By alienation is meant a mode of experience in which the person experiences himself as an alien. He has become, one might say, estranged from himself. He does not experience himself as the center of his world, as the creator of his own acts -- but his acts and their consequences have become his masters, whom he obeys, or whom he may even worship. The alienated person is out of touch with himself as he is out of touch with any other person. He, like the others, is experienced as things are experienced; with the senses and with common sense, but at the same time without being related to oneself and to the world outside positively.

Summary

This quote explains the concept of alienation as a state in which an individual perceives themselves as detached and foreign to their own self. It conveys the feeling of estrangement and disconnection from one's sense of inner identity. The person no longer sees themselves as the central force in their life, nor as the creator of their own actions. Instead, they become subordinate to their actions and the consequences that follow, perceiving them as masters or even objects of worship. This feeling of alienation extends beyond self and affects their relationships with others, causing a sense of detachment from others and the world around them.

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