Marx’ central ideas, basic value commitments, and the roots of his philosophical–dialectical materialism can already be found in his final high-school examinationtexts. “Nature herself has determined the sphere of activity in which the animal should move … To man, too, the Deity gave a general aim, that of ennobling mankind and himself, but he left it to man to seek the means by which this aim can be achieved; he left it to him to choose the position in society most suited to him, from which he can best uplift himself and society … (O)ur relations in society have to some extent already begun to be established before we are in a position to determine them. Our physical constitution itself is often a threatening obstacle, and left no one scoff at its rights … Worth is that which most of all uplifts a man, which imparts a higher nobility to his actions and all his endeavours … But the chief guide which must direct us … is the welfare of mankind and our own perfection … (M)an’s nature is so constituted that he can attain his own perfection only by working for the perfection, for the good, of his fellow men” (Marx 1975a , pp. 3–4 and 7–8, EB,pp. 591–594). It is surprising how exactly Marx delineates his research program as early as 1835. In another examination essay on religion, he states that people should liberate themselves from the bonds of superstition and try to perfect themselves and to achieve a harmonious moral attitude and supersede brute egotism