The Early Engels: Capitalism, Morality, and the Case Against Malthus

In this episode, Craig, Adam, Matt, and Will examine an early writing of Friedrich Engels entitled "Outlines of a Critique of Political Economy". How can we interpret the evidently moralistic language in Engels' work in light of the anti-moralism which characterizes his later writings with Marx, namely within "The German Ideology". In "Outlines", Engels offers a succinct but brilliant rendering of how the division of capital and labor precipitate other kinds of contradictions under the capitalist system.  Also, the cast identifies potentially problematic formulations within the text seem to fall outside Engels' intended methodology.  Other figures mentioned include Spinoza, Hegel, Feuerbach, Stirner, Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari. Radical Reprints: https://radicalreprints.neocities.org/History and Class Consciousness by Georg Lukács:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2229555618/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Contribute to Acid Horizon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcastSubscribe to us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/169wvvhi Happy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.comNew Revolts (Matt’s Blog): https://newrevolts.com/​Revolting Bodies (Will's Blog): https://revoltingbodies.com​Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/​Merch Store: http://www.crit-drip.comSupport the showSupport the podcast:AHRCCurrent classes at Acid Horizon Research Commons (AHRC): acidhorizonresearchcommons.comAHRC Course Archive: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/ahrc-course-archivesSubmit your course proposal: [email protected] LinksWebsite: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acidhorizonAcid Horizon on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcastBoycott Watkins Media: https://xenogothic.com/2025/03/17/boycott-watkins-statement/Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438Merch: http://www.crit-drip.comSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast platform: https://pod.link/1512615438LEPHT HAND: https://www.patreon.com/LEPHTHANDHappy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com​Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/ and https://thecominginsurrection.bandcamp.com/