 Marx's philosophy of history can seem like a deterministic materialism that ignores ideas and passes no judgment on the change it describes.  However, this picture is incomplete.  First of all, Marx thinks that consciousness of historical trends will guide at least some of the future revolutionaries (1848, 481).  Second, Marx clearly thinks that communism is superior to capitalism because it eliminates barriers to freedom such as alienation and exploitation and replaces them with a community of free producers (1845, 197).  Marx's early writings—published after his death—show that the value of freedom was as central a concern for him as it was for Kant or Hegel. 