The task of political economy, Karl Marx argued, was to understand all the presumptions within productive and social relations, which made social life in a given form possible at a particular time. The aim of political economy is to understand the processes that produce these differences. The two historical figures that analyzed capitalism were Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Their philosophy differs in the way each viewed the human conditions and the role of the individual. It could be argued that history has shown Smith to be right and Marx to be wrong but the fact is that each of these men understood capitalism on different terms although both had similar material ideas.

The main difference between Marx's and Smith's thoughts is found in the values that each were concerned with. Smith suggested that the economic process could be forever unchangeable in its natural stage as individuals seek their own advantages. If people are left free they will try to improve the quality of their lives. This can be achieved in two ways: by individual effort, or at someone else's expense. Most individuals will search for or make something that others will pay f

In order to understand Marx's human nature, we have to take a close look at alienation. The basis of his argument is that capitalism alienates humans from their essence in labor. Capitalist society is undesirable since it doesn't allow individuals utilize their natural potentials, which is, for Marx, to express and develop oneself through labor in one's environment. This system of labor is made up of four relations: The worker is alienated from his or her productive activity, playing no part in deciding what to do or how to do it. The worker is alienated from the product of that activity, having no control over what is made. The worker is alienated from other human beings, with competition and mutual indifference replacing most form of cooperation. Finally, the worker is alienated from the distinctive potential found in the notion of human beings. Marx argues that alienation and capitalism come hand in hand. To get rid of alienation, one has to abolish capitalism. In capitalism, labor power of a certain group/class of people is exploited. This result in alienation in both sides, exploiter and exploited.

Marx believes that in his society labor activity is not a pain since one class isn't forced to work for the other. Thus, for Marx the needs and capacities of labor are universal. Activities of people determine how they develop their capacities and the society determines the result of these activities. For Marx, human nature is changeable and that new social conditions create new kinds of individuals. So, Marx disagrees with the fact that capitalism is inevitable because it is formed of basic human desires. Marx would argue that capitalist society itself creates those desires. Because humans create the social and natural environment and as

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