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Questions tagged [socialism]

20 questions
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Given Marx's original theory of alienation, why is he interpreted as being anti-individualist?

In a video discussion (starting at 0:59:48), Massimo Pigliucci says that he doesn't like Marx's theory of society because it reduces humans to social insects, devoid of individualism. Similarly, conservatives and libertarians in the US usually claim…
Alexander S King
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What is the difference between 'socialism' and 'communism'?

I frequently hear about these two different concepts. What is the fundamental difference between them? Is there any religion in this world which had ever tried to establish social equality before ? As all the religion have powerfully and truly…
Mihir
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Was Marx an antisemite?

Marx wrote about Jews quite a bit, despite having Jewish blood or ancestors. Was Marx an antisemite?
user6917
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The Effects of Marx's Moral Character on Communism

I recently read Paul Johnson's "Intellectuals" which includes a scourging critique of Karl Marx and his work. Surprisingly, it focused on Marx's own personality along with his many vices, which according to Johnson has had a profound effect on…
Mike M
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Who Are the Most Prominent Modern Socialist Thinkers?

Who Are The Ten Most Prominent Modern Socialist Thinkers? (Big Tent: Social Democrats, Socialists, Communists, etc. are all acceptable).
Nathan William Fryzek
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What are the differences between Socialism and Altruism? Why do people confuse socialism with altruism?

I need to find fundamental differences which separates socialism from altruism. I know that it is easy to confuse socialism with altruism, because socialism demands absolute equality and elimination of class. Basic search shows: Altruism: A moral…
Michael16
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Durkheim's stance on socialism

I am aware that Émile Durkheim was by no means unaware of socialist thought, nor unwilling to comment on it, throughout his varied works. Plainly, topics of central concern to Durkheim appear to be broadly overlapping those concerning socialists…
brainchild
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Would Marx have seen Socialism as a stage in a historical process towards Communism?

I have the impression from my (limited, autodidactic) reading of Marx that he was antagonistic towards various forms of Socialism, criticizing Socialists for being (among other things) piecemeal reformers who remained bound by the economic relations…
Kev Sepia
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What's the name of the "God creates Evil" fallacy?

I see this fallacy everywhere, from anti-Christians to Socialists/Communists. It goes like this: "if God exists, then why did He make all this Evil?" Another example: "the baker, by baking bread and keeping it for himself, creates…
user36297
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Why is liberalism sometimes portrayed as an enemy to socialism?

Why is liberalism sometimes portrayed as an enemy to socialism? Without specifying particular strains of liberalism or socialism. But one can discover references, where liberalism is seen almost opposed to socialism. I find it a bit of an odd…
mavavilj
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Couple of questions on Bernard Bolzano's philosophy of state

I read a summary of Bolzano's political views and his philosophy of the "best" state, and I have 3 questions - A) was Bolzano heavily influenced by the USA? His line of thought for some of his ideas seems very similar in mind to (at least the…
Yechiam Weiss
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What did Karl Marx mean by "revolutionary combination due to association"?

In "The Communist Manifesto", it is said that: "The advance of industry, whose involuntary promoter is the bourgeoisie, replaces the isolation of the laborers, due to competition, by the revolutionary combination, due to association". What is meant…
mil
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Are there any flaws in reasoning that collectivism can apply within a capitalist economy?

This question has more to do with ideology then philosophy but something seems off in terms of logic. The Oxford dictionary defines collectivism as: "The practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it". "The ownership…
James P.
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Institutions under anarchist society

Respecting a society to be created through fulfilling objectives identified by (left-wing) anarchists, in what sense, if any, would such a society include institutions, and how would institutions, in practice or in concept, be similar or different…
brainchild
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Is an Anarchosocialist a philosophical term or a political term?

I heard the term used by Noam Chomsky to describe himself. Is this his own term or a mash up. Came very late to philosophy, and I see possible links to the under pinnings of Anarchism and Socialism.
Vincent Ashley
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