Marx

• What does Marx identify as the central issue leading to alienation?

  • Alienation arises from the division of labour, where human beings are separated into citizen and human being, or public sphere and private sphere.
  • Marx suggests that overcoming alienation requires addressing it at the fundamental level of economics.
• How does Marx view production and labour in relation to human beings?

  • Production is seen as a survival kit for humans, turning needy beings into productive beings.
  • Through labour, we express ourselves materially, and rationality allows us to realize that we need to produce to meet our needs.
• What is the root cause of human self-alienation according to Marx?

  • The division of labour leads to human self-alienation, as labour becomes more complex, requiring cooperation and efficiency.
  • This division introduces competition and rivalry, eventually leading to the concept of private property and primitive capitalism.
• How does Marx explain the development of capitalism and exploitation?

  • As labour is divided, and private property emerges, primitive capitalism begins with individuals organizing production by hiring others.
  • This leads to exploitation, as workers are forced to sell their labour for a wage lower than the value they produce, with the added value claimed as profit by the owner of the means of production.
• What does proletarian existence entail, and how does it relate to private property?

  • Proletarian existence involves a rupture between individuals and within themselves.
  • Private property, according to Proudhon, is a form of theft, privileging the owner of the means of production at the expense of the common good.
  • This privatization benefits a few capitalists without adequate compensation to society.
• Why does Marx believe that even capitalists are alienated?

  • Capitalists are also alienated because they have neglected a substantial part of self-development through the division of labour.
  • They are at the mercy of powers beyond their control, as they do not produce what they sell, relying on others for production.
• What is the dialectic of class struggle, and how does it relate to Marx's vision of a classless society?

  • The dialectic of class struggle involves the conflict between the bourgeoisie (the owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (the working class).
  • Marx suggests that the proletariat must seize power to create a classless society, eliminating exploitation and addressing the root causes of alienation.