The concept of alienation has long been central in philosophical and sociological thought, especially within critiques of industrial capitalism. With the advent of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, alienation has taken new forms in the digital labour market. This paper re-examines alienation through both theoretical and empirical lenses, drawing on Marxist, existentialist, and contemporary critical theories. We explore how algorithmic management, digital surveillance, and the fragmentation of work under digital capitalism contribute to feelings of powerlessness, detachment, and diminished autonomy. The study focuses on how these dynamics reshape human labour, not only in terms of productivity but also in the erosion of agency and recognition. Empirical evidence from education and the gig economy highlights the socio-psychological consequences of algorithmic control. We propose that alienation should be reconceived not merely as a private psychological response, but as a systemic, organizational, and collective phenomenon. Finally, the paper suggests alternatives such as ethical AI, cooperative work models, and legal safeguards to mitigate digital alienation. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining philosophy and sociology, the study aims to update the concept of alienation for the digital era and provide tools for understanding and transforming contemporary work.

Perspectives of Alienation in the Digital Labour Market. A Debate and Empirical Proposals between Philosophy, Sociology and Human Rights PERSPECTIVAS DE LA ALIENACION EN EL MERCADO LABORAL DIGITAL. UN DEBATE Y PROPUESTAS EMPIRICAS ENTRE LA FILOSOFIA, LA SOCIOLOGIA Y LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS / Capitani, Eugenio. - In: IUS ET SCIENTIA. - ISSN 2444-8478. - 11:1(2025), pp. 220-249.

Perspectives of Alienation in the Digital Labour Market. A Debate and Empirical Proposals between Philosophy, Sociology and Human Rights PERSPECTIVAS DE LA ALIENACION EN EL MERCADO LABORAL DIGITAL. UN DEBATE Y PROPUESTAS EMPIRICAS ENTRE LA FILOSOFIA, LA SOCIOLOGIA Y LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS

Eugenio Capitani
2025

Abstract

The concept of alienation has long been central in philosophical and sociological thought, especially within critiques of industrial capitalism. With the advent of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, alienation has taken new forms in the digital labour market. This paper re-examines alienation through both theoretical and empirical lenses, drawing on Marxist, existentialist, and contemporary critical theories. We explore how algorithmic management, digital surveillance, and the fragmentation of work under digital capitalism contribute to feelings of powerlessness, detachment, and diminished autonomy. The study focuses on how these dynamics reshape human labour, not only in terms of productivity but also in the erosion of agency and recognition. Empirical evidence from education and the gig economy highlights the socio-psychological consequences of algorithmic control. We propose that alienation should be reconceived not merely as a private psychological response, but as a systemic, organizational, and collective phenomenon. Finally, the paper suggests alternatives such as ethical AI, cooperative work models, and legal safeguards to mitigate digital alienation. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining philosophy and sociology, the study aims to update the concept of alienation for the digital era and provide tools for understanding and transforming contemporary work.
2025
26-giu-2025
11
1
220
249
Perspectives of Alienation in the Digital Labour Market. A Debate and Empirical Proposals between Philosophy, Sociology and Human Rights PERSPECTIVAS DE LA ALIENACION EN EL MERCADO LABORAL DIGITAL. UN DEBATE Y PROPUESTAS EMPIRICAS ENTRE LA FILOSOFIA, LA SOCIOLOGIA Y LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS / Capitani, Eugenio. - In: IUS ET SCIENTIA. - ISSN 2444-8478. - 11:1(2025), pp. 220-249.
Capitani, Eugenio
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
28084-Article Text-146702-1-10-20250626.pdf

Open access

Tipologia: VOR - Versione pubblicata dall'editore
Dimensione 814.84 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
814.84 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1383908
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact