Karl Marx believed that the key to human history was class conflict. According to Marxist theory, the bourgeoisie are locked in inevitable conflict with the proletariat. This bitter struggle can end only when members of the working class unite in revolution and throw off their chains of bondage. The result will be a classless society, one free of exploitation, in which everyone will work according to their abilities and receive according to their needs.
Is the above passage an argument? What type?
The correct answer and explanation is :
Yes, the passage is an argument, specifically an explanatory argument that presents a viewpoint on historical materialism from a Marxist perspective.
Explanation:
An argument consists of a set of premises leading to a conclusion. In this passage, the premises suggest that class conflict is the driving force of history, that the bourgeoisie and proletariat are in inevitable conflict, and that revolution is necessary for the working class to achieve freedom. The conclusion drawn is that this revolution will result in a classless, exploitation-free society where people work according to their abilities and receive according to their needs.
This passage primarily explains Marxist theory rather than attempting to persuade the reader to adopt Marxism. It outlines a deterministic view of history, arguing that class struggle inevitably leads to revolution and societal change. Since the focus is on explaining how class conflict drives history rather than directly persuading the reader to take action, this makes it an explanatory argument rather than a persuasive one.
However, if the context or tone of the passage were more focused on urging the reader to take revolutionary action, then it could be categorized as a persuasive argument. But as written, it remains an explanatory argument because it presents Marxist thought in a descriptive manner.
Karl Marx and class struggle.
Here is the generated image depicting Karl Marx addressing a crowd of workers about class struggle in an industrial 19th-century setting.