Beyond capitalist justice: the role of historical materialism in Marx’s theory of justice

Abstract

Although Karl Marx did not formulate an explicit, comprehensive theory of justice, he substantively engaged with the concept. Utilizing the analytical framework of historical materialism, Marx critically examined the capitalist notion of justice, thereby paving the way for the development of his own theoretical perspective. An understanding of Marx’s approach to justice necessitates an exploration of the role that historical materialism plays within it. The introduction of ‘historical man’ via historical materialism fundamentally shifts our perspective, shaping Marx’s conception of justice and laying the theoretical groundwork for its formulation. Moreover, historical materialism has profoundly transformed the methodology within justice theory, heralding a new paradigm in the field. Thus, the paradigmatic and methodological revolutions instigated by Marx’s historical materialism underscore the fundamental distinctions between his theory of justice and capitalist justice theories.