“The human richness of medieval life, still
lingering in preindustrial places like Trier
(Germany), had given way to the industrial
urban nightmare such as could be witnessed
from student attic windows in Berlin and Paris.
Humanity had been dehumanized. Individual
freedoms had been harnessed to free-trade,
the very factor which according to Adam Smith
allowed the invisible hand of the market do
its work providing benefit for all.” Here
for the first time, was a trenchant analysis
that was diametrically opposed to classical
economics. “The victory of the proletariat
would bring about the first classless society.
The market, free-trade, these were for the
benefit of the capitalist at the expense of
the proletariat who were simply exploited.
There was no point in reform, the only answer
lay in the overthrow of capitalism.”
