Karl Marx referred to those who own the means of production as __________ and those who earn a living by selling labor as __________.

Karl Marx's theoretical framework distinguishes between two primary classes in capitalist societies: those who own the means of production and those who provide labor to produce goods and services. He termed the owners of the means of production as "capitalists," which refers to individuals or entities that control resources necessary for producing wealth, such as factories, land, and capital. The second group, who earn a living by selling their labor, is referred to as "the working class." This group does not own the means of production and relies on working for wages to sustain themselves.

This classification is fundamental to Marx's analysis of class struggle, as he argued that the interests of capitalists and the working class are inherently opposed, leading to conflict within capitalist societies. This division underlines concepts such as exploitation and alienation, key themes in Marxist theory that analyze the dynamics between these two classes. Understanding this distinction helps comprehend concepts of economic power and social relationships that are pivotal in sociology.