How did Karl Marx explain the connection between material life and human consciousness?

Karl Marx explained the relationship between material life and human consciousness through his theory of historical materialism. He argued that the economic structure of society—comprising the material forces of production and the relations of production—forms the "real foundation" upon which legal, political, and intellectual superstructures are built.1

Marx famously asserted that it is not the consciousness of individuals that determines their existence, but rather their social existence that determines their consciousness. In this view, the mode of production in material life dictates the general character of social, political, and intellectual processes.1

This foundation influences human thought through ideology, which Marx described as the "ruling ideas" of an epoch that serve the interests of the dominant class. When individuals accept these dominant ideas despite their own objective interests, they may experience false consciousness, a distorted understanding of their social reality. Ultimately, Marx believed that human consciousness is embedded in "conscious human practices," meaning that our awareness is inextricably linked to our material activity and the objective conditions of our lives.23