Karl Marx and his Theory of Alienation

Paper Summary:

This paper discusess Karl Marx and his theory of alienation. It first discusses the causes of alienation and the process that occurs. The paper then specifically discusses why alienation has become a general phenomenon in the postmodern world. The paper concludes that Marx's theory of alienation is even more valid at present than it was for the contemporary situation that he tried to describe.

From the Paper:

"Also, through his labor or his employment, man is obviously cut from his own activity. While a man does have a function in the modern system, he does not have direct access to the results of own work. The examples for alienation provided by the modern society are almost inexhaustible: the social and economical system is now more complicated than ever. Any work performed by an individual is now only a small part of a huge system that serves all kinds of interests. Man cannot exist as an individual outside society, since he is compelled to live and work in a certain way. More than the fact that the individual is now subjected to more and more laws, the laws are moreover abstract and impersonal and a man cannot get a personal response to any of his actions."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kain, Philip J. "Marx, housework, and alienation." Hypatia 8.n1 (Wntr 1993): 121(24).
• Marx, Karl. Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844. New York: Prometheus Books, 1988.
• The Theory of Alienation. http://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/a/l.htm#alienation
• Weber, Max. The Theory Of Social And Economic Organization. New York: Free Press, 1997.

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