The book comprises a systematic analysis of Marx's works on ownership. Marx as the creator of a theory on social reality is a different thinker from the creator of the doctrine of communism. The author seeks to break through one-sided interpretations which discern in Marx a decisive critique of private property and an apologia of common ownership.

This book comprises a systematic analysis of Karl Marx's reasoning on ownership. Marx as the author of an original theory of ownership is yet to be discovered. The creator of a theory which was to interpret social reality is quite a different thinker from the creator of a doctrine which was to alter the world. In designing communist society, Marx ignored the threats which social property bears, despite having skillfully identified them in investigations of diverse pre-capitalistic forms of common ownership. The author seeks to break through one-sided interpretations which discern in Marx a decisive critique of private property and an apologia of common ownership. It becomes apparent that Marx treated both the processes of socialization and privatization of ownership with equal consideration.

Autorentext

Wies aw Gumüa divides his interest between academic life and financial institutions. He is Professor of Sociology at the Jagiellonian University of Cracow (Poland), where he specializes in the sociology of finance. He is the creator of the theory of social peculiarities. For many years, Gumüa has been working for the banking sector.

Klappentext

This book comprises a systematic analysis of Karl Marx s reasoning on ownership. Marx as the author of an original theory of ownership is yet to be discovered. The creator of a theory which was to interpret social reality is quite a different thinker from the creator of a doctrine which was to alter the world. In designing communist society, Marx ignored the threats which social property bears, despite having skillfully identified them in investigations of diverse pre-capitalistic forms of common ownership. The author seeks to break through one-sided interpretations which discern in Marx a decisive critique of private property and an apologia of common ownership. It becomes apparent that Marx treated both the processes of socialization and privatization of ownership with equal consideration.

Inhalt

Common ownership - Pre-capitalistic forms of ownership - Individual private property - Capitalistic private property - Exploitation - Privatization and socialization of property - Communism - Dis-Alienation - Class for itself - Owners of conditions of labor - Owners of labor power - Owners of means of subsistence