Phenomenology
study of experience
4 Aspects of Alienation
(1) product/object; (2) process; (3) other workers/boss; (4) species being
Species Being
humans are only species that makes objects that aren't necessary for survival
Realm of Necessity
things that are necessary for survival; means to an end; human > animal
Realm of Freedom
any activity that is just an end to itself
Objectification
to put one's self into the object one makes; self-consciousness must be a part of this process; identity construction
Use Value of a Commodity
its purpose (i.e. shoes - they protect feet)
Exchange Value of a Commodity
its price; metaphysical properties; determined by how much labor time goes into production; markets redistribute/change value, but they don't crate it in the first place; LABOR creates value; substance is abstract labor time
Commodity
any object that is bought and sold on a market
Theory of Alienation
humans alienate themselves when we don't see ourselves in the world that we made
Money
universal commodity; dead labor; represents time
Fetish
when the object has power over the person
Commodity Form
social relations among people appear to be social relations among things
Surplus Value
profit
Capital
when money expands or becomes more money (profit)
C-M-C
simple circulation; selling in order to buy
M-C-M
(
= extra)
circulation of capital; buying in order to sell
Labor Theory Value
all commodities represent abstract labor time; workers agree to work for less than the value they generate; labor is the only commodity that can create more value than it itself is worth
Necessary Labor Time
time it takes for worker to create enough value for the employer to break even
Surplus Labor Time
time put in after necessary labor time; when profit takes place
Absolute Surplus Value
employer makes worker work longer hours
Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations
when all individuals are competing against each other in a 'free' market, the 'invisible hand' will organize society
Functionalism
society is a living organism - we must cure society of its ills
Anomie
experience of normlessness (similar to Marx's concept of alienation); people have to believe their life has some meaning/purpose or they will suffer (existentialists argue the opposite - they embrace nothingness)
Collective Conscience
shared belief system; produces structure of solidarity which is imperative for individual and societal well-being
Mechanical Solidarity
happens automatically; existed in pre-modern society but collapsed in modern society (i.e. rural communities)
Organic Solidarity
interdependence; we don't have it, but need to strive for it; includes free spontaneous division of labor (i.e. metropolitan cities); right now we have an abnormal/pathological/sick division of labor
Forced Division of Labor
strictly regulated form of organization; structural condition in which the distribution of social functions does not correspond to the distribution of natural talents
Anomic Division of Labor
slavery, class, caste; unregulated/dog-eat-dog capitalism