Axel Honneth and Digital Alienation New Perspectives on Social Theory between Labor Process, Sociology and Social Philosophy

Abstract

Axel Honneth's Theory of Recognition has engaged first with the sociology of Nancy Fraser and subsequently with new perspectives in social philosophy, aiming to merge the thematic legacy of the Frankfurt School with European and American political thought. Honneth's research has proven to be a decisive tool in reconstructing the theoretical and operational challenges of recent years, as evidenced by various scholars' accounts (Tekin, 2023; Piromalli, 2023). Particularly, given the digital transition in workplaces and the widespread acceleration of technological updates (Rosa, 2016), labor unions and researchers have highlighted that workers' primary concerns today revolve around the loss of freedom and recognition of their contributions, rather than traditional worries about wages or working hours. In this paper, we seek to delve into the connection between the Theory of Recognition and current modes of digitalization, aiming to demonstrate how Honneth's thought can help us understand and define what appears to be a form of digital alienation. Through a theoretical and operational analysis of some productive and social processes, this work aims to elucidate the significance of Honneth's work for contemporary interpretative frameworks of digital transition at both the labor and philosophical levels.