Marx's 1842 Critique of Property Laws in German Forests
What happened
About 150 years ago, Karl Marx published a series of articles in the *Rheinische Zeitung*, which are known as “Debates on the Law on Thefts of Wood” in English. These articles addressed the criminalization of traditional practices regarding German forests. Under changing property laws, forest owners were converting customary rights into strict private property claims, causing gatherings of fallen branches and deadwood to be redefined as theft.
From countercurrents.org
Why it matters
The writings illustrate how Marx viewed the impact of capitalism on the environment. The critique examines how the exploitation of the natural environment was enabled by shifts in property law, a theme that continues to be studied in relation to ecological issues.
Kohei Saito interprets Marx's perspective regarding ecological issues.
From countercurrents.org
Who's involved
- MarxThe central figure whose early writings are being analyzed regarding economic and environmental philosophy.