Alienation as a Concept in the Social Sciences

Abstract

An attempt is made to analyze the wide array of conditions & methodological orientations subsumed under the term 'alienation'. A 519-item annotated Bibliography is preceded by a discussion which cites many of the items. This discussion opens with an etymological derivation (alienatio, alienation, entfremdung ) & continues with an analysis of present-day treatments of alienation, anomie, & anomia. The concept is then examined from the history of ideas perspective, & 2 major sources are identified: (1) K. Marx's theory of alienation, & (2) E. Durkheim's theory of anomie. A discussion of the former's use of the concept proceeds to its more current used by such writers as E. Fromm & H. Marcuse a similar discussion is presented on Durkheim & R. Merton. The concept in contemporary social science is considered. Arguments for & against alienation as a "unit-idea" are followed by an examination of alienation as an empirico-analytical concept. This subsection includes: (A) some aspects of theory which yield empirically testable propositions, (B) measurement scales for alienation & anomie, & (C) empirical research in the world of work & the political system. Brief suggestions to overcome "the diffuse usages of the term as well as...the lack of coordinated research work" conclude the discussion. The Bibliography is organized under specific headings: (a) collections of articles, readers (b) philosophy of alienation (alienation as a general concept to identify certain trends in contemporary society) (c) history of alienation (d) theoretical aspects of alienation (e) measurement of alienation/anomia methodological problems (f) empirical research on alienation/anomia & (g) alienation in literature & the arts. An author index is provided. J. N. Mayer.