ALIENAÇÃO, PAUPERISMO E “QUESTÃO SOCIAL”

Abstract

The following article exposes the causal links that connects alienation, pauperism and the “social issue”, with the aim to demonstrate the system of causalities between these phenomenons that are founded on the same material and human bases. It is observed that, although the productive forces have reached a degree of development never seen before, human individuals are subjected to the condition of absolute and relative poverty. It is understood that the same set of causalities that produces the relative overpopulation also produces the process of workers’ impoverishment, and represents the foundations on which different expressions of the “social issue” arise, as well as the various forms of human alienation. These phenomena are historically costly to humanity and, particularly, to Social Work as a profession.

Keywords

• alienation
• pauperism
• “social issue”