Marx and Alienation in Contemporary Society

Erscheinungsjahr 2007
ISBN: 978-0-8264-9029-2
Verlag: Bloomsbury 3PL

Buch, Englisch, 176 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 438 g

Analyses at least four fundamental manifestations of the corrosive nature of American-style capitalism and argues that Marx's analyses of negative aspects of capitalism are still widely relevant today.

There is an extremely large market within the academic community for all things Marx related
- There is a large market for this title due to the cross-over between the Politics and Philosophy disciplines
- The author makes some interesting and original points that have not been previously examined in other texts

In light of the events of the late 1980's and early 1990's, one might naively suppose that capitalism has emerged entirely victorious over communism, and hence that the former is practically and philosophically justified by its historical dominance. Even so-called "analytical Marxists" argue that in his later works Marx abandons his earlier "humanistic" perspective and with it his conception of "alienation."

So then, is Francis Fukuyama correct to assert that we now have a glimpse of "the end of history," given that capitalism has seemingly triumphed over its alternatives? Some authors, such as David Schweickart, answer with a resounding, no. He is adamant that, "getting beyond capitalism is the best hope for our species," and although he does his best to offer an alternative to contemporary capitalism, his model is fraught with difficulties and still does not answer the question of the application of Marx's theory of alienation to contemporary society.

This book argues that, to the contrary, Marx does not abandon the concept of alienation, and (contrary to the analytical Marxists and pro-capitalists) that its application is still relevant to today's economy and world. This account analyses at least four fundamental manifestations of the corrosive nature of American-style capitalism: excessive consumerism, negative effects of globalization, cruel economic inequalities between persons, and a deep "irrational exuberance" intensifying our interaction in the material world (from the pace of our work-lives to our relation to the environment). Padgett argues that new forms of these four traditional aspects of alienation outlined by Marx are still present in our world, and hence that Marx's analyses of negative aspects of capitalism are still widely relevant today.

Zielgruppe

Academics, Postgraduate, Upper Level Undergraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Padgett, Barry

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Theorie, Politische Philosophie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Wirtschaftssysteme, Wirtschaftsstrukturen
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sozialphilosophie, Politische Philosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Ideologien Marxismus, Kommunismus

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Re-evaluating Marx's Theory of Alienation
2. Emergence of the 'Cashless Society'
3. The Commodity of All Commodities
4. The Social Production of Personality
5. The Spatial Division of Labour
6. Radical and Communitarian Responses

Über Autor(innen)

Barry Padgett is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bellarmine University, Louisville, USA. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from Purdue University, USA.