In Das Kapital, the concept ”communism” (”association of free men”) first appears as an imagination (Vorstellung), which serves as a contrast to capitalism, in order to critique the latter, i.e. to point out its limitation. But communism is also a desired value, thus has its practical implication. This implication is neither pure formal imperative, nor consists in vacuum, but rather is the goal (Zweck) of historical development. ”Communism” has thus tree functions in relation to (1) understanding or critique of capitalism, (2) praxis, and (3) interpretation of history.