Explain Marx's understanding of Human Essence and Alienation. (UPSC CSE Mains 2016 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 1)
Marx in his early works delves into the idea of true freedom. Is unsatisfied with another interpretation given to freedom in liberals capitalistic society. Marx feels that market forces have constraint freedom. He analyses the capitalistic system and concludes that capitalism destroys human nature and alienates man from himself. Marx considered that what makes us human and we love to do work. Work allows some Man to
- Express his creativity
- Earn his livelihood
- To grow and flourish
Marx calls this as species essence .With his work man is able to contribute and connect with the society. But in capitalistic mode of production man is forced to work for wages. Marx concludes that this causes alienation.
- Alienation of the worker from their product: According to this type of Alienation, the worker is not responsible for the product they create. The product entirely belongs to the capitalists and belongs to the workers in no way. The capitalists are the only authority over the products created by the workers.
- Alienation of workers from the act of production: Workers are forced to manufacture goods and services. The forceful production of these goods and services does not satisfy the workers. Labourers are forced to take this task as their means of survival because they have no other work to survive upon.
- Alienation of the worker from their species essence: According to the capitalist mode of production, a particular person always loses his right to self-development because they are forced to sell their labour-power in the market for the sake of living.
- Alienation of the worker from other workers: A market is created due to the competition among other workers for their labour-power.
Marx interpretation of human nature and alienation is relevant even today. Most wanted man to be free from necessities. He believed that society should full fill ands basic needs. He gave the dictum from each according to his capacity and to each according to his need.
Modern Welfare state incorporates safety provisions to balance the evil effects of market fundamentalism. Further advancing the Marxian narrative of freedom from necessities, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen has advocated that man can only be truly free when he is capable of achieving His true potential. He advocates State''s active participation in capacity building for individuals to actualize their true self.
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