Alienation

Alienation

If one is not familiar with the teachings of Karl Marx, there is the danger of judging all his works as unreasonable and not in conformity with the basic foundation of humanity especially in the teachings of religion. But reading his works would make a reader find a grain of gold that is relevant and applicable to life.

An example of this is his ideas about alienation. The term alienation speaks about the estrangement of a person towards the person’s essence. In this sense, a person can be divided and can have a crisis about his identity.

Marx outlines different kind of alienation applying it to a person working in a capitalist society:

1. Alienation of the person to the fruits of his labor. In the capitalist society, the one who controls everything is the capitalist. A worker becomes a paid instrument to perform for the benefits of the powers that be. He has no control on the outcome of his work.

2. Alienation of the worker from his work. In a capitalist society, the worker is identified with his work. The worker then becomes an object to be used and his remuneration is controlled and limited.

3. Alienation to himself. A person is a thinking being and not some kind of a machine that perform for a particular function. But in a capitalist society, a person is reduced to such. In fact, a worker is seen as an object to be exploited to expand the return of investment.

4. Alienation to other workers. Since there is a limited and controlled job opportunities, a worker must perform and outdo each other to stay hired. He must see to it that he stays competitive so he will not be removed and replaced by a better worker.

Marx’s theory of alienation is experienced by the millions of workers working in an inhumane working atmosphere. There are thousands working contractually rationalizing that it is according to law. There are workers receiving low salary. Even the basic salary outlines in the wages guidelines is not capable to support a family. Lucky if the parents make ends meet by the salary they receive.

Note here that Marx’s teaching ends by toppling the capitalist society in order for a person to be himself, to find his very essence, to free himself from these alienations. Man will be a person once he frees himself from the burden of capitalist society.

Marx's teachings echoes the unheard voices of workers to respect them as they are...person. Workers rights must be respected. Human rights are not removed from a person though he is hired by the capitalist. If we will just give to the workers their due they will no be alienated anymore.

Note: Christian teachings regard work in accordance to the plan of God to continue the propagation of earth. Man’s humanity is experienced fully if it is live with the divine.