The writings of Karl Marx (1818-1883) have left an indelible mark not only on the understanding of economics and political thought but the very lives of millions of people, for better or worse, in the twentieth century and beyond. Trained as a philosopher and steeped in the thought of Hegel and German idealism, Marx turned away from philosophy in his mid-twenties towards politics, economics and history. Yet it is arguably Marx the philosopher that endures and to which this outstanding introduction is devoted.

Brian Leiter and Jaime Edwards begin with an overview of Marx''s life and intellectual development, including his early years as a journalist in Germany before his exile in London. They then introduce and assess the fundamental elements of Marx’s though:

• Marx’s theory of history and the ideas and arguments of historical materialism
• Class conflict, the state and the Communist revolution
• Marx’s theory of economics, especially the labour theory of value, and his prediction of the collapse of capitalism
• The nature and role of ideology in Marx’s thought
• Marx’s theory of human nature and the good life, including his arguments concerning alienation
• Marx’s legacy and influence, including Western Marxism and the birth of The Frankfurt School.

Including chapter summaries, annotated further reading and a glossary of technical terms, this is an indispensable introduction to Marx''s philosophical thought. It will also be extremely useful to those in related disciplines such as politics, sociology, history and political economy.