...tony.varley@nuigalway.ie Course Description: The classical sociological tradition has been heavily dominated by the writings of Marx, Weber and Durkheim. Each of these three theorists has carved out a distinctive approach to the study of society and, in the process, has contributed substantially to our understanding of the transition from pre-modern to modern society. There are many who would argue that the ideas of these three classical figures continue to have much to offer to an understanding of contemporary society and politics. There are several possible ways to study the ideas of Marx, Weber and Durkheim. In this course we will attempt to take a thematic and comparative approach by comparing the views of Marx, Weber and Durkheim on a number of central topics. We will look therefore at their ideas concerning the methods appropriate to the study of society, their views on class and the division of labour, on democratic politics and the state and on culture, religion and ideology. Our discussion will begin with a consideration of what a ‘classical’ tradition might look like in the social sciences; and of why Marx, Weber and Durkheim merit inclusion as the most significant members within such a tradition. For a fuller appreciation of the classical tradition in social theory there is no substitute for a reading of the original writings of Marx, Durkheim and Weber. As these writings are very extensive, we will rely on a number of commentaries – principally those by Morrison...
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...Karl Marx is the most influential socialist thinker during the 19 century. Karl Marx story is that he mostly likely gets ignored by many scholars. Karl Marx’s ways of thinking and ideas only gain attention and acceptance after he died, which to me that is very sad but also glad it gains attentions because if it didn’t it’s going to be wasted. After reading chapter one about Karl Marx I’m impressed. He’s only 23 and already got a doctorate degree. What surprised me is Karl Marx was not a professor even with his doctorate degree but spend most of his life in exile and poverty, and also got kicked out from many country. Lee is a University student he know Karl Marx because he’s also in sociology class once. He’s looked calm and neutral when...
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...Karl Marx: Sociologist of the 19th Century Karl Marx: Sociologist of the 19th Century Karl Marx was a man who was way ahead of his time. He was born in modern day Germany in 1818. He came from a long line of rabbis but decided not to follow that lifestyle. At the age of 17 he decided to attend Bonn University. He was taking law classes at Bonn University, but a year later he enrolled at the University of Berlin. While attending Berlin Karl Marx joined a group called Young Hegelians. This was a radical group full of students who criticized religion and politics. This was really the first noted time that Marx questioned authority, but would not be the last. Karl Marx graduated from school with his doctorates in 1941 at the age of 23 years old (Wolff 2003) In 1842 Marx got his first real job as an editor for the newspaper Rheinische Zeitung (Parsons 1964.) A year after acquiring this job the government ordered suppression of the newspaper, which caused Marx to quit. Shortly after resigning as editor Marx got married to his long time fiancé. They two of them moved to Paris in 1843. While in Paris, Marx worked for a paper while also working on a political journal. The writings Marx had in this newspaper got him expelled from France. (Wolff 2003) The first political journal that Marx worked on was titled Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher. There was only one issue of this published before Marx and his co-writer got into a disagreement and decided to not continue...
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...February 27, 2012 SOC 200 Karl Marx Growing up in communist Romania in the 70’s and 80’s, deprived of the most basic liberties, as young children we were indoctrinated with communist ideas and schools were used merely as platforms in which curriculum strictly controlled with the purpose of instilling in youth communist principles. Karl Marx’s portrait would hang in every classroom above the old blackboard and his theories were studied and celebrated in every history book, literature book, economics, or any book for that matter. Sociology and Psychology were considered pseudo-sciences under the communist reign and therefore forbidden in schools. As Romanian history books were altered from the truth, describing only his greatest achievements and never the flaws, for the purpose of this project I was rather intrigued to research Karl Marx – I hated him for so many years - and take a really close look at who he actually was, and how he impacted the study of Sociology. I knew that he established the basis of communist ideology, and I have lived for twenty years through the atrocities committed by his followers, but I never really had the interest ( until now) to understand what influenced and drove him into envisioning and writing his proposals for change. Karl Marx was born in 1818 in the German Rhineland (Prussia). He was a philosopher, journalist and economist and even though he produced little that earned him money or recognition during...
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...Comparison and Contrast of Theories of Karl Marx, Max Weber and Émile Durkheim. While influence on modern social science can be traced to many revolutionary figures, perhaps none had greater influence on modern social science than three social theorists/sociologists, Karl Marx and Émile Durkheim who have been known as principle architects of modern social science. Although modern theory of sociology was founded by Max Webber and Émile Durkheim, Karl Marx has had a profound impact on the evolution of modern sociology. Each of the three figures contributed to sociology in many ways through different approaches to social class and inequality. Many might argue that there are similarities between these sociologists’ theories and that they examined ideas that were similar; however, they all came to different conclusions. Karl Marx was influenced by political economists who believed that the cost of production was determined by the amount of labor. Along with these and other influences, Karl Marx approached social problems and inequalities through his theory of alienation, which focuses on separation of things that naturally belong together. Marx’s theory further describes estrangement of individuals from their human nature as results a society divided into social classes. Karl Marx argued that class is decided by ownership or non-ownership of production. He also saw class as having connection to the means of production while Max weber’s idea of alienation is based on the concept...
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...RESPONSE PAPER “Contributions made by KARL MARX, MAX WEBER and EMILE DURKHEIM to the research methodology used in social sciences” INTRODUCTION The paper mainly concerns the contributions of MARX, WEBER and DURKHEIM to the methodology in social sciences. The various methodologies in social sciences establish a connection with the societal implications which have a large impact over the society and its normative effects. Referring to the contributions by the following sociologists, all have a different and influential impact on the factors of society. The methodology of various sociologists reflects their attitude towards the society and its various customs and traditions. The following mentioned are the various methodologies adopted by sociologists in the field of social sciences. Marxist sociology emerged around late 19th/early 20th century, influenced by the thought of Karl Marx. Marx is seen as one of the most influential thinkers in early sociology, alongside thinkers such as Max Weber and Émile Durkheim. KARL MARX The theory propounded by Karl Marx is Marxism; in a nutshell it is the theory and practice of working-class emancipation. Marxism is also a method of looking at the world. One of the most important foundations of Marx's method was dialectical thought. Marx relied a lot on historical materialism and dialecticism to propound his theories in social science. Marx relied heavily on these two methods for...
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...: Discuss the Contributions of Max Weber as a Founding Father of Sociology | Max Weber born as Karl Emil Maxmillian Webe (1864 – 1920); a German Sociologist, philosopher and political economist with ideas that influenced; social theory, social research and entire discipline of sociology. Weber as one of the three known founding fathers of Sociology is mostly cited with the other founding fathers; Karl Marx and Emil Durkheim in social field. Weber has been prominent in methodological antipositivism, where he argues the study of social action through interpretation of ideas. In his arguments, Weber sees the urge to look at ideas, especially the meanings put onto things and the role of changes of ideas that contribute to society and social changes. His main concern was to understand the processes of rationalization, secularization and disenchantment that he associated with the rise of capitalism and modernity; which resulted to a new way of thinking about the world. He used the German word “verstehen” to discuss deeper understanding of the meanings people put to things; a word that is still used in today’s sociology to analyze the important elements of culture and society. Weber was best known for his thesis combining economic sociology and the sociology of religion as explained in his book: “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” which he proposed that ascetic Protestanism was one of the major elective affinities associate with the rise in Western world of...
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...ARUSHA CAMPUS | DIPLOMA IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – Y1S1 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | | GRACE RUHINDA HD122-CO11-0247/2013 | 5/28/2014 | ASSIGNMENT 1: Discuss the Contributions of Max Weber as a Founding Father of Sociology | Max Weber born as Karl Emil Maxmillian Webe (1864 – 1920); a German Sociologist, philosopher and political economist with ideas that influenced; social theory, social research and entire discipline of sociology. Weber as one of the three known founding fathers of Sociology is mostly cited with the other founding fathers; Karl Marx and Emil Durkheim in social field. Weber has been prominent in methodological antipositivism, where he argues the study of social action through interpretation of ideas. In his arguments, Weber sees the urge to look at ideas, especially the meanings put onto things and the role of changes of ideas that contribute to society and social changes. His main concern was to understand the processes of rationalization, secularization and disenchantment that he associated with the rise of capitalism and modernity; which resulted to a new way of thinking about the world. He used the German word “verstehen” to discuss deeper understanding of the meanings people put to things; a word that is still used in today’s sociology to analyze the important elements of culture and society. Weber was best known for his thesis combining economic sociology and the sociology of religion as explained in his book: “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit...
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...What is sociology? Sociology is the study of how society is organised and how we experience life. Sociology examines how our behavior individually and in groups is influenced by social processes and what that means. Sociology studies people in their everyday environments at every level. Sociologists study a variety of things including human interaction which means people’s behavior with others in any situation for example, a teacher with their students. These interactions and roles lead to social institutions such as family or mass media. These institutions all form the social structure which is linked to the way in which a whole society is organised. Sociologists have advanced theories about how society works, this is due to the fact that it is a controversial issue where sociologists have different opinions and so different perspectives about how society works. Sociology involves looking at social trends and patterns of behavior e.g. different behavior’s in a classroom and different explanations for things. Within sociology, there are many different theories created by sociologists such as Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx, who all worked in the 19th / early 20th centuries. Emile Durkheim believed that sociology was a separate science from other subjects and should concern itself with the scientific study of social facts. Max Weber was concerned with studying sociology from the point of view of social actions. Karl Marx believed that everything that happens in society...
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...Five men in history, Karl Marx, Max Weber, Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer and Emile Durkheim were known as the founding fathers of modern Sociology. Though from different time periods, their ideas and contributions reflected one another and showed great progression in Social Science. Auguste Comte was born in 1798 in France and had a significant part in the formation of sociology. Comte was the founder of French positivism and Comte can also be given credit for inventing or coining the term sociology. Herbert Spencer was born in 1820 in England and known as the second founder of sociology. Auguste Comte and Herbert Spencer were two of sociology’s first great theorists. Both Comte and Spencer studied society and the many ways in which people in society interact. Both theorists agree on certain issues pertaining to society and social science, yet they completely differ on their views of the function of sociology. Spencer and Comte both realize that there is an order of co-existence in society. Society itself is made up of several components and parts which are subject to change and progress, thus altering society as a whole with these changes. With regards to the function of sociology, Comte believed that sociology was important due to the fact that it acted as a guide for people in order to make a better society. Comte saw evolution as very important and believed that every society went through three stages. These include; the theological stage, the abstract stage and the...
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...Weber (1864-1920) was a German scholar. Weber differed greatly with the views of Karl Marx, who attributed societal change to economic motivators. Weber, on the other hand, found that religion was the institution that ushered in social upheaval. Defining Protestant ethic, Weber made the claim that these believers longed for a sign from God for moral acceptance. This sign, Weber argued, is financial favoritism. Therefore, according to Protestant ethic, capitalism was born as a means to ensure entrance to heaven. Furthermore, Weber coined “the spirt of capitalism” to define a person’s willingness and desire to earn more money, to be more favored by god (Essentials 7-8). Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German thinker, often misunderstood to be founder of communism (Essentials 5). While Marx did not develop the concept, his ideologies continue to transcend through modern sociological arguments. Often described as the Conflict Theory, Marx hypothesized that the world contains many clusters of humans who are all fighting over in-demand resources (Bartle). Indeed, this theoretical perspective includes both the weak and the strong, and how they struggle. The weak, or the proletariat, are the exploited working class under the rule of the powerful bourgeoisie. Marx believes that “the workers will unite and...
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...Introduction This essay intends to explicitly compare Karl Marx and Emile David Durkheim ideas on religion from a sociological and functionalist perspective. Functionalists’ belief that religion is beneficial for both the community and its members e.g. it unifies the society which in turn gives each individual member a source of support when they need it. It will begin with their brief historical backgrounds, definition of religion as well as their similarities and differences in studying it. Karl Marx Marx was born in Prussia on May 5, 1818. He began exploring sociopolitical theories at university among the Young Hegelians. He became a journalist, and his socialist writings would get him expelled from Germany and France. In 1848, he published The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels and was exiled to London, where he wrote the first volume of Das Kapital and lived the remainder of his life (Engels, 1869). Marx is considered as one of the founders of economic history and sociology. Emile Durkheim According to Jones (1986) “David Emile Durkheim was born in France, on April 15, 1857 and raised in a Jewish family with his father as a rabbi. Emile was, thus destined for the rabbinate, and a part of his early education was spent in a rabbinical school” (p.12). Durkheim is considered the father of modern sociology and well known for his work on Division of Labour in 1912. Definition of Religion Both Marx and Durkheim have rather contrasting definitions of what religion...
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...Find out what the Communist Manifesto is. Learn the main ideas of each chapter of the Manifesto, and the points of communism's political platform. Read the lesson, then take a quiz to test your new knowledge. We also recommend watching Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels: The Communist Manifesto and Balcony Scene in Romeo and Juliet: Summary, Analysis & Quiz The Communist Manifesto The Communist Manifesto is a brief publication that declares the arguments and platform of the communist party. It was was written in 1847 by political theorists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, and was commissioned by the Communist League, a political party based in England. Summary The Communist Manifesto was published in 1848, and consists of a preamble and four chapters, which are summarized below: Bourgeois and Proletarians In this chapter, Marx famously states 'The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles'. The chapter lays out the position that the bourgeois, through competition and private ownership of land, are forever exploiting and oppressing the proletariat (working class). Marx then states that the system always results in class conflict and revolution, and should be replaced by communism -- a society without class distinctions. Proletarians and Communists This chapter explains the relationship between the communist party and other working parties, stating that the communist parties would not organize against them. The chapter also declares the...
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...CONTRIBUTORS IN SOCIOLOGY Auguste Comte-(1898-1857) He is considered as father of sociology. Comte was born at Montpellier, in France. He founded the philosophy of positivism, and originated a concept of social science known as sociology. Comte sought to discover the laws that he believed governed the evolution of the mind. In his six-volume work, The Course of Positive Philosophy (1830-1842), he framed his "law of the three states." This law advanced the idea that people try to understand phenomena in three ways. Comte believed that people first seek a theological (supernatural) explanation; then a metaphysical (abstract) explanation; and finally a positive explanation. The positive explanation is derived from an objective examination of the phenomena. Comte believed that students should concern themselves only with phenomena that have an objective, "positive," existence. This belief forms a basis of positivism. He also has given importance to "social static and social Mobility" and cleared that changes of society can be understood on these basis. His contribution in field of Social reconstruction is related to social welfare of human beings, which should be studied with social methods. Comte regarded all social thought as an interrelated whole, the laws of which can be found by assembling what he considered the facts. His ideas have influenced students of historical and social theory, and of criminology, and such authors as Herbert Spencer and John Stuart...
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...KARL MARX Karl Heinrich Marx (5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, sociologist, historian, political economist, political theorist and revolutionary socialist, who developed the socio-political theory of Marxism. His ideas play a significant role in both the development of social science and also in the socialist political movement. Marx's theories about society, economics and politics, which are collectively known as Marxism, hold that all society progresses through class struggle. He was heavily critical of the current form of society, capitalism, which he called the "dictatorship of the bourgeoisie", believing it to be run by the wealthy middle and upper classes purely for their own benefit, and predicted that, like previous socioeconomic systems, it would inevitably produce internal tensions which would lead to its self-destruction and replacement by a new system, socialism. Marx polemic with other thinkers often occurred through critique, and thus he has been called "the first great user of critical method in social sciences. Fundamentally, Marx assumed that human history involves transforming human nature, which encompasses both human beings and material objects. Humans recognise that they possess both actual and potential selves. Marx had a special concern with how people relate to that most fundamental resource of all, their own labour power.[120] He wrote extensively about this in terms of the problem of alienation. Refers to the separation...
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