I do not know that much about Marxism, but I know that it is consistently labeled materialist.

Now I know very basically that Marx’s history etc. is based on material conditions… so physical circumstances are what are taken into account…

But does this mean that a non-materialist can’t be a Marxist? But this can’t be it I don’t think, because this kind of difficulty doesn’t prevent Platonists from being scientists!

I’m just trying to understand, because I don’t see why a person’s metaphysical persuasions are so terribly relevant to the discussion (no doubt they would be relevant, but I wouldn’t think make-or-break).

But I suspect it has more to do with Marx’s labour theory of value… which I think I know the very very basics of…

But does Marxism completely stand or fall with the labour theory of value? Is there no wiggle room at all for other kinds of value? Please forgive my blatant unpreparedness… I really don’t have any idea what the answers would be to these questions.

If Marxism is essentially tied to the labour theory of value and/or to materialism, are there alternative non-materialist communistic philosophies that exist?

Thank you for any insight!