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Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science

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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2024.04.011

The Enigma of Survival: The Concept of “Alienation” and Its Cultural Interpretation

Jing Zhuang

International Institute of Chinese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, China.

*Corresponding author: Jing Zhuang

Published: May 20,2024

Abstract

“Alienation” is an important concept in the field of Marxist philosophy. With the rise of cultural studies in the late 20th century, it became a frequently borrowed term in the field of literary theory, used to explain contemporary society. From the continental philosophers in the 17th and 18th centuries to classical Marxism in the mid-19th century, and then to sociology in the late 19th century and Western Marxism in the 20th century, the concept of “alienation” has evolved within various disciplines and historical contexts, shaping its developmental trajectory. Since the 20th century, as a key term in cultural studies, “alienation” has inherited the intellectual legacy of political science and sociology, while opening up critical perspectives in cultural studies. This has made it an essential topic in the realms of literature and culture. By employing the method of conceptual history, one can examine the changing meanings of “alienation” in classical Marxism, especially Western Marxism. From a diachronic perspective, this approach can further clarify the implications of “alienation” in the social and historical changes of the 20th century, enhancing the understanding of classical concepts.

Keywords

Alienation, Conceptual history, Classical Marxism, Western Marxism

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How to cite this paper

The Enigma of Survival: The Concept of “Alienation” and Its Cultural Interpretation

How to cite this paper: Jing Zhuang. (2024) The Enigma of Survival: The Concept of “Alienation” and Its Cultural Interpretation. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science8(4), 883-890.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2024.04.011