ipl-logo

Marxian Theory: The Rise Of Modern Capitalism

1981 Words8 Pages

Introduction The rise of modern capitalism has brought forward a comprehensive reformulation of Marxian theory, particularly in regards to the concept of alienation described by Marx and Engels in The Communist Manifesto (Marx and Engels, 2013: 10). The main argument to be put forward in this essay revolves around the idea that the Marxian theory of alienation is relevant for the purposes of understanding the manner in which contemporary capitalism operates. However, Marxian theory fails to explain why working people have embraced global capitalism; particularly in the Western world, where the workers have accepted the prevalence of technology and consumerism. In accordance with Marxian thinking, by doing so, they have intertwined their needs …show more content…

The capitalist system, in its current conception, has fragmented the working conditions in which labour is produced (Wendling, 2009: 81). The de-industrialisation of many parts of the Western world and the rise of a mass of self-employed people have created a further intertwining of the interests of working people with the dominant class (Friedman, 2005: 51). In other words, in order to survive in the technologically-driven environment of the age of globalisation, the workers are impelled to accept the workings of capitalism, instead of opposing them (Marcuse, 2002: 21). In this context, it is possible to argue that Marxian view of alienation is useful in order to explain certain aspects of modern capitalism. However, Marxian theory fails to shed light on why the workers have not revolted against this state of affairs (Wood, 2004: 43). In fact, the technological advances made by global capitalism have been responsible for the reformulation of the consciousness of the working person. The worker has therefore perpetuated his/her “false consciousness” in a manner that was not originally envisaged by Marx and Engels (Wendling, 2009: …show more content…

The Marxian theory of alienation is relevant in order to understand the way in which modern capitalism operates. Nevertheless, Marxian theory fails to explain why working people have embraced the values projected by modern capitalism (Rockmore, 2002: 20). As we have seen in previous sections, the workers have accepted the prevalence of technology and consumerism. In this manner, and contrary to the way predicted by Marxian theory, they have intertwined their needs and interests with that of the capitalist class (Wendling, 2009: 91). It is in this framework of reference that the Marxian notion of alienation should be appraised when evaluating the workings of modern

Show More
Related

The Relentless Revolution Joyce Appleby Analysis

739 Words | 3 Pages

The Relentless Revolution by Joyce Appleby is the narrative of capitalism that starts with the voyagers of the 16th century, winds through the 18th and 19th centuries, and continues on through the 1970’s then past that into modern capitalism. Within this long historical narrative, the author’s main argument is to tell the story of capitalism, and how it developed from an idea to an international system. Appleby described the book by saying “This is not a general study of capitalism in the world, but rather a narrative that follows the shaping of the economic system that we live with today” (Appleby 4). Her argument is that the story of capitalism is not a step by step process as some have claimed, rather it is a constant, messy passage from one discovery to the next.

Read More

Summary Of Class In America By Gregory Mantsios

686 Words | 3 Pages

Have you ever wanted to chase the American dream? It might be more impossible than people realize. Gregory Mantsios writes “Class in America-2012” about the growing and obvious class divide in America, yet no one wants to talk about the situation and the effects on the people. I will be analyzing the text and explaining the effects it has on the reader. Throughout the article Mantsios stays consistent with his opinion by providing multiple charts and graphs to back his point.

Read More

The Upper-Class During The Industrial Revolution

637 Words | 3 Pages

Across the course of history, mankind has attempted many different courses of action in order to industrialize their nation into a golden age of amazing technology. One of these times in history, known in American as the Industrial Revolution. During this amazing time, many different technologies were invented that truly changed the world, but at the same time, many disputes occurred between the working class and the upper class in the steel industry, described by Neil Irvin Painter in Chapter 4 of “The Depression of the 1890’s”. Many others would agree that the conditions that were put forth to the working class at the time were unfair, unjust and just plain wrong to have human beings endure. To Begin, the working and upper class have been in a power struggle from almost the moment that the first industrial factory was opened for business.

Read More

Slavery And Alienation

1789 Words | 8 Pages

In his capitalist system “the worker receives means of subsistence in exchange for [their] labor power,” which serves no purpose but “immediate consumption,” whereas the capitalist receives “a greater value” than they had previously (Marx 209). The worker, despite creating additional earnings for the capitalist, only receives their “means of sustenance,” or their bare minimum for survival. Because the worker has been alienated from their work and the system however, they normalize this exchange, and are content with receiving a mere fraction of what they produce, unaware of their exploitation. Alienation provides the framework for both Douglass’ and Marx’s economic systems to function, as it allows the ruling class to establish a norm of

Read More

The Themes Of Alienation In Estranged Labor By Karl Marx

1297 Words | 6 Pages

Fermelita Borre AB1213 Rochelle Igot Philosophical Research Paper What is Alienation? In this paper, we will evaluate alienation and its premises as presented in “Estranged Labor” by Karl Marx. Although the entirety of the arguments he presented in his manuscript were substantial, there was a flaw in one of the arguments he presented in the types of of alienation, the estrangement of the worker from the activity of production.

Read More

Differences And Similarities Between Marx And De Tocqueville

200 Words | 1 Pages

Marx, equally, believes that the outcome of industrial capitalism is alienation of the proletariat, the working class, from their society.

Read More

The Neo-Marxist Criticism In James Joyce's Araby

1102 Words | 5 Pages

Because Marx believes the worker would “put his [or her] life into the [alien] object” (William, 132) he/she is producing, they are ultimately alienated, unconnected to

Read More

Karl Marx And Emile Durkheim's Theory Of Capitalism

846 Words | 4 Pages

Capitalism is understood to be the “economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.” In modern society, capitalism has become the dominant economic system and has become so integrated that it has resulted in a change in the relationships individuals have with other members of society and the materials within society. As a society, we have become alienated from other members of society and the materials that have become necessary to regulate ourselves within it, often materials that we ourselves, play a role in producing. Capitalism has resulted in a re-organization of societies, a more specialized and highly segmented division of labour one which maintains the status quo in society by alienating the individual. Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim theorize on how power is embodied within society and how it affects the individuals of society.

Read More

Alienation Of Labor

224 Words | 1 Pages

By alienation, Marx means that workers in industrial production systems that operate under capitalism have no control over their lives since they do not have control over their work. “The worker places his life in the object, but now it no longer belongs to him, but to the object. The greater his activity, the fewer objects the worker possesses. What the product of his labor is, he is not”. Therefore, these workers cannot be seen as autonomous individuals in any meaningful sense (Economic and philosophical manuscripts, 1844).

Read More

Marxism And Globalization Analysis

1074 Words | 5 Pages

Marx and Engels wrote that capitalist globalization was completely eroding the foundations of the international system of states in the mid-1840s. Conflict and competition between nation-states had not yet over in their view but the main fault-lines in future looked certain to revolve around the two main social classes: the national bourgeoisie, which controlled different systems of government, and an increasingly cosmopolitan proletariat. Over revolutionary action, the international proletariat would insert the Enlightenment principles of liberty, equality and fraternity in an exclusively new world order which would free all human beings from exploitation and domination. Many traditional theorists of international relations have pointed to the failures of Marxism or historical materialism as an explanation of world history. Marxists had undervalued the vital importance of nationalism, the state and war, and the implication of the balance of power, international law and diplomacy for the structure of world politics.

Read More

Alienation In Charlie Chaplin's Film Modern Times

2428 Words | 10 Pages

In his Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 (Marx, 1988), Marx delineates a theory of alienation of workers arising from labour carried out under the capitalist mode of production. Alienation may be loosely described as isolation and a loss of identity coming from the lack of control workers have over what and how they produce. It can also be broadly grouped into four types: alienation from the product of labour, process of labour, the worker 's self, and his fellow workers. These ideas are exemplified well in Charlie Chaplin 's film Modern Times (1936), which follows a hapless factory worker trying to come to terms with his life and work while managing a relationship with a gamin. This paper will provide an overview of alienation and its various forms, and show how they are demonstrated in the film, where two types of alienation stand out in particular.

Read More

Alienation In Workplace

1026 Words | 5 Pages

Introduction Alienation is described as the state of individuals’ labours that has become to satisfy the hirer’s demands and individuals are motived to work for momentary purpose which is meant for personal survival (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2014). Marx describes the cause is due to capitalism which has distorted the “inherent relation between labour and human nature” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2014, p.53). This paper attempts to show that the virulent effect of alienation continues in today’s workplace and the white-collar workers continually faced alienation despites the imporved economy activities and increase use of advanced technology. Four types of alienations are identified namely, from the act of working, the products of work, other workers and

Read More

The Causes Of Alienation In Karl Marx And Max Weber

732 Words | 3 Pages

Karl Marx and Max Weber both agreed that capitalism generates alienation in modern societies, but the cause for it were both different. For Marx it is due to economic inequality in where the capitalist thinks that the workers worth nothing more than a source of labour, that can be employed and dismissed at will. This causes the workers to be dehumanised by their jobs (in the past, routine factory work and in the present-day, managing demands on a computer), which leads to the workers finding slight satisfaction and feeling incapable of improving their situation. It was noted by Marx four methods on how capitalism alienates workers. The first, is alienation from the function of working.

Read More

Emoji Humanization

1794 Words | 8 Pages

Conveying meaning in instant messaging requires an ability to communicate succinctly at speed. Hastily written text messages often lack the nuances expressed in gestural movement, tone of voice and body language. and in instant messaging sarcasm is the most misunderstood semantic convention. The spectrum of humanizing emotions are not easily interpreted without tonality and expression. Whether this dilemma is helped by the introduction of :) or :( is highly contested.

Read More

Melvin Seeman Alienation Analysis

859 Words | 4 Pages

Melvin Seeman’s five prominent features of alienation Melvin Seeman, the American sociologist, considers alienation as the summation of the individual's emotions, divides it into five different modalities: powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, and finally self-estrangement. 1. Powerlessness According to Seeman, powerlessness theoretically means when the individual believes his activity will fail to yield the results he seeks. He also opines that the notion of alienation is rooted in the Marxian view of the worker’s condition in capitalist society, where the worker is alienated to the extent that the prerogative and means of decision are expropriated by the ruling entrepreneurs.

Read More

More about Marxian Theory: The Rise Of Modern Capitalism

Related Topics

Open Document