Marxism: Definition and Analysis

Welcome to an introduction to philosophy, starting with one of the most well-known political philosophers of the past two centuries, Karl Marx. This one single course will provide a university level introduction and analysis of what makes Marx academically important, as well as criticism for why Marxism might not be the most practical application of Communism. 

My teaching style is one that focuses on learning how to succeed at the university level, especially when it comes to preparing essays or parts of essays that incorporate the theories of this philosopher. Today, all high-level universities expect political science essays to incorporate a facet of criticism from both Marxism and Feminism, as well as addressing the most prevalent theory of the day, Postmodernism. I will highlight how to handle this material in an essay format through a presentation, group analysis, and an inclusive discussion. 

No experience or previous knowledge is required for this course, however it is highly recommended that each student pre-read the very short "Manifesto of the Communist Party," which can be found in the link that follows: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifesto.pdf. 

This course will use the "Manifesto of the Communist Party" by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels (February 1848) as the principle reference text. 

The course will follow a four point plan, as follows:

Introduction
1. Overview of Marx
	-Where is Marx on the scale of philosophy
2. Define Marxism according to the Communist Manifesto
	-10 point plan for Marxism
3. Define Communism
	-Several definitions of Communism
	-Early references of Communism
4. Analysis of Marxism vs Communism
	-Application of Marxism in the 20th Century
	-Pros and Cons.
Conclusion

There will be opportunities to ask questions and participate in discussions.