Definition

1. Adjective:

   • In itself / per se: Refers to the inherent, intrinsic, or essential nature of something, considered independently, without external relations, influences, or purposes.
   • For its own sake: Describes an action or state pursued as an end in itself, not as a means to another end.

2. Philosophical/Sociological Term:

   • Class-in-itself: A Marxist concept denoting a social class whose members share an objective economic position but lack collective consciousness or organized political awareness of their common interests.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Sự thật tự thân đã có giá trị. (The truth has value in itself.)
  • Anh ấy yêu nghệ thuật một cách tự thân. (He loves art for its own sake.)

• Philosophical/Sociological Term:

  • Giai cấp công nhân lúc đầu chỉ là giai cấp tự thân. (Initially, the working class was merely a class-in-itself.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in formal, academic, or philosophical contexts to denote intrinsic properties or objective existence without subjective awareness.
• Often contrasts with "tự giác" (conscious, for-itself), especially in dialectical theory.

Variants and Related Words

• Tự giác (adj): Conscious, self-aware; a class becoming a "class-for-itself."
• Tự tại (adj): Independent, self-contained, at ease.

Synonyms

• Intrinsic: belonging naturally; essential.
• Per se: by or in itself.
• As an end in itself: for its own sake.

Related Concepts

• Class consciousness: The awareness a social class has of its common interests and historical role (the state opposite to "tự thân").
• Immanent: existing or operating within.