The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex

Human Classification of Similarities and Differences 12th Grade

Both Karl Marx and Charles Darwin used classification to enhance their ideas; human classification in particular. Marx classifies humans in a society as either part of the bourgeois or the proletariat while on the other hand, Darwin classifies humans based on their gender . Most notably about classification is that both authors use it differently. Marx uses classification to show the differences in class between the people, but Darwin ultimately uses the differences as a side note to a larger similarity between humans and other organisms. Therefore, both authors use classification as a means of comparison to support their theories.

In The Communist Manifesto, Marx starts off with a bold statement claiming that “[t]he history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." (Marx 62) We see here that Marx is starting to bring up the fact that throughout written history there have been clashes between the oppressed and the oppressor. One example of this would be in feudalism where there are complex hierarchies with lords, vassals, guild masters, and serfs. Marx’s theory of history states that capitalism followed after feudalism, but in capitalism the class divisions are simplified to just the bourgeoisie and...

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