Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844

The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 are a series of writings by Karl Marx that were not published until 1959. These manuscripts are significant because they reveal the humanist underpinnings of Marx's later economic and historical theories.1

In these writings, Marx explores concepts such as alienation, particularly the alienation of labor within capitalist societies. He argues that workers become estranged from their products, their labor, and ultimately themselves, as their work becomes a means to an end rather than a fulfilling activity. Marx also critiques philosophy, advocating for its transformation into reality and emphasizing the need to change the world rather than just interpret it. He believed that social existence determines consciousness and that human nature is fundamentally tied to productive activity and the satisfaction of needs.23