Analysis Of Marx's Social Theory By Terrell Carver

The author Terrell Carver assesses the Marx’s social theory in his book (Marx’s Social Theory). This is a fascinating account of Terrell Carver about Marx’s social theory. Writer discusses the influence of Marx on almost every discipline of knowledge from aesthetics to theology, including anthropology, geography, jurisprudence, and history, almost all branches of philosophy, political science and psychology.
After discussing influence of Marx, author tells the circumstances in which Marx’s social theory came into existence. Marx drew his inspiration from Hegel idealistic philosophy. He was also influenced by English economist Adam Smith and David Ricardo. In the year 1842-43 Marx became the editor of Rheinische Zeintung. During the editorship of Rheinische Zeintung, Marx wrote articles on the freedom of press and against the law which restrict the peasants from wood-gathering from forest. He also wrote about the plight of worker, finally, this paper was banned. Marx travelled from one country to another in Europe and observed the societies very closely; all these visits helped him in the formulation of social theory.
According to him matter determines everything. Alongside this, author claims, means of production and relation between productive forces constitutes economic structure of society, and this is the real foundation on which superstructure rise. Superstructure includes law, morality, philosophy, political theories, forms of government, religion, art and culture. Marx asserts, it is the social being which determines consciousness. He further says legal and political superstructure (and corresponding forms of social consciousness) arises out of the economic structure of society; that mode of production of material life conditions social, political and intellectual life; and the consciousness does not define the way we work together socially, but rather the