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Posted by Peter Van der Biest on December 30, 19101 at 10:58:20:
In Reply to: What is someone's nature? How does someones nature make them human? posted by Adam on November 28, 19101 at 18:23:36:
: Marx talks about people being alienated from their nature because the objects they make are not their's. Is this nature something that is real (a story, a painting, a bike) or is it something like an idea (a vision, a law)?
: Thanks for any answers, they are appreciated.
For Marx the nature of man is defined by his relations with his environment. And as the production of material existence is the most fundamental relationship between man and his environment, Marx defines human nature as the whole of his productive relations.
However...in a society characterized by exploitation, society becomes a force hostile to the working people. Under capitalism the relationship between the workers and their instruments of labour is one of complete alienation, as the workers are cut completely from any possession and power over their tools. Marx concludes that this is the main reason why "that which is typically human, labour, becomes a bestial activity, while the 'animalistic' occupations of man: reproducing, eating, in the best case sitting at ease in his home become the only ones in which the workers feel human" (See the Paris mcripts, 1844) Alienation is none other than the process in which apsects of life that normally would be considered as being part of human life counterpose themselves to man as a hostile,strange force.