Who is Friedrich Engels in Philosophy?
Friedrich Engels was a German philosopher, political theorist and revolutionary, known mainly for being the co-author of “The Communist Manifesto” together with Karl Marx. Born on November 28, 1820, in Barmen, Germany, Engels had a significant influence on the development of Marxist thought and the formation of the international labor movement.
The Life of Friedrich Engels
Engels was born into a bourgeois family and, from an early age, came into contact with the working conditions and social inequalities of the time. He studied diligently and, in 1838, entered the University of Berlin to study philosophy. It was at this time that he became involved with the Young Hegelians movement, who sought to reinterpret Hegel's philosophy in a more critical and progressive way.
In 1842, Engels moved to Manchester, England, to work in his father's factory. It was in this city that he had the opportunity to closely study the living and working conditions of the working class. This experience had a profound impact on his worldview and led him to become increasingly involved in the labor movement.
The Partnership with Karl Marx
In 1844, Engels met Karl Marx in Paris, and the two quickly became friends and collaborators. Together, they developed a profound critique of capitalism and developed the theory of historical materialism, which postulates that social changes are driven primarily by relations of production and class struggle.
Engels and Marx worked together on several writings, the most famous of which was “The Communist Manifesto”, published in 1848. In this work, they exposed their ideas about the nature of capitalism, the exploitation of the working class and the need for a proletarian revolution to the construction of a classless society.
Engels' Philosophical Contributions
In addition to his collaboration with Marx, Engels also made important contributions to philosophy on his own. He developed the theory of dialectical materialism, which seeks to understand reality as a process in constant transformation, driven by internal contradictions.
Engels also wrote extensively on history and economics, seeking to provide a scientific basis for the analysis of human societies. His work “The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State” is considered one of the first attempts to apply historical materialism to understanding the evolution of social institutions.
The Legacy of Friedrich Engels
Engels' work had a lasting impact on philosophy, politics and the labor movement. His ideas about class struggle, exploitation and the need for a proletarian revolution continue to influence thinkers and activists to this day.
After Marx's death in 1883, Engels dedicated himself to organizing and publishing his friend's writings. He also wrote a number of works, including “The Role of Labor in the Transformation of Ape into Man” and “Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy.”
Engels died on August 5, 1895, in London, leaving a legacy of critical thinking and commitment to the emancipation of the working class. His contribution to philosophy and the socialist movement is undeniable, and his work continues to be studied and debated by scholars around the world.
