Which statement is incorrect with regard to the concept of 'Alienation'?

The correct answer is - The cause of alienation is workers' lack of individual motivation.

Key Points

• Alienation
  • The concept of alienation primarily originates from the works of Karl Marx.
  • Marx identified several causes of alienation in a capitalist society:
  • Private property and the capitalist mode of production lead to the worker's loss of control over their labor and its products.
  • The division of labor in capitalist societies further exacerbates alienation by fragmenting work processes.
  • Class exploitation and domination result in alienation as workers are exploited for their labor, benefiting the capitalists.
  • The incorrect statement is that alienation is caused by workers' lack of individual motivation, which is not a primary factor identified by Marx.

Additional Information

• Marx's Theory of Alienation
  • Marx's theory describes four types of alienation experienced by workers in a capitalist system:
  • Alienation from the product of labor
    • Workers do not own the products they create, which are instead owned and sold by capitalists.
  • Alienation from the act of production
    • Work becomes a means to an end, rather than a fulfilling activity, leading to loss of creativity and autonomy.
  • Alienation from other workers
    • Competition and division of labor create barriers between workers, preventing meaningful social relationships.
  • Alienation from one's own humanity
    • Workers become estranged from their own essence as human beings, as they are reduced to mere instruments of production.