Abstract

Even though alienation theory is one of Marx's better known theories, its potential for medical sociology has never been fully explored. This paper seeks to raise the profile of Marx's theory of alienation in theorizing health and health inequalities. It will do so in three main stages. Firstly, why it is timely to reconsider alienation theory will be discussed in light of recent theoretical debates and wider concerns in medical sociology about embodiment and emotions. Secondly, alienation theory is outlined beginning with the strong materialist, biological, embodied and emotional basis of Marx's ideas before exploring how alienation arises under capitalism. This section will also deal with how Marx's theory of alienation is important to his entire oeuvre and not just present in his early work. Thirdly, the paper ends by reviewing examples of health research in the light of the four aspects of alienation that Marx identifies: product alienation, process alienation, fellow being alienation and human nature alienation.

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