
Liberation Audio
What is alienation? The development and legacy of Marx’s early theory
Jan 13, 2022
This podcast explores Marx's theory of alienation and its impact on practical organizing. It discusses conflicting interpretations, the development of Marx's thought from his early manuscripts to his later work, and the concept of alienation in relation to human nature and capitalism. It also explores the importance of historically determined structures and the interconnectedness of things in Marx's theory.
17:20
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Quick takeaways
- Marx's theory of alienation explores the impact of capitalism on workers in terms of their estrangement from the product of their labor, their own activity, and their species being.
- Marx's theory highlights the need to move beyond preconceived notions of human nature and focus on the historical, economic, and social structures that shape humanity.
Deep dives
Marx's Theory of Alienation
Marx's theory of alienation explores the impact of capitalism on workers in terms of their estrangement from the product of their labor, their own activity, and their species being. He argues that in a capitalist society, workers are alienated from the fruits of their labor, as the results of production belong to the capitalist or landlord. Furthermore, workers are estranged from their own relationship to their work, making their labor an alien activity. This estrangement extends to the human essence, as individuals become separated from their life activity and their species being, thus leading to the estrangement of humans from one another.
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