Exploitation in Karl Marx and the Question of Human Dignity in Nigeria

Abstract

The dignity of the human person has been a central contemporary issue within the realm of philosophy. Thus, the philosopher is daily confronted with the task of deciphering the essence and ultimate meaning of human existence. Every human being has a dignity that must be protected and respected and it is in the quest to protect this dignity, laws are drafted and enacted. Historically, people have always protested against cases of inhumanity meted out to human beings by fellow beings as in the END SARS protest that took place in October 2021. Therefore, this study is an attempt to analyze the human condition to determine the extent to which the dignity of the human person has been undermined in Nigeria and how it can be restored using the Marxist perspective of exploitation and alienation within the capitalist system. This has led to questions such as: What determines social relations among humans in society? How justifiable is it for those who have to oppress those who do not have? Is equal treatment ever possible in human society? If yes, what system or tool then can bring about such a possibility? How is exploitation birthed in human society? How has inequality been birthed in human society, and how is this applicable to the Nigerian context? How has the Nigerian situation alienated from certain institutions which they ought to belong to or enjoy? And how can exploitation be minimized and the dignity of the human person be restored in Nigeria? Using the analytic method, this work, in line with the Marxist perspective, maintains that the human person is a dignified being, making it wrong for him to be treated as a mere object to achieve an end. Consequently, this work, like Karl Marx, discourages any form of capitalist system or agenda in Nigeria on the basis that such a system encourages exploitation and objectification of the human person.