Das Kapital
Das Kapital is a foundational critique of the capitalist economic system. Marx analyzes how capitalism functions through the concepts of commodity, labor, value, and surplus value: workers sell their labor power but produce more value than they receive in wages, and the capitalist appropriates this surplus value as profit. He describes how capital accumulates, how competition and technological change can lead to crises, and how capitalism tends toward concentration of wealth among capitalists while workers are exploited and alienated. Marx argues that this system has inherent contradictions—such as falling rate of profit, overproduction, and social conflict—that will eventually destabilize it. Ultimately, Das Kapital aims to show that capitalism is not eternal, but historically specific and subject to change.
Published By:
Published Date:
June 15, 2026
Pages:
588
Subjects:
Available Format:
(67.63)
Action:
Description
Das Kapital is a foundational critique of the capitalist economic system. Marx analyzes how capitalism functions through the concepts of commodity, labor, value, and surplus value: workers sell their labor power but produce more value than they receive in wages, and the capitalist appropriates this surplus value as profit. He describes how capital accumulates, how competition and technological change can lead to crises, and how capitalism tends toward concentration of wealth among capitalists while workers are exploited and alienated. Marx argues that this system has inherent contradictions—such as falling rate of profit, overproduction, and social conflict—that will eventually destabilize it. Ultimately, Das Kapital aims to show that capitalism is not eternal, but historically specific and subject to change.
