Section 3 Marx’s general theory of capital
3.1 Alienation. Define Marx’s conception of alienation. Describe the tendencies within the capitalist mode of production that contribute to an increase in alienation (5 points).
1) Marx’s alienation: people who lack power in society will correspondingly lack of understanding the relationship between individuals and society/social structure.
2) Tendencies: (1) In the capitalist mode of production, although productive power of workers has increased, the enormous wealth is controlled by land owners and capital rather than workers. A disparity exists between the worker and his productive power. Marx believes such mode of production can fragment the worker as a man, degrade him to a machine appendage, …show more content…
Identify and define the key concepts in Marx’s theory of historical materialism, describe the relationship between these concepts, and show how the theory explains social change. Your answer should explain how social change occurs within each mode of production at the micro level and at the macro level. Although you can include historical data (i.e., empirical) to support your theoretical answer, empirical documentation is not necessary to answer the question (20 …show more content…
1) The increase in the organic composition of capital is closely connected with the centralization and concentration of capital. While concentration refers to capitalists’ expansion of how much capital they control along with the accumulation of capital, centralization is about the distribution change of existing capital. Day by day, the effect of both centralization and concentration leads to larger and larger productive units.
2) At the same time, with the increasing division of labor, the alienation of labor increases. When the alienation is increased to a degree, labor will understand their social alienation and then realize the universal interest. Along with such growing class-awareness, the active consciousness to transform society through revolutionary forces appears.
3) As the centralization and concentration of capital undermine the position of capitalists, the self-consciousness of workers expands. Gradually, the coexistence of these circumstances makes the transition to socialist society
3.1 Alienation. Define Marx’s conception of alienation. Describe the tendencies within the capitalist mode of production that contribute to an increase in alienation (5 points).
1) Marx’s alienation: people who lack power in society will correspondingly lack of understanding the relationship between individuals and society/social structure.
2) Tendencies: (1) In the capitalist mode of production, although productive power of workers has increased, the enormous wealth is controlled by land owners and capital rather than workers. A disparity exists between the worker and his productive power. Marx believes such mode of production can fragment the worker as a man, degrade him to a machine appendage, …show more content…
Identify and define the key concepts in Marx’s theory of historical materialism, describe the relationship between these concepts, and show how the theory explains social change. Your answer should explain how social change occurs within each mode of production at the micro level and at the macro level. Although you can include historical data (i.e., empirical) to support your theoretical answer, empirical documentation is not necessary to answer the question (20 …show more content…
1) The increase in the organic composition of capital is closely connected with the centralization and concentration of capital. While concentration refers to capitalists’ expansion of how much capital they control along with the accumulation of capital, centralization is about the distribution change of existing capital. Day by day, the effect of both centralization and concentration leads to larger and larger productive units.
2) At the same time, with the increasing division of labor, the alienation of labor increases. When the alienation is increased to a degree, labor will understand their social alienation and then realize the universal interest. Along with such growing class-awareness, the active consciousness to transform society through revolutionary forces appears.
3) As the centralization and concentration of capital undermine the position of capitalists, the self-consciousness of workers expands. Gradually, the coexistence of these circumstances makes the transition to socialist society