The Comparative Study On Marx's Labor Theory And Arendt's Action Theory

Marx and Arendt: A New Comparative AttemptThis paper attempts to make a comparative study,which aims to offer a new thought or theoretical confrontation.It means that a dialogue space is formed by exchanging the two thinkers' respective propositions and argumentations when dealing with one or several problems.Started with this comparison,we can learn the ideological systems of Marx and Arendt once again.This paper is not to judge which thinker's thought is better,but to clear up their opposite parts on thoughts through a text exposition to Marx's labor theory and Arendt's action theory.On the other hand,this paper is to invite everyone to think and judge the thinker's survival situation under the modern crises and understand how to maintain their political dignity.Admittedly,the author doesn't summarize the thinkers' discussion on modern crises in the 20 th century or offer a solution and a method.Instead,the author selects two thinkers whose living backgrounds are separated by nearly one hundred years,and discusses the two different propositions when facing crises.Even though they don't give an explicit answer,their critical attitudes towards western political philosophical tradition and their regret for the missing of politics' genuine state enable the author to find out the reason for comparing their thoughts.This paper compares and analyzes Marx's labor theory and Arendt's action theory through the double dimensions of political philosophy,namely the dimension of “political philosophy” and dimension of “philosophical politics”.Marx and Arendt respectively select labor and action as their Archimedean point,which decides their different goals and paths of philosophical practice.One is taking labor as a paradigm and realizing the redemption and emancipation of mankind by criticizing the alienation form of modern capitalist society.The other is taking labor as an initial point and realizing the reconciliation of human and world by rescuing politics and morality.We can conclude from their philosophical goals and philosophical realization paths that Arendt's proposition is an amendment to modernity rather than an ultimate method.She considers that action is the true existence and true life of human being,namely the ideal goal of realizing mankind liberty.Her practice tells us that classical republic action life is the road to home.Different from Arendt's proposition,Marx's proposition is a rescued “politics”,a liberated “politics” and a universal “politics”.This “politics” resolution proposed by Marx is an ultimate transcending road.