Why did Karl Marx criticize capitalism?

Karl Marx criticized capitalism primarily because he viewed it as an exploitative system that inherently relies on the unequal distribution of wealth and power. While he acknowledged capitalism's role in driving technological and scientific progress, he argued that it fundamentally relies on the exploitation of the working class (the proletariat) by the owners of the means of production (the bourgeoisie).12

Key reasons for his critique include:

• Surplus Value: Based on the labour theory of value, Marx argued that all economic value is created by human labour. Capitalists pay workers only a fraction of the value they produce, siphoning off the remainder as surplus value or profit.12
• Alienation: Marx contended that capitalism causes alienation, separating workers from the products of their labour, the production process itself, their own creative potential, and their fellow human beings.13
• Inequality and Ideology: He argued that the bourgeoisie uses its wealth to control the state and propagate an ideology that justifies inequality, often leading workers to accept their condition through false consciousness.1
• Systemic Instability: Marx believed capitalism is plagued by internal contradictions, such as a declining rate of profit and recurring crises, which ultimately lead to the impoverishment of workers and the system's inevitable collapse.12