A Free Course on Karl Marx’s Capital, Volume 1 from Yale University

From Yale professor Paul North comes a chapter-by-chapter study of Karl Marx’s Capital: Critique of Political Economy, Volume 1. According to the description that accompanies the course on YouTube, this “book from 1872 is still the best guide to the predatory economic and social system within which we live. The book solves five basic mysteries […]

6 April 2026 at 03:10 pm

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A Free Course on Karl Marx’s Capital, Volume 1 from Yale University

Yale University professor Paul North has recently released a free course on Karl Marx’s seminal work, Capital: Critique of Political Economy, Volume 1. This course, available on YouTube, offers a chapter-by-chapter analysis of Marx’s 1872 book, which remains a powerful critique of the economic and social systems that continue to shape our world today.

The course description highlights that Marx’s work addresses five fundamental mysteries that persist in our society. These mysteries include: the ongoing struggle between social classes, the subjugation of human beings by material things, the seemingly inexplicable process by which money can generate more money without adding value, the paradox of workers being forced to work harder for less return, and the difficulty of transforming the system for the better.

Professor North, who is also the co-editor of the new English translation and critical edition of Capital Volume 1, uses this text as the foundation for his course. The course consists of 19 lectures, which provide a comprehensive exploration of Marx’s ideas and their relevance to contemporary economic and social issues.

This free course is part of a growing collection of 1,700 Free Online Courses from Top Universities, offering learners an opportunity to engage with academic content from prestigious institutions without the need for enrollment or fees. For those interested in further exploring Marx’s Capital, the course also recommends checking out the related courses by David Harvey, another prominent scholar in the field.

In addition to the free course by Paul North, learners can also discover other resources related to Marx’s work, such as animated introductions to key concepts like “alienation” and explanations of Marx’s theories. These supplementary materials provide a more accessible entry point for those new to Marx’s ideas, making it easier to understand the relevance of his critiques in today’s world.

Overall, the free course on Karl Marx’s Capital, Volume 1, offers a valuable opportunity for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the economic and social systems that govern our lives. By breaking down Marx’s complex arguments into manageable chapters and providing a contemporary context for his ideas, Professor North’s course serves as a valuable resource for both academic and personal growth.

Source: Open Culture

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