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The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State
 
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The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State (Paperback)

by Friedrich Engels (Author), Evelyn Reed (Introduction)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Pathfinder; New edition edition (20 Nov 1972)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0873482611
  • ISBN-13: 978-0873482615
  • Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 13.4 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 296,018 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #50 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Government & Politics > Political Science & Ideology > Conservatism

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Product Description

Book Description

"An eternal being created human society as it is today, and submission to 'superiors' and 'authority' is imposed on the 'lower' classes by divine will." This suggestion, coming from the pulpit, platform and press, has hypnotized the minds of men and proves to be one of the strongest pillars of exploitation.

The history of the family dates from 1861, the year of the publication of Bachofen's "Mutterrecht" (maternal law) Engles makes the following propositions:

*That in the beginning people lived in unrestricted sexual intercourse, which he dubs, not very felicitously, hetarism.

*That such an intercourse excludes any absolutely certain means of determining parentage; that consequently descent could only be traced by the female line in compliance with maternal law -- and that this was universally practiced by all the nations of antiquity.

*That consequently women as mothers, being the only well known parents of younger generations, received a high tribute of respect and deference, amounting to a complete woman's rule (gynaicocracy), according to Bachofen's idea.

*That the transition to monogamy, reserving a certain woman exclusively to one man, implied the violation of the primeval religious law (i.e., practically a violation of the customary right of all other men to the same woman), which violation had to be atoned for its permission purchased by the surrender of the women to the public for a limited time. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.


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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, shame about the review, 20 Mar 2000
By A Customer
You would have thought that the official review could have at least have got the spelling of Engels' name correct.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Engels` masterpiece on the Origin of the Family, 29 Jun 2009
By CM Weston (Warsaw) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Engels wrote this book in 1884 - a year after the death of his longterm partner, Marx. It was influenced by some of Marx`s own writings - an example of the lively exchange of ideas between the two, and research published by an anthropologist of the time, Lewis H Morgan, contained in "Ancient Society".
Engels goes through the major epochs of man and woman`s coexistence from the time of 'Savagery' through 'Barbarism' to the epoch of 'Civilization', describing how woman`s role has changed due to economic developments - the rise of capitalism and the impact on society, in particular, women`s role and rights. For this, Engels turns to research conducted on American indians and other tribes, as well as tracing the history of the Athenian state, Rome and the German tribes.
It is quite a wideranging book in the subjects covered - touching upon the history of social relationships - the economic ascent of man and fall of woman, sex, social anthropology et al. It is also no wonder that this book attracts warm compliments from feminists with: "The overthrow of mother right was the world historic defeat of the female sex. The man seized the reins in the house also; the woman was degraded, enthralled, the slave of the man`s lust, a mere instrument for breeding children. The lowered position of women has become gradually embellished and dissembled and, in part, clothed in a milder form, but by no means abolished". Or: "The first division of labor is that between man and woman for child breeding".
But this is not all, Engels also touches on environmental issues towards the end of the book - he has already spotted the reverse side of unbridled economic development.
In addition, Engels lets loose his usual wry observations and humour - 'the principal industry of Verdun in the tenth century, that is, in the Holy Roman Empire,' he comments, 'was the manufacture of eunuchs, who were exported with great profit to Spain for the harems of the Moors.'
This is a thought provoking and entertaining work from a classic author.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, 18 Feb 2005
This book, although based on several others, tell us much about the origins of our matrimonial bonds and relations. It should be read by those who truly wish to know how our society was born. Many people tend to dislike marx and engels ideas because of "recent" events in russia(urss). Very good stuff. 5 stars
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