The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844

CommunismasapoliticalmovementattainedglobalimportanceaftertheBolshevikstoppledtheRussianCzarin1917.AfterthattimetheworksofKarlMarxandFrederickEngels，especiallytheinfluentialCommunistManifesto(1848)，enjoyedaninternationalaudience.Theworldwastolearnanewpoliticalvocabularypepperedwith"socialism，""capitalism，""theworkingclass，""thebourgeoisie，""labortheoryofvalue，""alienation，""economicdeterminism，""dialecticalmaterialism，"and"historicalmaterialism."Marx'seconomicanalysisofhistoryhasbeenapowerfullegacy，theeffectsofwhichcontinuetobefeltworld-wide.ServingasthefoundationforMarx'sindictmentofcapitalismishisextraordinaryworktitledEconomicandPhilosophicManuscripts，writtenin1844butpublishednearlyacenturylater.HereMarxoffershistheoryofhumannatureandananalysisofemergingcapitalism'sdegenerativeimpactonman'ssenseofselfandhiscreativepotential.Whatisman'struenature?HowdidcapitalismgainsuchafootholdonWesternsociety?Whatisalienationandhowdoesitthreatentounderminetheproletariat?TheseandothervitalquestionsareaddressedastheyouthfulMarxsetsforthhisfirstdetailedassessmentofthehumancondition.