The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State

Methodology and Conclusions

In «The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State», Friedrich Engels employs a historical-materialist approach to analyze the development of human society. He bases his work on the studies of Lewis Henry Morgan, who examined primitive societies and their evolution. Engels investigates changes in the structure of the family, property, and the state, linking them to economic factors and the development of productive forces. He argues that the family, private property, and the state arose as a result of changes in the economic base of society, transitioning from communal to private ownership, which led to class division and the emergence of the state as an instrument of class oppression. Engels' conclusions emphasize that changes in the economy and productive relations are the driving force of historical development, and that the state and law serve the interests of the ruling class.