Critically assess Marxs account of the alienating effects of capitalism and how it would be overcome under communism.

This essay aims to critically assess Marxs account of the alienating effects of capitalism and how it would be overcome under communism. Before looking at the various alienating ways of capitalism identified by Marx, a brief explanation of the broader theory of capitalism as a whole is required. Therefore to begin with, this essay will look at Marxs theory of capitalism and then look at how the concept of alienation fits in. I shall provide essential definitions and explanations required in order to proceed with the essay. The main body of the essay shall pay much attention to the four main areas of capitalism which are seen as having alienating effects; these include the alienation of man from product, the process, from other humans and from species being. These 4 areas will be critically assessed in depth. After looking at Marxs theory on Alienation, I shall move on to looking at both the similarities and links of his theory with other classical sociologists such as Weber and its link to his concept of the iron cage of bureaucracy and also the links of the theory of alienation to the concept of Anomie in Durkheims theory. Furthermore, Marxs theory will be looked at from a critical point of view by looking at the various critiques made by other theorists both on his theory of alienation and that of communism. Moreover, the second half of the question will be addressed by looking at Marxs theory and concept of communism as a whole and the ways in which this would result in the elimination of alienation and its negative effects. The ways in which society will benefit under communism overall will also be considered. Alienation is referred to be Marx as a mistake, a defect, which ought not to be. Marxs argues that alienation is experienced by all classes and that the acceptance of communism is a relevant measure since it will eliminate it. Although of course, the experience of alienation amongst the classes does vary in terms of lifestyle and position financially and in society, not surprisingly, the proletariat are those who experience it at a higher degree. Marx argues that alienation can be experienced whether the individual knows that they are experiencing it. If the labour of the individual is not free autonomous and an establishment of their individuality it is forced and therefore alienation is experienced. He sees alienation as both a social and material process that has arisen from the division of labour. Hegel and Feurbach, on the other hand have a different view, they view alienation as an intellectual phenomenon, an attitude of mind which resulted in seeing the world in a certain mistaken way. First there is the alienation that workers experience from the process of production within capitalism. The way in which products are to be produced is determined by the capitalists/owners and therefore the workers lack control in the labour process, their humanity and creativity is denied. Their work is thus not autonomous; they have to abide by rules as to how to produce the products and the criteria that their products must meet. Not only are they alienated in terms of the process of production, they are also used, with their

labour appropriated for the benefit of the owner. Their hard work and the finished product is then exchanged for a wage which is usually the least possible, not even half as much as what their labour is worth. The products that are made by the workers are then sold for a high price and the surplus and profits are extracted by the capitalists. Alienation from the product This type of alienation refers to In Marxs words the alienation of the worker in his product means not only that his labour becomes an object, an external existence, but that it exists outside him, independently, as something alien to him, and that it becomes a power on its own confronting him. This quote refers to the objectification of labour the efforts of the worker is objectified and then commoditized in order to satisfy the needs of consumers which are in actual fact shaped by capitalists and owners, this shall be discussed further on in the essay when looking at commodity fetishism. Not only does the labour become objectified, their efforts are compensated and exchanged for a wage which is merely a fraction of what their labour is worth and the products are then sold for a much higher price. This results in the capitalists extracting profits and the surplus value from the efforts of the hard worker. The end result the product as it were is therefore the objectification of ones productive activity which is according to ___ the chief means of expressing the life of Species. Therefore there is a literal element to what Marx says that the worker puts his life into the object. The relationship between the labourer and the end product is quite distinct as since the process is alienating, the product is thus alienated. As Marx put it the product isbut the summary of the activity, of production In the estrangement of the object of labour is merely summarized the estrangement, the alienation, in the activity of labour itself Division of labour

Profit Extraction Productive power but lack of control Commodity fetishism

Alienation from the process Alienation from other humans Alienation from species being Page 253------- http://books.google.com/books?id=IeblqcWkFcC&pg=PA252&dq=alienation+capitalism&hl=en&ei=MMssTY7yK8yChQeMh_WXCQ&sa= X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=alienation%2 0capitalism&f=false