MARXIAN NOTION OF ALIENATION – A PHILOSOPHICAL OVERVIEW

Alienation constitutes one of the little known aspects of the political theory of Karl Marx, because it was without any significance as far as Marx's theory was concerned. The idea of alienation is mainly drawn from “Marx's Economic and Political Manuscript” (1844) which is known for its humanist content and written by Marx when he was in his mid-twenties. Alienation occurs prominently as a term in the 20th century social theory and criticism. It is characterized as socially harmful separation, disruption or fragmentation. Alienation translates into two terms which means estrangement and externalization. Alienation occurs when a person withdraws or becomes isolation from their environment or from other people. People who show symptoms of alienation will often reject loved ones or society. In everyday life the term ‘alienation' has been variously used. The made is at variance in religion, in sociology, in science, in psychology or in philosophy. It is very difficult to understand this term because it is a multi-dimensional phenomena. In simple words, alienation is powerlessness, meaninglessness, normalessness, isolation and self-estrangement. It involves a view of human relationship not based on the principle of equality but of one man a master and another man a salve.