A Study On Lefebvre’s Alienation Theory

Based on the concept of alienation,Lefebvre builds up his unique idea of humanitarianism and the critique theories of modern capitalist society;therefore,the concept of alienation is the cornerstone of Lefebvre’s whole theories.The basic theoretical view in the dissertation is that Lefebvre has developed a comprehensive philosophical-sociological critique of the well-developed capitalist society on the base of the notion and theory of alienation,and the close attention on the general alienation in capitalist society and the general dilemma of man’s existence in modern society has been through the entire academic life of Lefebvre.Therefore,his alienation theory is an important way to his ultra-rich theoretical system.Lefebvre believes that alienation has a new development in well-developed capitalist society rather than activating in economic domain as the commodity fetishism does;meanwhile,coupled with the colonization in everyday life,alienation has become more micro and widespread,so alienation is more threatening to man’s existence.Lefebvre’s alienation theory not only provides a theoretical weapon to criticizing well-developed capitalist society,but also pushes forward the integral development of western Marxism.This dissertation has concretely analyzed,integrated and studies the sources,the interests,the contents,the aims and the significances of Lefebvre’s alienation theory.Lefebvre’s alienation theory has inherited and developed Marx’s alienation theory and combined the theoretical horizons of modernity and micro power to explore the new field of alienation critique.Lefebvre tries to bond the concept of alienation with the concept of everyday life and to promote the alienation critique to the entire society.On one hand,from the perspective of history,Marx didn’t offer an accurate time that alienation goes through.Although alienation has reached its most severe situation under the capitalist society,it won’t disappear as the capitalist society ends.Lefebvre warns that people should not equal the end of the capitalist society as it of the alienation,and they should also be aware of the durability of alienation.On the other hand,from the perspective of space,alienation has expanded its activity in the new era from economy to other social fields.Lefebvre finds out that the alienation belonged to economy is one of alienations,there are other alienations such as the alienation of everyday life,consumption,politics,production of space,rhythm and culture.All these alienations are the social issues for now,and they are also the targets of Lefebvre’s alienation theory.Although alienation is an old issue in western philosophy,however,this old issue has produced new phenomenon and difficulties.Therefore,Lefebvre appeals for people’s attention on alienation again and demands a new alienation theory to explain the alienations hiding in everyday life,social space,time and rhythm and man’s structure of essence.Lefebvre’s alienation theory fights against man’s alienation and instrumentalization;meanwhile,it also reveals the dilemma of man’s existence in the modern society.In the meaning of that,his alienation theory is self-criticized and self-reflected.Moreover,Lefebvre’s alienation theory explodes the social operating mechanism of the developed capitalist society,and this mechanism aims at manipulating the social life and the living experience of modern people to achieve its goal of the governance of the people.Hence,Lefebvre’s alienation theory has shown the unique perspective and the effective value in understanding all these phenomenon and difficulties with the important theoretical significances and practical meanings.