Book description
Modern sociology owes much to Marx: the definition of the field of study, the analysis of the economic structure and its relations with other parts of the social structure, the theory of social classes, and the theory of ideology. Marx worked to transform speculative philosophy into a critical social theory which would be of use to the largest, the most degraded, section of society. The techniques he used, no less than his conclusions, are still worthy of consideration.
The necessity for an extensive selection from Marx’s work is shown by the fact that many of his writings in translation are not well known, and that in some cases the translations are unsatisfactory. Most of the passages in this book have been newly translated, and many appear in English for the first time. This selection, from the whole of Marx’s writings, with the exception of his correspondence, endeavours to present the evolution of his ideas, the main features of his method, and the chief conclusions of his research.
