Who said that religion is an opium of the people?

The opium of the people (or opium of the masses) is a dictum used in reference to religion, derived from the most frequently paraphrased statements of German sociologist and economic theorist Karl Marx: “Religion is the opium of the people.” In context, the statement is part of Marx’s structural-functionalist argument …

What was Karl Marx’s view on religion?

19th-century German philosopher Karl Marx, the founder and primary theorist of Marxism, viewed religion as “the soul of soulless conditions” or the “opium of the people”. At the same time, Marx saw religion as a form of protest by the working classes against their poor economic conditions and their alienation.

What is the main point of Marxism?

Marxism is a social, political, and economic philosophy named after Karl Marx. It examines the effect of capitalism on labor, productivity, and economic development and argues for a worker revolution to overturn capitalism in favor of communism.

What is materialism by Karl Marx?

For Marx and Engels, materialism meant that the material world, perceptible to the senses, has objective reality independent of mind or spirit. They did not deny the reality of mental or spiritual processes but affirmed that ideas could arise, therefore, only as products and reflections of material conditions.

Who is the father of materialism?

Greek and Roman materialism Though Thales of Miletus (c. 580 bce) and some of the other pre-Socratic philosophers have some claims to being regarded as materialists, the materialist tradition in Western philosophy really begins with Leucippus and Democritus, Greek philosophers who were born in the 5th century bce.

Is Karl Marx a socialist?

Karl Heinrich Marx (German: [maʁks]; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist and socialist revolutionary. Marx’s political and philosophical thought had enormous influence on subsequent intellectual, economic and political history.

What are the disadvantages of a socialist economy?

KEY Points. Disadvantages of socialism include slow economic growth, less entrepreneurial opportunity and competition, and a potential lack of motivation by individuals due to lesser rewards.