Puru DubeyAIR 86 · CSE 2025 · 184 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
By Alienation, Karl Marx means the estrangement of man from the products of his labour as well as his own self.
In his Economic & political manuscripts, Marx explains how dominance of exchange value over use value, excessive specialisation degrades labour leading to Alienation. workers in factory don't even [own] the products that they produce leading to alienation.
Body · points and prose
ALIENATION AND WORKERS IN CAPITALISM
Capitalism's intrinsic feature is that it alienates workers as shown by Marx in various stages.
Alienation from products → workers have no right over products they produce. Eg: Jeans worker in Bangladesh does not get to wear it for herself.
Alienation from production → as the work becomes specialised, miniaturised and controlled by capitalist. Leading to phenomena like [Quiet quitting], great resignation.
Alienation from fellow workers → as seen in case of [gig workers] whose work environment does not have fellow worker.
Alienation from self → as work becomes a means to end not an end in itself - eg suicide by Ernst & Young professional.
Close · a summary
Karl Marx's critique of capitalism through alienation remains relevant even today.