. Quite clearly, constant upheaval and violence is not a good thing, but is detrimental to both the individual and society.However, in order to institute communism, which is the greatest good according to Marx, a revolution is necessary. Revolution does not necessarily mean violence. However, in this case violence will be difficult to avoid , and Marx state that violence may be necessary. Marx wrote several passage regarding this. He declares that, "The proletariat, the lowest stratum of our present society, cannot stir, cannot raise itself up, without the whole superincumbent strata of official society being sprung into the air" (21). What is being described here is the mandatory reconditioning of the mind; a complete reversal in thought and society. Marx then describes the first step in this revolution. "We have seen above, that the first step in the revolution by the working class, is to raise the proletariat to the position of ruling class, to win the battle of democracy" (31). So it is clear that the first step is to raise the proletariat to the ruling class, but how is this done? Marx writes that "...we traced the more or less veiled civil war, raging within existing society, up to the point where that war breaks out into open revolution, and where the violent overthrow of the bourgeoisie lays the foundation for the sway of the proletariat (21-22). He speaks directly of violence when he says that "If the proletariat during its contest with the bourgeoisie is compelled, by the force of circumstances, to organize itself as a class, if, by means of a revolution, it makes itself the ruling class, and as such, sweeps a way by force the old condition of production..." (32). If the proletariat is forced to violence, then violence should be taken, because it is for the greater good. Marx puts it all together in one final statement. "In short, the Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social an...
