Karl Marx's Zur Judenfrage

"On the Jewish Question" by Karl Marx is a controversial essay that critiques both Bruno Bauer's views on Jewish emancipation and the nature of rights in general.

Marx argues that political emancipation, such as granting Jews equal rights, is insufficient because it does not address the deeper issues of human alienation.

He posits that emancipation requires a transformation of society itself, leading to a state where individuals are no longer defined by their religious or economic identities.

Marx controversially associates Jews and Judaism with materialism and money, suggesting that true emancipation would involve overcoming these worldly aspects.

The essay remains a subject of intense debate, with some interpreting it as anti-Semitic and others viewing it as a critique of capitalism's dehumanizing effects.

It reflects Marx's broader critique of bourgeois society and his vision for a communist future.