Karl Marx 's Influence On Society

The Marx’s theory of alienation was based on antagonism that things that are related together and are in harmony as well as social separation of man from aspect of man’s nature. One can only be left to ponder if alienation is a systematic result of capitalism. Predominance of private ownership of means of production and exploitation of wage labor all characterize alienation, therefore, alienation is the culmination of capitalism.

Karl Marx was a strong critic of capitalism, he spent a large part of his life writing and philosophizing for the down fall of capitalism. Through he was also interested in studying the nature of the society and relations. His tried to uncover the force and corruption that lies under modern human interaction and class struggle. Marxian notion of a person is someone who works; this is because he believed work is the only thing that keeps humans in touch to reality. Marx in his concept of alienation tried to develop a conception of how human feels and think, what motives man, influence man in his struggle through life to make a living. Marx tries to use his theory of alienation to solve societal problems such as class

Marx's concepts were thought to be so extreme that he was deemed a visionary to revolutionists and deemed a threat by leaders of state governments. Karl Marx held that social class dictated one's social life and who were the bourgeoisie and proletariat. Karl Marx's work has had a tremendous impact on the field of sociology in that his views set the stage for examining how one's social class has a first-hand impact on one's life experiences and life chances. Marx's work also opened the door for many differing perspectives on the issue of the wealthy and the poor in society. One of Marx's main points held that one's social class was the greatest predictor and dictated one's social life.

The German political philosopher and revolutionary, Karl Marx is best known for his radical concepts of society. His socialist views are best seen in his work Communist Manifesto. As one of the most influential thinkers of all times, he was able to convey revolutionary ideas in a manner that all could understand. Due to its comprehendible nature and usefulness to the people of his time this document was widely popular among commoners of the Nineteenth Century. In fact some historians refer to the Manifesto as the first systematic statement about modern socialism the world has ever seen. Powerful language and fueled by desires for better standards of

Karl Marx believed that a capitalist society was to blame for alienation of the workers (Sociology, 2013). Alienation involves workers feeling isolated and away from the end product. Which dehumanizes them making workers feel unsatisfied and feel as though they are unable to improve their lifestyle. He found particular ways to which capitalism alienates those who work. Those ways were split in to four different categories, which are: Being alienated from the act of working which is being alienated from their own choice as they are not given a right to decide what product to make and how they are going to make it.

The first component to Marx’s theory indicates that the worker is alienated from the product they produce. This essentially means that the worker is a slave to their job and also to the many products they produce, therefore

Marx’s theory of alienation is concerned primarily with social interaction and production; he believes that we are able to overcome our alienation through human emancipation.

Karl Marx stands out among other famous philosophers of the 19th century. He founded proactive theories, which called for political action as well as social change, rather than mere theoretical study. One of such theories is his theory of alienation found in his work “The Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts” (1844), also known as “The Paris Manuscripts”. This theory explains how a capitalist socio-economic regime alienates the worker in four various levels. Marx defines alienation as the absence of meaning or self- realization in one’s life (Geras 26). This paper examines Marx’s views on labor alienation and its effects on humanity, his criticism of religion and its influences on his rejection of capitalism, as well as his concept of the human nature.

1. Describe how Marx’s concepts of alienation and exploitation are present in the documentary. Who is subjected to this alienation and exploitation? How does this take place in the film? Does resistance to this take place? If so, how? Draw on the readings and lectures, while also providing specific examples from the film.

Marx presented four types of alienation in his Manuscripts of 1844. The first type is where the worker is alienated from the product they produce. Neither workers nor consumers influence the design and technology of a product, but the capitalist class. Capitalists utilize labor to produce and then influence consumer tastes and preferences in order to maximize profits (Marx, 1844). Second, workers are alienated from working or from the actual production. This refers to the fact that the work that the worker performs does not belong to the worker but it is a means of survival to have food, shelter, so the worker is forced to work under hostile situations to perform for someone else. Because of this, his work does not have any intrinsic value.

There is deep substance and many common themes that arose throughout Marx’s career as a philosopher and political thinker. A common expressed notion throughout his and Fredrick Engels work consists of contempt for the industrial capitalist society that was growing around him during the industrial revolution. Capitalism according to Marx is a “social system with inherent exploitation and injustice”. (Pappenheim, p. 81) It is a social system, which intrinsically hinders all of its participants and specifically debilitates the working class. Though some within the capitalist system may benefit with greater monetary gain and general acquisition of wealth, the structure of the system is bound to alienate all its

Marx’s alienation has four major parts as shown in an average factory worker under capitalism. Alienation from the product is not owning or having control over what you make. Alienation from other people means you work with the people you are assigned and it does not matter if you like them or not. When you become automatic in what you are doing, and you do not even mentally have to be there, this is considered alienation from work. Alienation from a species essence, and this was hard to understand, but it means humans are basically of a mind to work.

There can be no doubt over the wide-ranging influence of Karl Marx’s theories on sociology and political thought. His concept of communism overcoming the socioeconomic pitfalls of capitalism has not been a theory that has seen the light of day in the way that he may have hypothesised. There have been many throughout history that have misrepresented Marx’s writing, which begs the question, if pure communism in the original Marxist sense is at all possible given that humanity appears to have an innate ‘need’ for hierarchy and a thirst for power.

Topic: One of the essential elements to Marx’s alienation concept is that of people or workers being alienated from each other under capitalism, it is still relevant in explaining the problems of the modern world.

Much of Marx’s work was written in the midst of intense European industrialization in the 19th century. As division of labor and the capitalist system developed and expanded as a way to exploit workers for economic gain, Marx contemplated what role this transition had to play in the progression of human history. As an economic determinist, Marx believed that modes of production are key to changes in human history, such that labor, work, and the economic system have primacy over all other factors. Thus it is no surprise that Marx’s theory of alienation is