General information
Instructor
Here is more information about Prof. Lotz
Class Meetings
Days: MW
Time: 12:40 PM – 2 PM
Place: Student Rec and Wellness 1005
Office
Phone: 517.355.4490 [dept.])
Place: 500 South Kedzie Hall
Hours: MW, drop in, 10-11am, and online by appointment
Other Contact
E-mail: lotz@msu.edu
Home Phone: please ask
Webpage: http://christianlotz.info
Box
You will find my box in the front office of the philosophy department (SK 503)
Schedule
Introduction
Introduction
“The Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world; the point is to change it” (Marx, FB 11)
Aug 31, Introduction
Sep 2, Introduction
Feuerbach Thesis 11
Sep 7, Holiday
No Class
Alienation, Labor, Society
“The chief defect of all hitherto existing materialism […] is that the thing, reality, sensuousness, is conceived only in the form of the object or of contemplation, but not as sensuous human activity, practice, not subjectively.” (Marx, FB 1)
Sep 9, Philosophy as Critique and Revelation
Marx to Ruge, May 1843 (online)
Marx to Ruge, September 1843 (online)
Towards a Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right, 71-82
Sep 14, Human Essence
Theses on Feuerbach, 171-174
Sep 16, Alienation
Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, 83-95
Sep 21, No Class
Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, 83-95
Homework Assignment sent via email
Sep 23, No Class
Power Outage
Society and Social Reproduction
“But the human essence is no abstraction inherent in each single individual. In its reality it is the ensemble of the societal relations.” (Marx, FB 6)
“This is the only case in the history of modern philosophy that I can think of, in which, before Being and Time, we are told that we understand nothing of man if we compare his essence, nature or species to those of animals – or God, for that matter” (Rainer Schürmann)
Sep 28, Alienation
Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, 83-95
Sep 30, Labor and Society
Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, 95-104
Oct 5, Materialist Method
German Ideology, 175-187
Oct 7, Society&State
German Ideology, 187-198
Oct 12, Exam I
In-class essay exam (blue book)
Communism/History/Democracy/Technology
“By social we understand the co-operation of several individuals, no matter under what conditions, in what manner, and to what end. It follows from this that a certain mode of production, or industrial stage, is always combined with a certain mode of co-operation, or social stage, and this mode of co-operation is itself a ‘productive force’.” (Marx, The German Ideology)
Oct 14, Class, History, Technology
Communist Manifesto, 245-261 (CM, section I&II)
Letter to Sassoulitch, 623-629
Letter to Annenkov, 209-211
Voluntary for Marx nerds: Harvey, What Technology Reveals (passed out in class)
Oct 19, Egalitarianism vs. Individualism
Critique of the Gotha Program, 609-616
Free Individuals in Communist Societies, 207-208
Artistic Talent under Communism, 205-206
Oct 21, Workers’ Democracy
Civil War in France (on Paris Commune), 584-603; On Bakunin, 606-610
Oct 26, No Class
Fall Break
Capital
“without question, the most terrible missile that has yet been hurled at the heads of the bourgeoisie.” (Marx, letter, April 17, 1867)
Oct 28, Introduction
Marx, Capital, Prefaces, 89-106
Marx, Letter to Lasalle, 562-563
Voluntary for Marx nerds: Althusser, What is the Object of Capital? (passed out in class)
Nov 2, Production Process under Capital
Marx, Capital, chapter 7
Nov 4, Capital as Epoch
Marx, Capital, chapter 6
Nov 9, Value
Marx, Capital, chapter 1.1-1.3
Nov 11, Commodity Fetishism
Marx, Capital, chapter 1.4
Nov 16, Exchange and Commodity Circulation
Marx, Capital, chapter 2 + 3.2.a+b
Nov 18, tbd
Guest teacher
Nov 23, Exam 2
In-class essay exam
Nov 25, Thanksgiving
No Class
Nov 30, Capital as Process
Marx, Capital, chapter 4
Dec 2, Labor Process, Constant and Variable Capital
Marx, Capital, 8
Dec 7, Wrap Up
Dec 9, No Class
ProfLotz is at conference
Course Description
Those who do not move, do not feel their chains
(Rosa Luxemburg)
In this class we will discuss central aspects of Marx’s philosophy and social theory. We will focus on his conception of society and the role of labor, on a few political aspects of his philosophy, as well as on his main economic work, Capital, which still is a fascinating, but also a very difficult book. We will neither extensively deal with Marx’s political theory (revolution, party conception, labor movement, etc.) nor with his philosophy of history. Given time constraints, we also won’t be able to discuss in depth aspects of Capital that have received more attention in recent decades, such as ecological aspects or colonialism. We will exclusively deal with primary texts and exclude broader historical questions, such as the development of socialist philosophies in the 19th Century, or 20th Century developments within the tradition of Marxism. As such, this course presents Marx as a systematic thinker who should be studied again if we want to understand the world we live in. Check out this site as a good resource for Marxism in general: www.marxists.org
Note on this Class
I am running this class as a classical college class. There won’t be PowerPoints, target points, or summaries that you have to repeat. My suspicion is that this type of teaching will anyhow be soon a thing of the past. Put briefly, memorization is out, deep reading and discussion is in. We will sit around a large table and try to figure out why Marx is one of the greatest philosophers and theorists of all time who still inspires contemporary readers. Goal is to help you become critical thinkers, develop concepts for understanding the world we live in, and to become responsible citizens. I have studied Marx for a long time and will offer my positions and knowledge, as Nietzsche would have said, as a free gift to you. I do not have lecture notes. Accordingly, I am unable to share those with you!
Note on Digital Devices / Think with your Hand
The usage of phones, tablets or laptops is not permitted in this class. Please make sure that your phone is off (including its vibration). We will work with two books (McLellan Reader & Marx, Capital, Vol 1). You must purchase these texts beforehand. Make sure that you order them on time. Copies are available via AbeBooks and Amazon Marketplace. If you believe that you cannot take classes without electronic devices, drop this class.
You can take notes with your hand. Use a cool notebook (such as Leuchtturm – this is the only company I know of that advertises their completely overprized products with a reference to Kant…)! It has been proven that electronic devices in lead to psychosocial distraction and disengagement. A recent study puts it this way: “Younger participants exhibited higher dependence on AI tools and lower critical thinking scores compared to older participants.” One study “found that students who heavily relied on AI dialogue systems exhibited diminished decision-making and critical analysis abilities, as these systems allowed them to offload essential cognitive tasks.” Similarly, another study “reported that over-reliance on AI tools for academic tasks led to reduced problem-solving skills, with students demonstrating lower engagement in independent cognitive processing. ” (Gerlich, Michael. 2025. “AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking” Societies 15, no. 1: 6; read it here)
Note
This is a 300-level course in philosophy and, as such, contains difficult material and requires mature students. If you are not willing to study dense written material, listen to unusual lectures, and discuss ideas in an organized fashion, then you should not take this class. This class can be taken by students without prior knowledge in philosophy. You should not take this class if you are not an avid reader.
Course Goals
This lecture class should students introduce to
- the concept of labor as the central concept for social-political philosophy
- how to think about the relation between labor and society
- the materialist conception of history and Marx’s concept of society
- a few selected political ideas in Marx (though we will not focus on politics)
- basic concepts of Marx’s Capital, such as social categories, money, capital, technology, capital accumulation, and labor power
Note
Students should be aware of the fact that this course is based on difficult texts. Accordingly, this class requires self-responsible learners and an intense confrontation with the primary text. If you are not excited about the prospect of a daily confrontation with abstract and historical reflections, then you should not take this class. This class is not based on a set of fixed knowledge and, as such, is not based on a behavioral idea of education; rather, we will try to learn together and critically examine the material. The instructor of this class does not have anything to teach, but much to learn.
Required Texts
- McLellan, Karl Marx Selected Writings, Oxford University Press; please get the 2nd edition
- Marx, Capital, Vol 1, (Penguin Classics)
No digital editions are permitted!
Helpful Texts (purchase not required, but recommended)
- Balibar, Introduction to the Philosophy of Marx (Verso)
- Heinrich, Introduction to the Three Volumes of Capital (Monthly Review Press)
- Fromm, Marx’s Concept of Man (Continuum/Bloomsbury/Ungar)
Course Requirements
- daily reading and studying (around 5-10 pages, up to 50 per week)
- 10 weekly reading quizzes
- 2 in-class essay exams
- 5 response sheets (to be uploaded to D2L)
- homework assignments and spontaneous assignments in class
- participation
Note
Every academic misconduct, such as plagiarism, will – without exception – lead to a failing grade in class. Check the Ombudsman’s page (see also note below on plagiarism): https://www.msu.edu/~ombud/
Assignments
Note
The class and my lectures are solely based on the texts selected for class and require a thorough study and preparation of the material. I will primarily lecture on the readings, which will help you to more fully understand the texts. Therefore it is not sufficient for students to come to class without having prepared the texts. And indeed, in the assignments you have to demonstrate whether you have appropriately prepared the readings selected for each lecture.
Make-Up Assignments
Students who need to miss assignments for excusable reasons, such as a death in their families, MSU related business, emergency weather conditions, or foreseeable medical reasons, must inform me ahead of time, and will be permitted to make up assignments. I will only accept official doctor notes (no faxes, no emails) or letters from other professors. Unfortunately I am unable to accept any other reasons than those mentioned.
Attendance
To get a good grade in this class, regular attendance is required. I will not call roll. Hence, it is up to you to come to class or not. However, if you do not come to class on a regular basis and participate in the class discussion, it is impossible for you to achieve a good grade in this class; so coming to class is your responsibility and your call. If you choose to attend class, please come on time, turn off cell phones and other electronic devices that interfere with your (and others’) concentration, have the reading prepared and be ready to participate. If you are not prepared, do not bother showing up. It is a sign of disrespect to your peers and the instructor to attend class unprepared. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain class notes from a fellow student and to catch up on reading. Nevertheless, please be aware that you should not make me responsible for a failure that results out of your decision. You should be aware that chances to master this class are minimal, if you do not show up for class or if you do not prepare the readings (=studying).
Reading Quizzes
Given recent negative experience with student’s unwillingness to read and study primary material, I will assign reading quizzes. Quizzes cannot be made up (except in cases mentioned above).
Homework Assignments
From time to time I will send out via email weekend homework assignments; usually a short writing prompt in relation to either lecture or video material online, or in relation to our readings. Given that these homework assignments are always due on Mondays, I will not accept late turn-ins. There is plenty of time for you to respond to the task, given that I usually send this out on time.
Unannounced Assignments
There might be – from time to time – spontaneously assigned group assignments in class. Students who do not attend class (and have no medical documentation) will lose all points.
Response Sheets
Every student is asked to submit 5 class response sheets during the semester. You decide when you’d like to turn in a response sheet. Response sheets must be submitted to D2L by the end of the day of the selected class. Late submissions will not be accepted. Please use the folllwing form for all 5 of your responses.
Download response sheet (I will only accept answers that are given on this form)
Note
You are not allowed to turn in response sheets on Dec 7!
Course Evaluation
Assignments
| 2 in class blue book exams | 20 points |
| Participation | 10 points |
| Homework assignments, unannounced group assignments | 25 points |
| 10 Reading Quizzes | 20 points |
| 5 response sheets | 25 points |
| ———— | |
| 100 points | |
Grading
| 4.0 (=A) | 100 – 93 |
| 3.5 | 92 – 87 |
| 3 (=B) | 86 – 82 |
| 2.5 | 81 – 77 |
| 2 (=C) | 76 – 72 |
| 1.5 | 71 – 65 |
| 1.0 (=D) | 64 – 60 |
| 0.0 | < 60 |
GENERIC SYLLABUS (might not be applicable to each class)
Laptop/Cell Phone/Tablet Policy
You are not permitted to use laptops or cell phones in class, unless needed for medical reasons. Flat devices, such as tablets, are permitted if you have purchased the literature required for class electronically. Please do not text under the table. Cell phones should be removed from tables. Failure to follow this policy will lead to unannounced assignments in class or loss of points (at the digression of the instructor).
Class Attendance
As mentioned above, I do not employ in my classes a class attendance policy. Having said this, you should be aware that class attendance is very important. When engaging in a philosophical and humanistic dialogue it is necessary to be an active and present participant in the ongoing discussion. If you miss class please do not email me asking if you missed anything important. Every class is important. You should get a study buddy for the class; a student in class who will inform you of what you missed. If you miss a class you can come to my office hours or make an appointment to discuss the material, providing you have read the material and you simply want to see if your understanding of the material is on target. Time in office hours will not be used to repeat the class lectures.
Grading Criteria + Paper Writing Tips
Check out this page for grading criteria, example of assignments, etc.
Online Research Sources
Unfortunately, some people think that the internet as such is a reliable source of information. If you decide to use online sources for additional information or your paper then do not just use one of the common internet search engines, such as Google; rather, use reliable academic sources, such as Britannica Online, or the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The Internet Ecyclopedia of Philosophy isn’t very good, but still acceptable. Check out MSU’s library resources! And, as with other sources, you must cite any online sources to which you refer in your essay.
Writing Center Information
MSU’s writing center offers excellent help on all matters regarding writing and learning. Check the website at http://writing.msu.edu for an overview and hours. For more information, please call 517.432.3610 or send an e-mail to writing@msu.edu.
Grief Absence Policy
I follow MSU’s general grief absence policy, which can be found here.
Integrity of Scholarship and Grades (Plagiarism)
The following statement of University policy addresses principles and procedures to be used in instances of academic dishonesty, violations of professional standards, and falsification of academic or admission records, herein after referred to as academic misconduct. [See General Student Regulation 1.00, Protection of Scholarship and Grades.]
Academic Honesty
Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states that “The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards.” In addition, the (insert name of unit offering course) adheres to the policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. (See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide and/or the MSU Web site: www.msu.edu) Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments, including homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source. You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit course work completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course. Students who violate MSU rules may receive a penalty grade, including but not limited to a failing grade on the assignment or in the course. Contact your instructor if you are unsure about the appropriateness of your course work. (See also https://www.msu.edu/~ombud/)
Plagiarism, from the Ombudsman’s page
Plagiarism (from the Latin plagiarius, an abductor, and plagiare, to steal) is defined by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on Misconduct in Research (take that!) as “ . . . the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results or words without giving appropriate credit.”
Accidental or Unintentional
One may not even know that they are plagiarizing. It is the student’s responsibility to make certain that they understand the difference between quoting and paraphrasing, as well as the proper way to cite material.
Blatant
Here, students are well aware that they are plagiarizing. Purposefully using someone else’s ideas or work without proper acknowledgment is plagiarism. This includes turning in borrowed or bought research papers as one’s own.
Self
Turning in the same term paper (or substantially the same paper) for two courses without getting permission from one’s instructor is plagiarism.
SIRS Evaluations
Michigan State University takes seriously the opinion of students in the evaluation of the effectiveness of instruction and has implemented the Student Instructional Rating System (SIRS) to gather student feedback (https://sirsonline.msu.edu). This course utilizes the online SIRS system, and you will receive an e-mail during the last two weeks of class asking you to fill out the SIRS web form at your convenience. In addition, participation in the online SIRS system involves grade sequestration, which means that the final grade for this course will not be accessible on STUINFO during the week following the submission of grades for this course unless the SIRS online form has been completed. Alternatively, you have the option on the SIRS website to decline to participate in the evaluation of the course. We hope, however, that you will be willing to give us your frank and constructive feedback so that we may instruct students even better in the future. If you access the online SIRS website and complete the online SIRS form or decline to participate, you will receive the final grade in this course as usual once final grades are submitted.
Social Media and Sharing of Course Materials
As members of a learning community, students are expected to respect the intellectual property of course instructors. All course materials presented to students are the copyrighted property of the course instructor, Recordings are not permitted.
Student Support Program (SSP)
Michigan State University is offering all MSU students access to counseling support 24/7/365 through My SSP: Student Support Program. My SSP is free to all MSU students. My SSP is confidential, and can help with:
- Adapting to new challenges
- Being successful at school
- Relationships with friends and family
- Practical issues with studying
- Stress, sadness, loneliness, and more
The My SSP professional counselors are available to help anytime, anywhere with:
- Immediate support by phone and chat
- Ongoing support by appointment via phone and video
- In addition, culturally relevant support is available in the language of the caller’s choice.
There are multiple options for connecting with a My SSP counselor:
- Download the free My SSP app on Google Play or iTunes
- Chat online at http://us.myissp.com
- Call 1-866-743-7732
- From outside North America, call 001.416.380.657
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities should contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities to establish reasonable accommodations. For an appointment with a counselor, call 353-9642 (voice) or 355-1293 (TTY)
Drops and Adds
The last day to add this course is the end of the first week of classes. The last day to drop this course with a 100 percent refund and no grade reported is (see Academic Calendar). The last day to drop this course with no refund and no grade reported is (see Academic Calendar). You should immediately make a copy of your amended schedule to verify you have added or dropped this course.
Note on Attendance
Students who fail to attend the first four class sessions or class by the fifth day of the semester, whichever occurs first, may be dropped from the course.
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