According to Nussbaum (discussing Marx), the objectification of workers in a capitalist society exhibits instrumentality.

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The question frames a claim about Nussbaum’s discussion of Marx and the objectification of workers in a capitalist society as exhibiting instrumentality.
First, consider what instrumentality means in this context: treating people as mere means to an end, rather than as ends in themselves with intrinsic value.
Next, recall the Marxian critique embedded in capitalist arrangements: workers are reduced to the value of their labor, bought and sold as commodities, and their social status depends on their productive capacity. This portrayal aligns closely with objectification by instrumentality, where human beings are valued primarily for their utility to the capitalist system rather than for their own inherent dignity.
Then, reflect on how Nussbaum engages with these ideas through a reception of Marx: the emphasis on alienation, exploitation, and the commodification of labor supports an interpretation in which workers are positioned as instrumental means within the system, not as autonomous ends in themselves.
On the other hand, one might consider potential caveats. Some readings could argue that Nussbaum’s own framework emphasizes capabilities and human flourishing, which might complicate a purely instrumental reading by foregrounding what people are capable of becoming rather than only how they are used. However, the core Marxian critique of objectification—treating workers as instruments in the accumulation process—remains a central element of the traditional interpretation in this context.
In sum, the claim that the objectification of workers in a capitalist system exhibits instrumentality is consistent with the classic Marxian critique as discussed by Nussbaum in her engagement with Marxist thought, given the emphasis on workers being valued for their productive use rather than as ends in themselves.

PHI 007Y 001 SS1 2025 Week 3 Quiz

According to Nussbaum (discussing Marx), the objectification of workers in a capitalist society exhibits instrumentality.

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