(The prophetic socialism of Karl Marx)

Abstract

Martin Burber, in his book Paths in Utopia, defines it as an “image of what has to be” and classifies its different ways of presentation as a dichotomy.  He separates the religious ones (revelation) to the philosophical (ideas) and, at the same time, he distinguishes within each group, those of a prophetic characteristic - whose updating depends on men - from the apocalyptic ones - which will necessarily happen following an unchanging plan. He places Marxism within the apocalyptic philosophical utopias.  In this work it is brought into question the inclusion of Karl Marx in the group given by Buber, accepting the undeniable presence of utopianism but emphasizing the prophetic components in his thinking. Controversy is supported on issues which have been taken from interpreting a wide bibliographical corpus - made up by books, collected letters, articles, notes and political comments - which show the density of the philosophy of history that breaks both temporary homogeneity as the lineal course towards a predesigned aim from the centrality granted to a praxis category.