Das Kapital Theme of Technology and Modernization

In Das Kapital, Karl Marx takes aim at the various ways capitalism improves technology and modernizes the organization of work. Yeah, he's not to thrilled about it. The tail end of the Industrial Revolution was fresh on his mind when he wrote the book—and what did he see? Bad working conditions, over-specialization, the replacement of workers by machines—basically, bad news. On the other hand, better technology means a better standard of living (for some, anyway). Is the trade-off worth it? See what the chief comrade has to say.

1. How do improvements in technology affect productivity, and how does that in turn affect value? What might the results for society be when the value of the means of sustenance (food, clothing, shelter) changes as a result of technology?
2. When did the modern era of capitalism begin? What's the crucial variable that allowed it to get started?
3. Capitalism took individual handicraft workers and put them in the single workshop for manufacture. Why this change in the organization of work? What's a contemporary example of this modernization process?

Advances in technology and modern forms of organizing labor improve life overall.

Advances in technology and modern forms of organizing labor oppress workers.