Inequality and exploitation are the only path to a moral society

 Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

There is virtually no convergence between the core theories of Karl Marx and Ludwig von Mises; they represent fundamentally opposing economic and political paradigms. Mises was a staunch critic of Marx and a leading advocate for free-market capitalism, private property, and limited government, while Marx was the architect of the theory of class conflict that called for the abolition of capitalism and the establishment of a classless, communist society. 

Their disagreements spanned the fundamental aspects of economic theory: 

• Theory of Value: Marx adhered to a version of the labor theory of value, which held that a commodity's value is determined by the amount of labor embodied in it. Mises and the Austrian School, in contrast, championed the subjective theory of value, which posits that value is based on individual, subjective valuations and preferences.
• Economic Calculation: Mises famously argued that rational economic calculation is impossible under socialism because the absence of private property in the means of production eliminates market prices for capital goods, which are necessary signals for efficient resource allocation. Marx, by contrast, scoffed at the idea of creating "blueprints" for a future socialist society and devoted virtually no attention to its economic institutions, believing that a planned economy would naturally be more rational and efficient than the "anarchy" of the market.
• Class Conflict vs. Harmony: Marx viewed capitalism as a system inherently driven by class conflict between the bourgeoisie (owners) and the proletariat (workers). Mises, drawing on the subjective theory of value, saw capitalism as a system based on the harmony of interests of all participants, where individuals voluntarily cooperate through the division of labor.
• Role of the State: Marx envisioned the state eventually withering away in a communist society, but saw a strong, potentially coercive, state apparatus as necessary for the transition period (the "dictatorship of the proletariat"). Mises viewed government as a necessary institution for maintaining peace and the framework for social cooperation but insisted that freedom is found in the sphere where the government does not interfere. He was a vocal opponent of any government intervention, viewing "middle-of-the-road" policies as leading inevitably to full socialism. 

In summary, rather than a convergence, the relationship between Marx and Mises is defined by a deep and irreconcilable ideological and theoretical chasm, representing two diametrically opposed visions for society and the organization of economic life.

- GoogleAI 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Any+convergence+between+Marx+and+Mises

Marx and Ludwig von Mises have fundamentally opposing ethical and economic frameworks, and attempts to find common ground reveal their deep disagreements rather than a meeting of basic ethics. 

Fundamental Ethical Divergence

• Marxist Ethics (Class-based and Humanist): Marx's (and subsequent Marxists') ethics are generally viewed as arising from a critique of the exploitation and alienation inherent in capitalism, which treats human labor as a mere commodity. The core ethical imperative is the emancipation of the working class and the realization of full human potential (species-being) in a future classless, stateless society where individuals are treated as ends, not means. Morality is seen as historically and socially conditioned, ultimately aiming for a universal human thriving beyond class interests.
• Misesian Ethics (Individualist and Utilitarian): Mises was a staunch advocate of classical liberalism, rooting his ethics in individual liberty, private property, and free markets. His framework is often interpreted through a utilitarian lens, arguing that the market economy, based on voluntary exchange and the price system, is the only way to achieve rational economic calculation, coordinate human action, and ultimately lead to the greatest peace and prosperity for all individuals. He viewed the harmony of interests within capitalism as morally superior to the inherent conflict of class struggle. 

No Common Ground

The two thinkers do not meet at a "basic ethics" because their foundational views of human nature, society, and the role of the economy are diametrically opposed: 

• The Role of the State: Marx envisioned a future stateless society after a transitional phase of collective ownership. Mises advocated for a limited state whose sole purpose is to protect private property and enforce contracts, enabling the free market to function.
• Conception of Value: Marx's economics relied on the labor theory of value, which posits that labor is the source of all value and surplus value is exploitation. Mises adhered to the subjective theory of value, arguing that value is an expression of individual preferences and choices, making the market the only mechanism to determine rational prices and allocate resources.
• View of Social Order: Marx saw capitalism as a system of inherent class antagonism leading to conflict and crisis. Mises saw the free market as a cooperative system based on the division of labor, where the interests of all participants are harmonized through voluntary exchange. 

In essence, what one considered a moral abomination (exploitation of labor, alienation) the other considered an unfortunate mischaracterization of a system that provided the only path to a moral (prosperous and free) society. Their ethical foundations are a source of intense ideological conflict, not consensus.

- GoogleAI

https://www.google.com/search?q=Marx+and+Mises%3A+they+must+be+meeting+at+some+basic+ethics