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Unit-11: Alienation in Capitalistic Society

1. Classification of Alienation according to Adam Schaf : Adam Schaf has taken Alienation in notes
the form of social phenomeno. According to him Alienation are of two types: (a) Objective
or Normal Alienation and (b) Personal or Self Alienation.
2. Classification of Alienation according to Richard Schat : He mentioned the types of
Alienation in his book in 1970 A.D. : (a) Alienation of person from nature ; (b) Alienation of
person from his friends ; (c) Alienation of person from his work or his mind ; (d) Alienation
of person from himself.
3. Classification of Alienation according to M. Siemen : He keeps the condition of Alienation
under five categories : (a) Powerlessness , (b) Meaninglessness , (c) Social diversification ,
(d) Irregularity and (e) Self-apathy.
The above classification of Alienation is not the complete classification in any sense. This type of
classification is right in some sense and wrong in some other sense. In spite of this the main advantage
of classification is that we get the sufficient knowledge of characteristics of Alienation.
There are critics of concept of Marx on many topics, for example, Marxist also criticis the concept
of Self-Alienation. Its critics says this type of concept disdain the historical power. Truth is that in
Alienation person declines historical possibilities and self-Alienation does not fit properly on this logic.
It is also said that if Alienation is said one condition of mind then it will be injustice to Marx. This type
of description is Psychiatrist and denies manufacturing process. The same way when Alienation is
seen in the form of Anomy or personal disruption then also this concept remains sociological. Marx
puts the Alienation in view of manufacturing process and exploitation and in additional values and
therefore this should be understood in this context only.
Irvin Jetlin when describes the Alienation of Labour power then there is his narration in its postscript
that in Capitalistic society the final aim of worker is to keep himself free from technical pressure.
It happens in this system that persons are fastly loosing control over manufacturing process. It is
happening in this system that he by loosing his srajnatmak human efficiency compelling human
organization. Therefore Marx considers this stage as the dehumanization process .

Task What are the characteristics of Alienation? Discuss briefly.

11.2 summary

y In the Marxist meaning Alienation is a condition through which a person, a group, an
organization or a society gets alienated from the following :
— result of his work or products
— that natural environment in which he lives
— other persons
— from himself
y Alienation is always self-alienation i.e. get away from yourself through your work.
y In capitalist society manufacturing process becomes so complicated so that there is De-
humanization of worker.
y There is a contribution of other philosophers and sociologist besides Marxist in developing
the concept of Alienation.

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