Karl Marx's viewpoint on class is central to his theory of Marxism. According to Marx, society is divided into different social classes based on their relationship to the means of production. He identified two primary classes in capitalist societies: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
The bourgeoisie, or the capitalist class, are the owners of the means of production, such as factories, land, and machinery. They accumulate wealth and profit by exploiting the labor of the proletariat. Marx argued that the bourgeoisie control the means of production and use this power to maintain their dominance and exploit the working class.
On the other hand, the proletariat, or the working class, are the individuals who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor power to survive. They are dependent on the bourgeoisie for employment and wages. Marx believed that the proletariat, due to their exploitation and alienation under capitalism, would eventually develop class consciousness and rise up against the bourgeoisie in a revolution.
Marx viewed class struggle as the driving force behind historical change. He argued that throughout history, societies have been characterized by different modes of production, each with its own class structure and conflicts. In capitalism, the class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is the most significant and will ultimately lead to the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a classless society, known as communism.
Marx's viewpoint on class emphasizes the inherent conflict and exploitation within capitalist societies. He believed that class divisions and the struggle between classes are fundamental to understanding social relations and the dynamics of societal change.