This paper explores Karol Wojtyła’s/John Paul II’s concept of alienation in relation to its antithesis, participation, within his personalist philosophy. It pursues four objectives. First, it argues that alienation is a fundamental concept in Wojtyła’s thought, as the dialectic between alienation and participation extends his analysis of human fulfillment through action into the social context where actions occur, namely, among other persons. Second, it emphasizes Wojtyła’s distinction between n…
Read moreThis paper explores Karol Wojtyła’s/John Paul II’s concept of alienation in relation to its antithesis, participation, within his personalist philosophy. It pursues four objectives. First, it argues that alienation is a fundamental concept in Wojtyła’s thought, as the dialectic between alienation and participation extends his analysis of human fulfillment through action into the social context where actions occur, namely, among other persons. Second, it emphasizes Wojtyła’s distinction between negative verifications of participation and alienation, a methodological nuance neglected or misunderstood in secondary literature. This distinction underscores the subtlety of Wojtyła’s concept of alienation and the precision required in its interpretation. Third, it expands on Wojtyła’s limited discussion of examples of alienation, arguing for the plausibility of his claim that a unified reality of alienation is present both in concentration camps and technologically advanced capitalism. Finally, it identifies five areas for further research to develop Wojtyła’s foundational insights on alienation.
