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Briefly explain the four types of alienation from human nature Marx identifies as the result of capitalism and the industrial mode of production.

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Final answer:

Marx identified four types of alienation in a capitalist system: alienation from the product of work, alienation from the activity of production, alienation from one's 'species-being', and alienation from others, leading to a sense of disenchantment and lack of control among workers.

Step-by-step explanation:

Karl Marx identifies four types of alienation as a result of capitalism and the industrial mode of production. The first is alienation from the product of work, where workers no longer own the items they produce, and thus feel disconnected from the results of their labor. The second is alienation from the activity of production, as work in a capitalist society is forced, with no intrinsic satisfaction; workers do not work out of creativity or desire, but must do so to survive. The third type is alienation from one's 'species-being', which means workers are alienated from their human essence, the innate tendency of humans to engage in purposeful and creative work that contributes to their mutual well-being. Lastly, there is alienation from others, where workers see their relations with others in terms of competition and monetary value, rather than cooperation and mutual benefit. Marx theorized that these types of alienation lead to a sense of powerlessness and lack of control over one’s own destiny under the capitalist system.

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