A critique of Pomeroy’s process reading of Marx’s theory of alienation

Date of Publication

12-2025

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy

Subject Categories

Philosophy

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Philosophy

Abstract (English)

In Marx and Whitehead (2004), Pomeroy attempts to synthesize the two thinkers on the metaphysical level as a response to the dialectical tension existing between them. This demands an assessment of how much within the tension was resolved, along with the extent of Marx’s thought was reconsidered. However, within her work, the main aspects of alienation within Marx are retained, in which remain embedded within an egocentric predicament. Such was overlooked by Pomeroy, and I argue that these must be eliminated upon an integration with Whitehead. Here, I ask, up to what extent can Whitehead‘s process philosophy accept and challenge specific aspects of Marxian alienation? In Marx, it is presupposed that labor properly belongs to the human laborer alone. In Whitehead’s thought, the extensive nature of reality and the self challenges such view. Here, labor is regarded as a creative process that is in temporal continuity, rather than an activity central to the laborer alone. This implies a rejection of the core tenets of Marxian alienation and an actual reformulation of alienation. This is to allow a better grounding of such phenomenon to a more processual worldview.

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

Sa Marx and Whitehead (2004), sinubukan ni Pomeroy na ipagsanib ang dalawang pilosopiko sa antas ng metapisika bilang tugon sa umiiral na tensyong diyalektikal nilang dalawa. Ito ay nangangailangan ng pagtatasa kung gaano ang naresolba dito at ang saklaw ng muling pagdalumat sa kaisipan ni Marx. Gayunpaman, makikita kay Pomeroy na ang mga pangunahing aspeto ng pagkakawalay ay nanatiling taglay dahil pumapaloob pa rin ito sa isang makasariling suliranin. Ito ay hindi nabigyang-pansin ni Pomeroy. Sa aking palagay, ito ay dapat tanggalin sa pagsasanib kay Whitehead. Dito, aking tatanungin: hanggang saang antas ang pilosopiyang proseso ni Whitehead ang kayang tanggapin at bigyang hamon ang mga partikular na aspeto sa konseptong pagkakawalay ni Marx? Pinapalagay ni Marx na ang paggawa ay pag-aari lamang ng taong manggagawa. Sa kaisipan ni Whitehead, ang lumalawak na katangian ng reyalidad ay hinahamon ang pananaw na ito. Dito, ang paggawa ay isang malikhaing proseso na may tuluy-tuloy na ugnayang temporal, imbes na isang aktibidad na likas na sa manggagawa lamang. Ipinapahiwatig nito ang pagtanggi ng mga pangunahing paniniwala mula sa konsepto ng pagkakawalay ni Marx at ang aktwal na repormasyon nito. Ito ay upang mabigyan ng mas matibay na pundasyon na nakasandal sa isang prosesong pananaw.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Communism; Alienation (Social psychology); Political science—Philosophy; Metaphysics

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Embargo Period

12-11-2025

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