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.