Karl Marx’s Theory of Alienation: Human Essence and the Critique of Capitalist Labor and Social Relations Introduction Karl Marx’s theory of alienation is a foundational component of his early philosophical critique of capitalism, deeply rooted in his humanist understanding of human nature and its deformation under exploitative social conditions. Articulated most comprehensively in his Economic … Continue reading How does Karl Marx’s theory of alienation reflect his conception of human essence, and in what ways does it critique the conditions of labor and social relations under capitalist modes of production?