The Principles of Communism

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1. ue_May 2017
   I don't know if it's just me, but I consider Capital more of an economic text than a philosophical one. That's Marx in political economist mode. And from what (albeit little) I've read of Nozick I much prefer Marx and continental philosophy as a whole (though I'm just beginning).

   The Manifesto draws varying opinions even within Communist circles; arguably Engels' "The Principles of Communism" is a more gentle text.

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2. ue_May 2017
   For anyone wondering whether this work is worth reading, I must recommend The Origin of the Family, along with the other works of Marx and Engels. Engels has a wonderfully written The Principles of Communism which was the precursor to the Manifesto. They offer great insights into society.
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3. jcoraDec 2016
   > Yeah, I read it, it was a bunch of Marxist buzzwords

   I tried to keep it buzzword free, if it was understandable, what's the problem?

   > You also draw a really simplistic and ignorant call to action here...

   Well this is a critique of an ideology. The majority of the text deals with what's wrong with it, and only general pointers are given as an alternative. However I believe they are enough to get free software people to question parts of their approach and start researching important topics for themselves. I never set out to write an article titled "How to free the whole society in 10 easy steps".

   > I am a free software activist. I write, use, modify, and evangelize free software for my paycheck.

   That's great, this article was aimed at you. What concrete problems do you have with the article? I hardly said "Stallman is not a socialist and is therefore wrong about everything", I created arguments from the ground-up, and I believe they deserve to be engaged in such a manner.

   > I also think socialism is a garbage philosophy.

   All of us have our personal backgrounds and beliefs which are hard to get over. You say socialism is a garbage philosophy, well, what do you think about exploitation of workers, of the huge amounts of labor we waste as a society, of unequal distribution of wealth both inside and between countries? What do you think about imperialistic wars? Do you believe your interests align with the interests of those who own the means of production and exchange, those who control finances? I hardly believe you like any of this.

   You don't have to identify as a socialist to begin thinking about problems which the current system has. I certainly didn't, in the start. But as I started reading more and more, I slowly realized how Marxism was the most thorough analysis of capitalism and its problems, and how it formalized the most effective ideology of the working class.

   I suggest, if you haven't already, that you give The Communist Manifesto a read--it can't possibly hurt you. If you have, try Engels' Principles of Communism: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com....

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4. eucryphiaApr 2026
   “The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother's care, shall be in state institutions.” - Friedrich Engels (The Principles of Communism)

   “Give me four years to teach the children,” asserted Lenin, “and the seed I have sown shall never be uprooted.”

   - Vladimir Lenin.

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