Similarities Between Karl Marx And Edmund Burke

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Edmund Burke, Karl Marx, and the Death of Chivalry Edmund Burke lamented the death of chivalry in Reflections on the Revolution in France in many ways, whereas Marx praised the death of chivalry in The Communist Manifesto. Burke wrote that with the age of chivalry dying, the “glory of Europe has been extinguished forever” (446, Burke). Meanwhile, Karl Marx wrote about how chivalry and the bourgeoisie were horrible to begin with. Marx saw the system as exploitation “veiled by religious and political illusions”. Burke believed that the end of chivalry would be devastating for Europe, whereas Marx believed that it already was devastating enough. Burke said that it is chivalry that “has given its character to Europe” (447, Burke), and …show more content…

This quote is dire to his argument as to why the death of chivalry is a negative thing. Burke believes that the European world depended on gentlemen, which the code of chivalry produced. Without the code of chivalry, there would be no set way as to how a gentleman should act. Marx saw chivalry as a problem of exploitation for Europe. Meanwhile, Burke saw chivalry as being vital to civilized society. Marx believed that even though the bourgeoisie played a prominent role in history, it’s impact was predominantly negative. In Marx's’ words, “the bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations”. Marx said that wherever there is a bourgeoisie, the relationships between the members of that society break down. We see the population split up into classes and nobility, which Marx

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