Final answer:
The term alienation in industrial economies describes a state of estrangement from various aspects of labor and existence within a capitalist society, as articulated by Karl Marx, which involves a loss of connection to the product, process, and self resulting from the nature of mechanized and compartmentalized work.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term alienation in the context of industrial economies refers to a phenomenon described by Karl Marx which delineates the estrangement of individuals from various aspects of their labor and existence within an industrial capitalist society. Marx outlined multiple forms of alienation including the alienation from the product of one's labor, from the process of one's labor, from others, and one's self. An individual working in an industrial economy might feel disconnected from the product they create because they only see a small part of the production process and have no control over the final output. For example, a worker in a watch factory may only press buttons to combine parts but never see the final product, hence losing the connection with the result of their work.
Furthermore, workers are alienated from the process of labor as they do not control the conditions of their work nor own the means of production. A fast food worker, for example, must follow strict guidelines without room for creativity. Similarly, alienation from one’s self and others occurs when the workplace environment separates personal identity from the work being done and limits connections among workers. These conditions lead to a loss of a sense of self and diminish social bonds.
The overarching impact of alienation is a sense of powerlessness and lack of control over one's life and labor, leading to a disconnection from the inherent essence of being human as envisioned by Marx's concept of species being. This estrangement is a core aspect of the laborer's experience within capitalist systems.