Ambivalence, irony and translation of Entfremdung and Entäusserung in the Economic and Philophical Manuscripts of Marx

Abstract

This article aims to elucidate the terms Entfremdung and Entäußerung, primarily in the context of the Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts. The explanation proceeds from the assumption that correctly understanding the possible meanings these two signifiers can encompass is key to an equally accurate comprehension of what they convey when used in the text—especially when conceptual depth is attributed to them. The conclusion reached is that translations to portuguese such as "alienação" or "estranhamento" (in the case of Entfremdung) and "exteriorização," "alienação," or "extrusão" (in the case of Entäußerung) have failed to perceive an ambivalent usage—and, from it, an ironic usage—of the terms in German. As a result, they have reduced Marx's internal and ontological critique to an external and distant critique, diverging from Marx's usual procedure. Furthermore, such translation choices have led to over-conceptualizations of the terms, which have done more to mystify them than to clarify them.