Comparison Of Karl Marx And Matthew Arnold :: essays research papers

Comparison of Karl Marx and Matthew ArnoldThrough their writing, Karl Marx and Matthew Arnold show their fenceviews on the importance of internal and external functions of agri goal. In thefirst chapter of floriculture and Anarchy, "Sweetness and Light", Arnold appointsculture as being responsible for the turn up of politics and society and as"the best knowledge and thought of the cartridge holder" (19). Matthew Arnolds culture isbased on two main aspects, religion and education. Karl Marx, however, powerfullycontrasts Arnolds ideas. Marx views culture as being derived from theadvancement of the sciences.     Matthew Arnolds definition of culture comes from "a mid-nineteenth-century Germanic nonion of culture which is founded upon his study of Goethe andSchiller" (19). He believed umpteen other cultures are based on the thought ofcuriosity and on scientific expansion. Arnold believed culture was based on theexpansion of the individ uals mind sole(prenominal) through education can a perfectculture be reached. In his writings, Arnold say that for a man to becultured he has to be versed in both religion and classic literature. AlthoughArnolds culture sought the advancement of the human mind he did not necessitypeople to get wrapped up in technology. "Faith in machinery is, I said, ourbesetting danger often in machinery most absurdly disproportioned to the barricadewhich this machinery" (23). Arnold believes his culture is "more interestingand more far-reaching than that other, which is founded solely on the scientificpassion for knowing" (21). Arnold believed that culture dealt with perfectionas he stated in "Sweetness and Light", "Culture is then properly describe not ashaving its creation in curiosity, but as having its origin in the love ofperfection it is a study of perfection" (21). Arnold besides says that culture isthe endeavor to make the moral and social characterist ics of individualsprevail. Because culture is a study of perfection, then it is also an "inwardcondition of the mind and spirit, not in an outward set of circumstances"(Arnold 23). Arnold states that, "In thus devising sweetness and light to becharacters of perfection, culture is of like spirit with metrical composition" (25).     Matthew Arnold felt that religion was an important aspect of culture.Arnold felt that when the reason of paragon prevailed all society will be cultured.As Arnold states, "Now, then, is the moment for culture to be of service,culture which believes in making reason and the will of god prevail, believes inperfection, is the study of perfection," (21). Marx states that the rulingclass of culture would be the bright and material force, he makes no