Aspects of Emancipation in the Thought of Karl Marx: From the Critique of Liberalism to the Overcoming of Alienation p. 108-121

Abstract

The text examines the concept of emancipation within the modern tradition of political and philosophical thought, highlighting how this idea evolved from Enlightenment projects to the critical theories of the nineteenth century. A central role is played by the contribution of Karl Marx, who develops a profound critique of the forms of emancipation proposed by classical liberalism. For Marx, juridical and political freedom is insufficient, as it conceals the structural inequalities of capitalist society. Genuine emancipation requires overcoming alienation and transforming the relations of production that shape the existing social order. The paper explores how Marx moves from a critique of liberalism toward a materialist conception of freedom. In this perspective, emancipation is understood as a deep reorganization of social life and of the relationship between human beings, labor, and nature. The analysis follows a philosophical and interpretative methodology focused on key texts written by Marx. The study is strictly limited to Marx’s own works and does not address later developments of Marxism. The research is structured around three main dimensions of emancipation: juridical-political, social, and human emancipation