Exploitation is alienation and reification’s economic form, political domination its political form, and the two forms of cultural domination (cultural imperialism: unity without diversity; cultural fragmentation: diversity without unity) constitute cultural alienation. A commons-based economy, participatory democracy and cultural understanding (unity in diversity) are true social forms, in which social existence corresponds to its essence and humans have appropriated this essence.
In an alienated economic system, humans are exploited and produce property that is owned by a dominant class. In a self-managed economy, humans co-produce, co-own and co-control property. In an alienated political system, an elite centralises political decision-making power and excludes citizens. In an appropriated political system, people have the power and co-decide in a system of participatory democracy, which constitutes political rights. In an alienated cultural system, an elite centralises meaning, making it so that others’ identities and moral values are disregarded and disrespected. In an appropriated cultural system, humans coproduce meanings of the world, mutually understand and morally recognise each other so that a unity in diversity of lifestyles and moral values exists.
The Internet, Social Media and Axel Honneth’s Interpretation of Georg Lukács’ Theory
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