On Marx’s Theory of Civil Society and Its Formation

Civil society is a terminology with long history and rich connotation. Since its emergence, its meaning has kept changing. Since modern times, Lock and Hegel had deep understanding of civil society, and Hegel developed Lock’s view. Marx sublated Hegel’s theory of civil society. He not only correctively pointed out that Hegel had inverted the relationship between civil society and political state, but also scientifically elaborated the intension and extension of the concept of civil society. Marx’s theory of civil society later developed more into a criticism in principle of reality.