Research On Digital Labor From The Perspective Of Historical Materialism

This paper mainly discusses the essence of contemporary digital labor and how to understand and dispel the problem of digital alienation,and studies digital labor from the perspective of historical materialism.To study digital labor,we must first analyze the background of its generation.The rapid development of science and technology,the rise of digital capitalism and the deepening development of economic globalization are the background of its generation and development.At the same time,based on Marx’s labor view,the essence of digital labor is analyzed.Although digital labor presents different characteristics and manifestations from traditional industrialized labor,it is still productive labor in essence and the unity of material labor and intangible labor.From the perspective of employment relationship,it can be divided into paid digital labor under employment conditions and unpaid digital labor under non-employment conditions.Secondly,from the perspective of historical materialism,this paper dialectically thinks about the digital labor theory in western academic circles.Through careful analysis,it is concluded that the problem of digital workers creating value in their leisure time will pose a threat to Marx’s labor theory of value,surplus value theory and Marx’s political economy.The purpose of discussing these challenges and threats is to go back to Marx’s labor theory of value and alienation theory to interpret digital goods,digital labor,digital labor surplus value and digital labor alienation,and prove that Marx’s labor theory of value and alienation theory are still applicable in the contemporary era.Finally,from the perspective of historical materialism and future development,we can see the essence of digital labor and its alienation and its resolution path.First,we should realize that the Internet and artificial intelligence in the 21 st century are the new situation of centralization of science and technology.Mankind has experienced from the fascination with tangible machines to the fascination with intangible machines,forming the ideological hegemony of digital technology.Secondly,the situation of people living in digital environment is analyzed.Real people have become "virtual bodies" controlled by technology and "one-dimensional people" who have lost themselves.Third,from the perspective of historical materialism,explore the path of digital alienation.According to Marx’s viewpoint of scientific and technological alienation,it is concluded that the capitalist application of digital technology is the root of digital alienation;At the same time,it is recognized that uncertainty is the inherent attribute of science and technology;Technical ideology shapes the subject consciousness of contemporary people.Fourthly,by reflecting on the cognitive mode and thinking mode under "technical rationality",it is proposed that a new "digital rationality" and a new digital way of life should be established to eliminate contemporary digital alienation.However,we should fundamentally correct the direction of technology utilization,seize the development opportunity of Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era,and realize the co-construction,co-governance and sharing of data.