Arendt’s View Of Marx’s Concept Of Labor

This paper teases out thoroughly labor-related concepts in Arendt’s studies about Marx’s work. Starting from Arendt’s interpretation of Marx’s labor theory, it tries to clear and explores Arendt’s reflections on Marx’s connotation of labor. By means of reflecting on Arendt’s constitution of labor concept, these two philosophers with different backgrounds meet together in the intellectual history.Arendt comments on the concept of Marx’s labor on the basis of realistic background of the society and her own ideas. Firstly she agrees on the Marx’s labor concept, that is, labor creates man, and labor is the foundation of human existence. Marx overturned the traditional western philosophy by explaining the implementation of the concept of labor. Then she criticizes Marx’s labor theory based on labor affirmative. She thinks that Marx’s labor theory exaggerates the social function of labor; there is an obvious paradox, and she doubts the abolition of labor. Based on this understanding, Arendt reinterprets the labor activity, distinguishing labor from work and highlighting the importance of action in human activities, so she achieves theoretical innovation.However, Arendt’s analysis of Marx’s labor theory is not real understanding the concept of Marx’s labor; it is a kind of misunderstanding of Marx’s view of labor.Even so, we can still learn something worthy form such a research, for it conveys an idea that the attention paid to the labor problems can arouse an examination of modern people’s existence,the whole social circumstance and human beings. Thus, people can broaden their horizon, know their true situation and embrace future life positively.