[Includes full table of contents and cover]The basic philosophical thought of Marx, Engels and Lenin gathered together in the categories customary to Western philosophy.One of the leading American Marxist philosophers of his time and one of the editors of this book Howard Selsam said somewhere that the best way to understand the Marxist philosophy and world outlook is to hear from its great exponents themselves, i.e., Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and Mao. The present selection is designed to· acquaint the readers with the Marxist philosophy through the writings of Marx, . Engels and Lenin. These writings are the ones which laid·down the basic foundations of Marxist philosophy.Only through firsthand acquaintance can one understand why this particular philosophy has become a world phenomenon that is shaping the destinies of a third of mankind and influences both intellectuals and unlettered people everywhere. It safely can be said that no other philosophy has ever been studied so assiduously by so many people under such different circumstances. It is studied in universities, in rice fields, in factory schools, and on sugar plantations. In one land it is an authoritative creed; in another it is anathematised and persecuted. It arouses passionate loyalty or heated condemnation, but it is recognised, even by opponents, to be one of the most significant developments in modern thought.