> So... an autonomous, self realized human being is just another way of saying a human being? What additional meaning does it impart then?
The thing is that the worker loses these innate human characteristics, such as being autonomous and self realized, by becoming an economic entity in a capitalist setting. That is how I understand it.
> So Tony would be not-alienated and Tommy working at McDonalds would be only meet 1/3 of the alienation criteria?
Perhaps it is important to consider the notion of sense of provided value. As Tommy, I wouldn't feel like what I'm doing is meaningful. I'm preparing low quality unhealthy food and I could be replaced at any time, making me similar to a tool. I agree tho that as Tony I wouldn't probably feel alienated.
But as I've never worked as a cook, perhaps it is easier to describe alienation as a software developer.
I'll take as an example 2 distinct jobs I had.
One in a small startup with a very flat hierarchy, where I was involved in most technical decisions and I met customers and users. It was a B2B model so I couldn't technically own the product I contributed to make, but I was somehow convinced that it would provide some value for the "greater good".
The other job was in a medium sized startup, where technical decisions were imposed from the top and I had very little agency. Being a large product, my contributions would only have tiny effects on the final result. I was "checked on" daily by anxious managers. I had no contact with our users, and this wasn't the kind of product people would make grateful reviews about.
Can you guess where is it that I felt alienated?