ARCHIVES
VOL. 8, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Evolution of the concept of alienation: From Christian Theology to Karl Marx
Authors
Ayantika Das
Abstract
The concept of Alienation has undergone a
significant historical and philosophical transformation. Karl Marx was not the
first philosopher to discuss the phenomenon of human alienation. Alienation has
been a subject of consideration by a whole lot of thinkers much before Marx.
The term alienation has its origin in the Christian theology, as a condition of
estrangement between humanity and God. The theological framework is transformed
in German Idealism, where alienation becomes a philosophical category. Ludwig
Feuerbach radicalizes this move by secularizing alienation. He argues that god
is the projection of the human essence and therefore religious alienation is
humanity’s unconscious estrangement from itself. Karl Marx transforms this
trajectory by grounding alienation in material social relations. He rejects
both theological and philosophical reconciliation, arguing that alienation
arises from historically specific relations of private property and can only be
overcome by revolutionary transformation. In this article, I shall make an
attempt to study the evolution of the concept of alienation. From divine
estrangement to anthropological projection to material estrangement.
Download
Pages:96-100
How to cite this article:
Ayantika Das "Evolution of the concept of alienation: From Christian Theology to Karl Marx". International Journal of Sociology and Political Science, Vol 8, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 96-100
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.