Marx's Idea

Alienation

Marx's idea of the work place is an appealing idea for a world where corruption and self-interested, greedy people don't exist. To first believe in his idea of what the work place should be, you must first believe that one has a "true self" (Velasquez). He says that working in a capitalistic system creates an alienation from one's "true self." Before comparing our difference in opinion on the work place we must first examine what he sees work as it should be. Marx saw everyone having a "true self" that has human needs that must be satisfied to remain in harmony with one's "true self." Therefore, his entire theory is based on a notion everyone has this "true self." Humans though do not have one "true self." Humans are constantly changing and adapting to circumstances they are faced with. It is therefore impossible for one to have a singular "true self," and rather the only true self is that of different facets and perspectives in a person's life. One's true self is then not possible to put a label on and people are not defined as work that they do, as we see in our society.

Alienation, he says, is caused in four ways. Marx believes that people in a capitalistic system are forced to do something that they don't want to do, alienating themselves, to obtain things that will make them happier, thus causing them to be alienated from their product, each other, and what human needs are. He claims that there are only two types of people in a capitalistic society. He sees the capital owners, the bourgeoisie, and the "exploited" workers, the proletariat. He talks about a world where there is only one class and the government is the capital owner. I would feel governed rather than being served by my government. This then gives the feeling of a class system in which the government is in one class and the other the working class. It gives the government the power to "determine the relationships of citizens" (Velazquez) and decide for its citizens things that we currently choose for ourselves as Americans. Marx's overall theory on how things should get done in a country is unacceptable for allowance of removing a person's right to a free assembly. What Marx doesn't see is the third class of citizen in a capitalistic system. He overlooks the capital owner that has limited capital and compensates his workers fairly. It may cause some people to "work" in jobs they don't particularly care to do, but allows them the freedoms to conduct themselves how they see fit outside of their job.

Although Marx theory on what work should be is contrary to some of the principle rights we Americans hold in high regard, some of his thoughts may be useful in our examination of what a work place should be. I see Marx theory as an idealistic