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Sociological Thought Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University

notes unit-9: origin of capitalism, theories of capitalistic
Development surplus Value and process of capitalism

contents
Objectives
Introduction
9.1 Subject Matter
9.2 Theory of Surplus Value
9.3 Summary
9.4 Keywords
9.5 Review Questions
9.6 Further Readings

objectives

After studying this unit, the students will be able to:
y To understand Marx’s criticism of Capitalist Society,
y Will know about the establishing of a society based on equality in place of the exploitative
capitalist system,
y Will have knowledge about the fundamental of the capitalist system, the theory of surplus
value.

introduction

The complete Marxist ideology is against capitalism. Capitalist society is a society in which “Man
exploits Man”. In such a society, the rich become richer, and the poor poorer. Capitalist society sucks
the blood of the poor masses and the workers/labourers. It grows feeding on them, it is on their labour
and its stays alive by taking advantage of their ignorance and lack of organization. Capitalist society
oppresses the very working–class which is the very foundation of its economic life, it exploits them,
and in so doing, digs its own grave. In other words it is slowly killing the goose that lays the golden
egg.... its given to understand that therefore capitalist society cannot last eternally; it invites its own
downfall. The fall of capitalist society is predetermined. This is the substance of the critical belief in
connection with capitalist society held by Marxists.
Capitalist society comes into being when the feudal society is nearing its end, and the reason is change
in the means of production. During the feudalistic age, land was the primary means of production;
but after the invention of machinery, the main means of production became machine and the mills
and factories etc. that used them. Those means of productions can be owned only by those who have
enough capital to buy these costly machines and establish the mill–factories. As society and the social
system is based on the power of capital, therefore such a society is called a capitalist society.

9.1 subject matter

From the point of view of production determines, the origin of capitalism is connected and related to
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productive capabilities. Capitalism appeared in Europe around 15 to 19 century. Just as capitalism

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