Alienation

Abstract

This chapter elucidates the characteristics of alienation theory by comparing it with justice theory. First, as a framework of normative theory, three points are discussed: idealism versus materialism, universalism versus relativism, and individualism versus socialism. From these points, I compare the justice theory with the alienation theory. The alienation theory has a broader scope than the justice theory does. Next, I present the two-dimensional theory of alienation. The first and second dimensions take the perspectives of liberal and communist societies, respectively. In a capitalist society, justice is viewed as universal. Marxists do not transcendentally denounce justice but utilize it when opposing capitalism; this is the first dimension of alienation. However, Marxists do not intend that these values are valid from a communist society’s perspective; justice is negated as an alienated idea; this is the second dimension of alienation. Therefore, the theories of alienation and justice do not conflict with each other; the justice theory can be characterized as part of the alienation theory.