigation, judgment and vision, and Marx's philosophy does not yield a political theory. I demonstrate that a humanist morality informs Karl Marx's approach to several important themes, such as his conception of communism, critique of capitalism, revolutionary politics, and vision of socialism. In making my case, I defend five interrelated positions: Marx's conception of communism is consistent with utopian thought, and only makes sense if it is treated as a vision of an ideal society in which "true morality" is realized. The type of morality communism realizes is consistent with the Kantian moral principles. Marx's approach to revolution is not "anti-political." It is based on a call for deliberate, conscious political action. The long range goal of political action is a moral goal, i.e., human emancipation. This political position can also be derived from Marx's philosophical differences with Hegel. I argue that Marx's approach to revolutionary emancipation ultimately follows from what he calls "the knowledge of man." Contrary to a common assumption, Marx had a general theory of human nature, which is related to three morally relevant, themes: Human needs and abilities; self-realization and free activity; and harmonious community. The examination of these themes shows that Marx's conception of human nature informs his conception of communism, and constitutes the moral foundation of his critique of capitalism as well as his theory of socialism. Marx's critique of capitalism is a moral critique. Marx thought capitalism was unjust because of exploitation. More consistently, he disparaged the dehumanization, alienation and "slavery" of the worker in capitalist society. Despite his objections to socialist justice claims, I show that Marx's formulation of socialist basic structures is based on principles of justice that follow from the humanist morality of freedom. These principles regulate distribution, production and politics of socialist society. They also assign rights to individuals. My critical reinterpretation of Marx's approach to socialist justice and rights also shows that his thought yields a political theory of socialism