Socialism: Utopian and Scientific

Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) was a German philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary socialist. He was a lifelong friend and collaborator of Karl Marx; together, they developed Marxism, a socialist ideology which remains influential to this day. Engels originated many of the ideas that would become central to Marx’s writings, and vice versa. Engels is best known for his writings on socioeconomics, philosophy, and history.

Engels’s academic work is driven by his social, political, and economic values. Likewise, he is also highly opinionated on academic matters and spends much of Socialism: Utopian and Scientific interweaving intellectual abstraction and political rhetoric. This is best exemplified in his simultaneous respect for and dismissal of utopian socialism. This love-hate relationship is further complicated by his rallying call for a classless, stateless future. His reservations about utopianism are ultimately centered on their impractical means, as opposed to their lofty goals. 

Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German economist, philosopher, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. Along with Engels, he developed the Marxist school of socialism, of which he is the namesake. Today, he is considered one of the most influential figures in human history; his work is foundational to the development of modern social science and modern leftism.