Comparing Carel Kapek's Manifesto And Rur

In his Manifesto, Carl Marx heavily criticizes machines, calling them demons that are just another tool of the capitalist, to make more profit. He strongly advocates against these machines, urging the workforce to revolt against the machines and their owners. When looked at today, Marx’s criticism holds up surprisingly well in some areas, but he far oversteps bounds in both his conclusions and his call to action. One great example of Marx’s warning about machines taken to its fullest extent is Carel Kapek’s RUR. This novel warns of the dangers of automation by showing robots that replace human workers, and eventually revolt, killing all humans on earth. These robot’s thus are the demons that Marx warned about, they are machines that lead to the end of humanity itself. It shows one possible future where Marx’s fears came true.

Perhaps the part Marx got the most right is his claim that machines only exist to give the owners surplus value, and along with that a factory, including the people is becoming one giant machine. This is very accurate. Companies will automate any part of their process as soon as an excel spreadsheet tell them it will save them money. Factory workers have been abandoned in hopes of profit. And the modern factory has become one giant machine. Worker are given little to no discretion in their actions, rather completing the same process over and over until their shift is done. So, Marx is right in the sense that automation has restricted manufacturing jobs, putting those workers in a perilous situation. Marx is also incredibly prescient in his prediction of our growing reliance on automation, and man’s melding with technology, with everyone unable to do their jobs without their machines, whether that machine is a MacBook or a rivet