This is one of the most respected books on Marx's philosophical thought. Wood explains Marx's views from a philosophical standpoint and defends him against common misunderstandings and criticisms. All the major philosophical topics in Marx's work are considered: the central concept of alienation; historical materialism and Marx's account of social classes; the nature and social function of morality; philosophical materialism and Marx's atheism; and Marx's use of the Hegelian dialectical method and the Marxian theory of value.
This second edition has been revised to include a new chapter on capitalist exploitation and new suggestions for further reading. Wood has also added a substantial new preface which looks at Marx's thought in light of the fall of the Soviet Union and our continued ambivalence towards capitalism, exploring Marx's continuing relevance in the twenty-first century.

Part 1 Alienation; Chapter 1 The Concept of Alienation; Chapter 2 The Human Essence; Chapter 3 Human Production; Chapter 4 Alienation and Capitalism; Part 2 Historical Materialism; Chapter 5 Production and Society; Chapter 6 Classes; Chapter 7 Materialist Explanations; Chapter 8 Materialism, Agency and Consciousness; Part 3 Marxism and Morality; Chapter 9 Marx on Right and Justice; Chapter 10 Morality as Ideology; Part 4 Philosophical Materialism; Chapter 11 Materialist Naturalism; Chapter 12 Materialist Realism; Part 5 The Dialectical Method; Chapter 13 The Hegelian Dialectic; Chapter 14 The Marxian Dialectic; Chapter 15 Dialectic in Capital; Chapter 16 Capitalist Exploitation; Chapter 17 Concluding Remark;