Question

Marx has been a very influential thinker in Economics and other social sciences. Many schools of thought or branches of Marxism have emerged as a result of his writings.

One of these branches is Marxist Humanism. ​ It is a Marxism that primarily focuses on the early writings of Marx, especially the​ ​Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844​ in which Marx espoused his theory of alienation, as opposed to his later works, which are considered to be concerned more with his structural conception of capitalist society.

Alienation
a) Explain in your own words what Marx means by Alienation.
b) How this concept can help you to explain a local/global problem or something that you have experienced in your life?

Answer 1

a. Marx's theory of alienation describes the estrangement of people from aspects of their "species essence" as a consequence of living in a society of stratified social classes.

The alienation from self is the consequence of being a mechanistic part of a social class, the condition which estranges the human self from society.

Marx used this theory in the context of capitalistic mode of production to highlight that workers lose their right to think and build relationships as they desire in the capitalistic system. This is because they have to work for long hours in order to get paid and act according to the employers. This results in alienation.

b. The major problem people face is the problem of very meagre wages despite long working hours. On the other hand, the employers enjoy supernormal profits.

Low wages despite long working hours leads to the divide and workers then feel alienated in the working place because they have to constantly work according to the wishes of their employers.