A Scientific Theory Creates New Changes

Well, here you go:

Varun Batta

It is now more than twenty years ago that an English man named Charles Darwin thought up of a new theory in the world of science. He postulated the concept of Natural Selection. This led to the Theory of Evolution, as we call it today. The development of this theory began with Darwin’s search for explanations of contradictions in current faith based ideas. Based on his observations he demonstrated this theory using giraffes. He proposed the question: If there are two different species of giraffes, one with a longer neck and one with a shorter neck, and all the leaves on the lower part of the trees are finished, what would happen? He concluded: the giraffes with the shorter neck would eventually die, because they would not reach the higher leaves, and those who survived will mate and create more long necked giraffes. This example shows us ‘Survival of the Fittest.’
While the scientific world was always full of praise for this new theory, even the philosophers have started to pay attention as it changes the whole perception that people had of life. They are applying it to their thinking and even finding analogies with it.
One such philosophy, communism, has even begun to encounter changes. Marx and Engels, the two founders of communism, had earlier accepted the worldview portrayed in the book of Genesis. Now they are beginning to rethink the basic philosophy of communism. Darwin’s theory has led them to alter their worldview to one that leads to a philosophy based on atheism. The core idea that one day a violent revolution in which all commoners will rise and overthrow the rich, like the strong overthrowing the weak, is now fueled by the very concept of Natural Selection. Communism was once based on religion, the fact that God had created this world and that is what Karl Marx told us. Now all of this has changed. With Darwin now showing the world that it is possible God did not create all of this and that the world might have once been ‘communist’ has indeed changed the basis of communism. It is now possible that the world was always like this, that the strong had overthrown the weak, or the taller giraffe had gotten food and the shorter had not. Why should it not be again?

Marx is clearly very much impressed by the concept of Natural selection. He wishes to dedicate part of his next book, Das Kapital, to Charles Darwin. If the world was once ‘communist’ then why should it not be again says Karl Marx. The following eulogy of Friedrich Engels’ describes the relationship between these two great thinkers: 'Just as Darwin had discovered the law of evolution in organic nature so Marx discovered the law of evolution in human history'

A letter from Friedrich Engels

Well, here you go:


Friedrich Engels
September 12th, 1853



Dear Karl,
How are you these days? I do hope you are doing well. Are any of the other three babes born yet?
I am very happy that the Communist Manefesto is liked by the people and some people have actually begun to understand and accept our theory..
By the way, I have heard about a gentleman in America, Mr. John D. Rockefeller, who is a very successful businessman. I am worried that success stories like his will help the cause of capitalists and may aversely effect the spread of communism. If he becomes successful enough people will begin to forget our theories about communism and try to follow in his footsteps instead. I also heard that he is a philanthropist and has been donating to charitable causes since his first pay check! Such successes in the capitalist world will make it quite a bit harder for our cause to gain support. Do you know anything else about him? Along with that I would like to know how you think we should handle this situation. I do not know what will happen to our theory if he takes over communism with those success in the market world, but I am sure that the effect will not be positive. We can not let that happen!
All the things we have worked on, like Communism, need to be kept for their beneficial components. Our dream of Communism, the economic system where everyone has equal rights and everyone will get what they need, will crumble and it will surely affect the outcome of the world. Communism, a economic system that states that everyone will get what they need, that states that there is no difference in social status and everyone is equal; this idea will be overuled, overlooked and eventually tossed away like one would throw a broken record player away. Like the record player, Communism will be thought of as useless. You, out af all people, understand this better and I need reassurance from you more than ever at this time. I do hope you have a plan to counter his influence and minimize the damage.
I will see you soon and I hope to also see your newborn(s). In the mean time, waiting to hear from you and for your reassurance.

Your good friend,
Friedrich

P.S.
I sent you some extra money with this letter. I hope it comes to use.


Mr. Karl Marx
Ben ApartmentsDean Street, Soho quarter, London

1870's stock market simulation

To me I did not seem like a very successful business man because I thought I could have done better. I always made a stupid mistake which caused me to have to buy high spend low.
I think out of all the advice that you gave us, the one that applied to me the most is "You need to spend $ to make $." Although this seemed very obvious in the beginning it really was quite helpful. In the beginning I was reluctant to let go of large sums of money, afraid that if it did not work out I would go bankrupt but, eventually it hit me that if I don't spend the money I have I will not make as large sums as I would have if I had spent large sums.
Now that was the one that applied most to me but I have one thing to say about another piece of advice that you gave us. You said not to 'put all of our eggs in one basket' and you meant don't buy all of only one company, right. Well later when Lucas and I asked you how to get such a high amount as $10,166, you told us to put all of our eggs in the basket with the largest percentage of profit. This means that that piece of advice is false and not advisable.

Interview with Karl Marx

Well, here you go:

Karl Marx

Philosopher, social scientist, historian and revolutionary, Karl Marx is undoubtedly the most influential socialist thinker to emerge in the 19th century. Often called the father of communism, this scholar and political activist is a famous and important man, even though most scholars do not seem to pay much attention to his ideas.

As I was preparing myself to interview Mr Marx, I first decided to do a bit of research on his family.

I was surprised to find out that such an intelligent scholar was born in a simple middle class family. Karl Marx’s full name was Karl Heinrich Marx and he was bron in Trier, in the Kingdom of Prussia’s province of the Lower Rhine. He was the third of seven children of Hienrich and Hienrietta; Sophie and Hermann were older than Karl while Henriette, Louise, Emilie and Caroline were younger. Karl’s father, Hienrich, was born as a Jew having actually descended from a long line of rabbis. However, because the Prussian authoroties did not allow him to practice law as a Jew, Hienrich had to baptise and become Christian so that he could continue practicing law. He not only changed his religion but also had to change his name from Herschel Mordechai to Hienrich Marx. Karl’s marriage also seemed to be an interesting subject, but I wanted to hear that from the horses mouth itself.

Realizing, “This will be and amazing experience,” I shook his hand and, nervously began:

Mr. Marx, what do you think about capitalism and how it should be approached?
It seems he was anticipating this question. He came straight to the point.
I do not promote the idea of capitalism, as I believe that capitalism will eventually destroy itself and because of that it should not be followed. I believe that the contradictions within capitalism and/or the organized actions of the international working class will bring the end of capitalism. One of my famous quotes represents exactly that: "Communism is for us not a state of affairs which is to be established, an ideal to which reality [will] have to adjust itself. We call communism the real movement which abolishes the present state of things. The conditions of this movement result from the premises now in existence."
Hopefully these brilliant ideas of mine will create a major change in the workers’ movement.

You have written several books. Are they all about communism?
I have written many books, I think thirteen in all, he replied happily. If I remember correctly, I did write a few books about capitalism also.

Have you always been a philosopher?
I have not always been a philosopher, but I have always thought of life in the way that a philospher thinks - how it is meant to be lived and many other intriguing things that it rolls out. However, before becoming a philosopher, I was a journalist, then I became a author and actually wrote a book related to philosophy. Afterwards I became a journalist again, then an author again.

How were you educated?
I was educated at home until the age of thirteen. After graduating from the Trier Gymnasium, at the age of seventeen, I enrolled in the University of Bonn in 1835 to study law. There, I joined the Trier Tavern Club Drinking Society and at one point served as its president. I was interested in studying philosophy and literature, but my father would not allow it because he did not believe that I would be able to comfortably support myself in the future as a scholar.

And one last personal question, Mr. Marx. Our readers would like to know a bit about your marriage and personal life?
I was married to Jenny von Westphalen on June 19, 1843. Our engagement was kept secret at first, since both of our families objected to the engagement but, evetually we did get married. We already had had four children and were planning to have three more. Alas, at the end of it only three have survived. In the beginning, we lived in poverty and constant fear of creditorst. My good buddy Engels helped me financially on several occassions and I will always remain grateful to him.
As Mr Marx walked out of the door, I could only think of how the history would judge this great man with revolutionary ideas.

Mid-quarter evaluation

I think that I have met my goals very well. I still need improvement and I recognize that but, if any improvement is there, I think there is more in the first goal then there is in the second goal. My writing in the interview seems very good. But as always there is always room to improve.

Industrial Revolution. Good or bad??

You might be wondering wether the Industrial revolution had a positive or negative effect on the world. Well it is really a matter of opinion so you will have to tell me yours based on the information I will now present to you. The Industrial Revolution improved life for some people but for others it did no good.
For all of the children who had to crawl in the coal mines, completely risking their lives doing it, the industrial revolution was a problem. Just like them some adults who had to leave their farms to earn money this was a problem. Some more problems in the industrial revolution include:

• Greed for money


• Need for money


• Money based world


• Pollution on a major scale


• Poverty


• Bad living conditions


• Disease


• Pressure on Resources


• Etc.

All the managers and big bosses of these companies thought that the industrial revolution was one of the best things that has ever happened. I would have to agree with them but only to some degree. Here are some other benefits from the Industrial Revolution:

• Modernization


• Transportaion


• Suburbs


• Rise of the Middle Class


• Cheaper manufacturing


• Large scale manufacturing


• Cheaper products


• Easier Production


• Etc.

I think that overall the industrial revolution was bad or good depending on your opinion. And saying that I ask you to please give you opinion on wether the industrial revolution was good or bad.

Picture From: http://www.geocities.com