Marx's Theory of Alienation: Concepts and Forms
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Marx's Theory of Alienation and its Forms
Marx's critique of Ludwig Feuerbach and his engagement with Hegel's idealist philosophy were crucial in developing his interpretations of the dialectic.
Hegel's Alienation of the Idea
For Hegel, reality is the Idea. Within this Idea, the subject confronts the object, encompassing the activities of the spirit. Through this process, the alienated spirit reconciles with itself. Alienation, in this context, is a necessary step to achieve the identification of subject and object.
Feuerbach's Religious Alienation
For Feuerbach, reality is matter, and more specifically, the generic human being. The alienation of the human being is religious. Therefore, understanding religious alienation is important, but this alienation must then be overcome for humanity to reconcile with itself.
Marx's Socio-Economic Alienation
For Marx, the subject of history is humanity, and labor is humanity's creative activity. It is necessary to dismantle or transform capitalist society. What characterizes capitalism is a particular mode of production that establishes relations of production between two primary classes: the ruling class (bourgeoisie) and the proletarian workers.
Alienation from the Product of Labor
The worker's labor is projected onto the products of their work, humanizing the material. However, the worker, as the subject of their labor, becomes separated from themselves. Thus, the worker is alienated from the very product they create.
Alienation in the Act of Production
Under capitalism, labor becomes estranged, leading to the alienation of human essence. The worker only feels free when engaging in animalistic functions like eating, drinking, or procreating, rather than in their truly human functions.
Alienation from the Means of Production and the Capitalist
When the worker sells their labor to another, they become an object of exploitation. The worker sells their productive power, which the owner of the means of production then uses to manage their business. The human relations established between employer and employee become troubled. This dynamic creates two distinct classes: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. If the product of labor does not return to the worker, they remain alienated.
Alienation from Other Human Beings
Human beings are divided into exploiters and exploited, fostering alienated relationships among individuals.
Conclusion on Alienation
All other forms of alienation find their origin and explanation in economic alienation.
Marxist Humanism
Marxist humanism affirms that humanity is an end in itself. It stands as a critique of bourgeois humanism. Marx's analysis of history reveals an economic organization that enslaves and alienates humanity.