PROLETARIAT Meaning and
Definition
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The term "proletariat" refers to a social class comprising individuals who sell their labor for wages in order to sustain their livelihood. Derived from the Latin word "proletarius," meaning "for the offspring," this concept originated in ancient Rome, where it represented the lowest class of citizens who possessed no property and only had their children to contribute to society. In modern times, the term is most commonly associated with history's proletarian movements, particularly during the industrial era.
Within the context of Marxist philosophy, the proletariat constitutes the working class that is subjected to the capitalist mode of production. Marx argued that this class is oppressed by the ruling bourgeoisie, who own the means of production and extract surplus value from the labor of the proletariat. The proletariat is seen as the revolutionary force capable of overthrowing the existing social order, dismantling capitalism, and establishing a classless society.
The characteristics defining the proletariat include ownership of no means of production, dependence on wages for survival, and being alienated from the products of their labor due to capitalist exploitation. This class often performs manual, repetitive, and low-skilled labor in factories, industries, or service sectors. As a group, the proletariat is viewed as having shared interests and a potential for class consciousness, particularly when they come together in labor unions or political movements advocating for workers' rights and egalitarian social change.
Overall, the proletariat represents the workers who sell their labor power to the capitalist class for wages, embodying the social class dynamic and struggle between the working masses and the capitalist elite.
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General beggary; the lower part of the lower orders of the people.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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Etymology of PROLETARIAT
The word "proletariat" is derived from the Latin term "proletarius", which refers to a member of the lowest social class in ancient Rome. In ancient Roman society, the term was used to describe citizens who were too poor to serve in the military but were known primarily for their ability to procreate (to produce offspring). The term "proletarius" itself is believed to come from the Latin word "proles", meaning offspring or children. The use of "proletariat" in its modern sense, referring to the working class, emerged in the mid-19th century during the rise of socialism and the development of class-based theories of society.
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