Comparison of Karl Marx and Matthew Arnold
Through their writing, Karl Marx and Matthew Arnold show their opposing
views on the importance of internal and external functions of culture. In the
first chapter of Culture and Anarchy, "Sweetness and Light", Arnold describes
culture as being responsible for the progress of politics and society and as
"the best knowledge and thought of the time" (19). Matthew Arnold's culture is
based on two main aspects, religion and education. Karl Marx, however, strongly
contrasts Arnold's ideas. Marx views culture as being derived from the
advancement of the sciences.
Matthew Arnold's definition of culture comes from "a mid-nineteenth-
century Germanic notion of culture which is founded upon his study of Goethe and
Schiller" (19). He believed many other cultures are based on the thought of
curiosity and on scientific expansion. Arnold believed culture was based on the
expansion of the individual's mind; only through education can a perfect
culture be reached. In his writings, Arnold stated that for a man to be
cultured he has to be versed in both religion and classic literature. Although
Arnold's culture sought the advancement of the human mind; he did not want
people to get wrapped up in technology. "Faith in machinery is, I said, our
besetting danger; often in machinery most absurdly disproportioned to the end
which this machinery" (23). Arnold believes his culture is "more interesting
and more far-reaching than that other, which is founded solely on the scientific
passion for knowing" (21). Arnold believed that culture dealt with perfection;
as he stated in "Sweetness and Light", "Culture is then properly describe not as
having its origin in curiosity, but as having its origin in the love of
perfection; it is a study of perfection" (21). Arnold also says that culture is
the endeavor to make the moral and social characteristics of individuals
prevail. Because culture is a study of perfection, then it is... [continues]
Through their writing, Karl Marx and Matthew Arnold show their opposing
views on the importance of internal and external functions of culture. In the
first chapter of Culture and Anarchy, "Sweetness and Light", Arnold describes
culture as being responsible for the progress of politics and society and as
"the best knowledge and thought of the time" (19). Matthew Arnold's culture is
based on two main aspects, religion and education. Karl Marx, however, strongly
contrasts Arnold's ideas. Marx views culture as being derived from the
advancement of the sciences.
Matthew Arnold's definition of culture comes from "a mid-nineteenth-
century Germanic notion of culture which is founded upon his study of Goethe and
Schiller" (19). He believed many other cultures are based on the thought of
curiosity and on scientific expansion. Arnold believed culture was based on the
expansion of the individual's mind; only through education can a perfect
culture be reached. In his writings, Arnold stated that for a man to be
cultured he has to be versed in both religion and classic literature. Although
Arnold's culture sought the advancement of the human mind; he did not want
people to get wrapped up in technology. "Faith in machinery is, I said, our
besetting danger; often in machinery most absurdly disproportioned to the end
which this machinery" (23). Arnold believes his culture is "more interesting
and more far-reaching than that other, which is founded solely on the scientific
passion for knowing" (21). Arnold believed that culture dealt with perfection;
as he stated in "Sweetness and Light", "Culture is then properly describe not as
having its origin in curiosity, but as having its origin in the love of
perfection; it is a study of perfection" (21). Arnold also says that culture is
the endeavor to make the moral and social characteristics of individuals
prevail. Because culture is a study of perfection, then it is... [continues]
Cite This Essay
- APA
-
(1999, 10). Comparison of Karl Marx and Matthew Arnold. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 10, 1999, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Comparison-Karl-Marx-Matthew-Arnold-1472.html
- MLA
-
"Comparison of Karl Marx and Matthew Arnold" StudyMode.com. 10 1999. 10 1999 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Comparison-Karl-Marx-Matthew-Arnold-1472.html>.
- CHICAGO
-
"Comparison of Karl Marx and Matthew Arnold." StudyMode.com. 10, 1999. Accessed 10, 1999. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Comparison-Karl-Marx-Matthew-Arnold-1472.html.
