This is one of the most respected books on Marx"s philosophical thought. Wood explains Marx"s views from a philosophical standpoint and defends Marx against common misunderstandings and criticisms of his views. 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. The 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.