Define Class (in the Philosophy of Marx).

In the philosophy of Karl Marx, a class is a socio-economic category defined by an individual's relationship to the means of production within a given mode of production. Marx identified two primary classes in capitalist societies: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

1. Bourgeoisie:
   The bourgeoisie, or capitalist class, owns and controls the means of production, including factories, land, and resources. They accumulate wealth through the exploitation of labor, controlling the production process and dominating economic and political structures.

2. Proletariat:
   The proletariat, or working class, lacks ownership of the means of production and must sell their labor power to the bourgeoisie for a wage. Marx viewed the proletariat as the class that produces the wealth of society but is subjected to exploitation and alienation within the capitalist system.

Marx's class analysis is grounded in the dialectical relationship between these two classes, where their conflicting interests and struggles drive historical change. He envisioned a historical process where the proletariat, recognizing its exploitation, would engage in class struggle to overthrow the bourgeoisie and establish a classless, communist society, where the means of production would be collectively owned and controlled. Marx's conceptualization of class is integral to his broader critique of capitalism and his vision of a revolutionary transformation of society.