Abstract

The aim of this paper is to offer a philosophical reconstruction of the Marxian category generally referred to as "fetishism". The first section analyses this idea as presented in "The Capital". From this starting point, a brief definition of "fetishism" is offered. The second part focuses in particular on the category of technology fetishism and reflects on the the role of technical apparatuses in the Fordist period of capitalism. This section investigates how the capital becomes embodied within machines. The third part addresses some propositions for the rebuilding of the critical category of fetishism in relation to the cognitive transformation of contemporary production systems. Some possible paths for future research are shown, aiming at exploring the new social illusion born in contemporary capitalistic societies.