Karl Marx and His Theory of Alienation: How It Can be Applied to Modern Society.

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Alienation Marx the Spot.

At the core of much of twentieth century political theory, is the concept of the alienation of labour, brought into prominence by the writings of Karl Marx. The oft mentioned Mr. Marx, is perhaps the most debated philosopher of the past century, and in this post-industrial age, the validity of his theories continue to questioned. As the labour force in developed countries dwindles in favour of off-shore production and the increased reliance on middle management, is it possible that the general populous is just as "alienated" now as they were in the days of the assembly line?. The answer to this question is a resounding yes, because as long as there is a disparity between a product and the worker who contributes to its manufacture, the illusion of upward mobility merely masks society's inability to achieve an ideal "species-life" as defined by Marx. It is merely the definition of manufacture and laborer which have changed in this area of globalization and ever morphing definitions of prosperity have contributed to a combined societal alienation which is perhaps now at its apex.

Despite the efforts of trade unions, and the increased pursuit of higher education, the obtainable and the desired, remain worlds apart, separated by the bureaucracies which exist within capitalism.

Although written over 150 years ago, Marx's definition of "Alienation" still resonates today thanks mostly in part to the general consistency of Capitalism. In his writings Marx describes a system which emphasizes the ownership of private property, and the overwhelming power wielded by a minority who control the majority of private property commodities, including a huge segment of the population who have been delegated as "labour". The social chasm between the "Proprietors" and the "Propertyless", is the basis of the majority of Marx's writings. Marx...