Single Idea 22970

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 9. Communism]

Full Idea

Freedom consists in converting the state from an organ superimposed on society into one completely subordinate to it.

Gist of Idea

Freedom is making the state subordinate to its society

Source

Karl Marx (Critique of the Gotha Program [1875], IV)

Book Reference

Marx,Karl: 'Selected Writings', ed/tr. Simon,Lawrence H. [Hackett 1994], p.327


A Reaction

The intermediate stage is dictatorship of the proletariat (presumably exercised by the communist leadership). No twentieth century marxist state ever got near the freedom which Marx was seeking. A liberal society might achieve it!

Related Idea

Idea 22085 Freedom requires us to submit to a family, or a corporation, or a state [Hegel, by Houlgate]