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Abstract Hegel’s master-slave dialectic is a profound philosophical theory that discusses the cyclical process of self-consciousness and focuses on the analysis of the two self-consciousness forms of master and slave, and then explores the reversal and cycling of the master-slave relationship. This theory provides an important methodological approach to understanding self-consciousness. In today’s digital capitalist era, the initial intention of human beings in creating digital technology was to turn digital technology into tools and slaves to serve human beings, enhancing the productivity and convenience. However, as digital technology has rapidly developed under the impetus of capital, human consciousness and actions have been monitored and manipulated by digital algorithms invisibly. People have unknowingly become puppets controlled by data. To some extent, people’s self-consciousness has become the object of digital technology’s enslavement, as they are increasingly reliant on technology for daily tasks and decision-making. This article, starting from the theoretical perspective of the master-slave dialectic and its two variations, and taking the process of production and delivery of take-out food as an example, finds that behind the digital technology’s enslavement of human self-consciousness, there is a true master: capital. Digital technology merely serves as a mediation between master and slave. Hegel mentioned three paths: Stoicism, skepticism, and the consciousness of suffering when he discussed the path for self-consciousness to regain freedom, and the ultimate resolution is absolute spirit which represents the ideal state of human self-consciousness. Nevertheless, Marx believed that although it explained the general laws of change and development in the world, the dialectic of absolute spirit was imbued with mysticism. It confined the liberation of human self-consciousness to the spiritual realm, and had no substantive effect on the change of reality. Therefore, to resolve the contradiction between human self-consciousness and digital technology, we must base on the realities of digital capitalist society, and adhere to the historical materialist perspective to surpass and sublate capital so that we truly restore human self-consciousness to freedom and reinstate the subjectivity of human values. Western Marxist scholars have also conducted in-depth research and practice on the internal revolution of capitalism, but the relevant theories of the Frankfurt School and post-Marxists are diametrically opposed to classical Marxism, and most of them have faded into obscurity and failure. The remarkable achievements of Chinese modernization once again prove that the Marx’s theory on the critique and sublation of capital is still the truth of the times. The historical record and practical experience both demonstrate that the development and advancement of human society are gradually achieved through on-going exploration, experimentation, and critical reflection. While the dissolution of private ownership in capitalism necessitates a period, the trajectory of digital capitalism elucidated by historical materialism will ultimately incline towards a concession and accommodation to a direction where digital capital and technology serve humanity, thereby reinstating human value. Simultaneously, the issue of human self-awareness and the reversal and opposition of capital in digital capitalist society also serves as both a caution and an inspiration for socialist practice with Chinese characteristics: we must continually enhance our capacity to govern capital, regulate and steer its sound development, and ultimately guide capital towards a utilitarian trajectory to serve socialist economic progress so that we can realize the goal and mission of seeking happiness for the people and fostering economic development.
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Published: 25 August 2024
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