The Ideas And Reforms Of Marx And Kuyper - 1142 Words

The nineteenth century was a time of wide-spread changes across Europe and America. Two great seminal thinkers, Karl Marx and Abraham Kuyper, examined the issue of poverty during this time through their books The Communist Manifesto and The Problem of Poverty respectively. Both philosophers exposed economic, political, and social problems of this period. The ideas and reforms of Marx and Kuyper proved to be so tectonic that they resulted in the greatest political upheaval of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. While Marx wrote his book to rally society against capitalism for a socioeconomic change, Kuyper viewed poverty through a Christian lens and weighed the effect of society in regards to this issue. It is true both philosophers†¦show more content†¦In this case, the split is between the Bourgeoisie (the middle class) versus the Proletariat (the working class). Marx argued the capitalist Bourgeoisie abused the Proletariats by profiting from their work while the Prolet ariats were not receiving what they deserved (Marx, p. 30). Marx knew the wealth of the Bourgeoisie depended on the work of the Proletariat, but he predicted the underclass would get sick of being exploited and revolt. In fact, he encouraged the underclass to overthrow the capitalists and stand up for their rights with his views known as Marxism. Abraham Kuyper also acknowledged the unfairness of the social classes that had developed. He related the inequalities between men were due to the belief that â€Å"the stronger devours the weaker,† and declared they were living in an animalistic society rather than a humane one (Kuyper, p. 25). The desire for wealth and material things had overcome the desire for the Christian faith. Kuyper urged the people to carry out their responsibilities as Christians and work toward shrinking the division between rich and poor by giving to the poor. Both Marx and Kuyper recognized the negative effect capitalism had on society, but Marx aimed to eliminate the capitalists’ economic system while Kuyper endorsed a giving society. Though Marx and Kuyper agreed on the need to change the inequality between the different classes, their views regarding religion differed. Marx thoughtShow MoreRelatedThe Revolution Of The Middle Of A Revolution1292 Words   |  6 Pagesthe gap between the poor and the rich. Aware of the widening gap, Karl Marx wrote out against the problem. However, the problem was still around about fifty years later when Abraham Kuyper also addressed the problem. Both Marx and Kuyper agreed that poverty was a problem and need to be fixed. Each one took a different view on how to fix poverty, and both have their flaws, but in the end, both Karl Marx and Abraham Kuyper are calling for action to end poverty. The problem with poverty is thatRead MoreCommunist Manifesto And Abraham Kuyper s The Problem Of Poverty1385 Words   |  6 PagesKuyper’s The Problem of Poverty. Both Marx and Kuyper’s writings focus on the social struggle between the privileged, wealthy, and unprivileged, poor; however, Marx presents the struggle and his solution from an economic viewpoint while Kuyper presents the struggle and his solution from a religious viewpoint. Marx begins his presentation with a defining of both socio-economic groups then presents the political movement of Communism as a solution to the contrast. Kuyper, on the other hand, focuses hisRead MoreKuyper Against Marx1795 Words   |  8 Pagesbetter. Although Kuyper and Marx agreed that social conditions in the Industrial Age were not acceptable, they differed on the cause and solution to the poverty and despair in the modern world. Kuyper’s approach to the problem of poverty is like minimally invasive surgery, less dam aging but more time-intensive. Marx’s approach, however, is like amputation with no cauterization, quick but with little chance of recovery. Marx seeks to heal a wound by creating another; Kuyper seeks to heal through