Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

testing

Satisfactory Essays
396 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
testing
just testing Compare and Contrast the approaches of Marx and Weber to Social Class and Stratification

Social Stratification refers to the hierarchically organised layers of social inequality

Such as status groups, classes and ranks. Two of the most well known sociologists Max Weber (1864-1920) and Karl Marx (1818-1883) studied the concepts of stratification and class in great detail, many of their ideas still have profound influences on people studying sociology today, in this, the modern society.

Karl Marx was born in Trier in the Rhineland. He was later educated at the universities of Berlin, and Bonn it was here that he studied Law and Philosophy. As well as having a great interest in the political economy he also went on to study sociology, interestingly he had acquired experience of social conditions during his travels through Europe.

Much of Marx's work was to do with Social stratification, but it was mostly concerned with class. Marx believed that societies such as hunters and gatherers existed in a Primitive Communist state. Here there was equality and no stratification within the society. However in later years came the introduction of agriculture, thus creating the concept of ownership. The lord of the manor

Religion has long been the subject of speculation and theory. The question of the origin of religion in the human race still remains one of the insoluble mysteries confronting the mind of man. Through this essay I will compare the views of two founding fathers of sociology, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber to see how their views on religion differ.

Max Weber's sociology is the basis of scientific sociology of religion in a sense of typological and objective understanding. Rejecting Karl Marx's evolutionary law of class society, or Emile Durkheim's sustained law of moral society, Weber established the understanding sociology of the subjective meaning of religious action or inaction. To build such knowledge of the understanding objective, he found the methodology of the idyllic type and the elective similarity of connecting relationships. Weber "elaborated a set of categories, such as types of prophecy, the idea of charisma (spiritual power), routinization, and other categories, which became tools to deal with the comparative material; he was thus the real founder of comparative sociology." 1 Weber holds that there is no universal law of society as supposed in natural science, or the law of history which determines the course of the dynam

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Module 3 Quiz: Sociology

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages

    3. While Karl Marx viewed social class as the influential factor for other inequalities in a capitalist society, Max Weber also included status and _______ as affecting one’s position in the stratification hierarchy.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Testing

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages

    This course provides a systematic treatment of the fundamentals of the theory and practice of Finance. The course will consist of lectures, case studies, and reviews of homework. It is designed to provide students with a broad, systematic view of finance in the corporate context. By the end of the class, successful students will be able to analyze firm performance, value financial assets, determine the cost of capital, evaluate capital structure and dividend policies, and know the basics of raising capital in order to make informed investment and financing decisions. Topic areas will include financial performance measurement, valuation, capital budgeting, capital market theory, basics of investments, cost of capital, raising capital, and capital structure and dividends.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Marxism – Karl Marx was born in Germany in 1818 to reasonably affluent parents: Hirschel (a lawyer) and Henrietta Marx. Although originally Jewish, to avoid anti-Semitism, Hirschel changed to Protestantism and also adopted the more socially acceptable first name of Heinrich when Karl was a child. Marx attended Bonn University but spent most of his time socialising and, under instruction from his father moved to Berlin University. It was here that Marx met Bruno Bauer and was introduced to the writings of Hegel who impressed Marx with his theories that “a thing or thought could not be separated from its opposite. For example, the slave could not exist without the master, and vice versa” (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUmarx.htm 29-10-12) Marx moved to Cologne and it was when he was here he met Moses Hess who called himself a socialist. He attended socialist meetings where the members told him how deprived the German working class were. After hearing these stories he decided to write an article but when warned he may be arrested he decided to move to France. It was while in France that Marx started mixing with the working class for the first time. He hadn’t seen or experienced the kind of poverty in the working class as he had been used to moving in a different, more affluent social circle. Marxism is a structural theory which considers society to be divided into two main social classes; The Rulers and the Workers. The…

    • 1470 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Testing

    • 1293 Words
    • 6 Pages

    While working in the Financial Aid field I have had the privilege of working with a number of different individuals of diverse backgrounds. I have come across people from all walks of life, including those with severe disabilities, individuals with limited resources, and even individuals with different cultural and ethical backgrounds. Each encounter has been unique in its own way with learning experiences that I have carried with me through my years of employment. Additionally when growing up I grew up in a very diverse area and have had personal experiences with working with people of various ethnicities, social, economical and physical backgrounds. Through the years I have learned to never judge a book by its cover and have learned that working with different types of people may have its challenges at times, but it is never impossible to work with different types of people regardless of their backgrounds. With my life experiences, both professionally and personally, working with such a broad range of individuals has assisted me in growing professionally and has shown me that I have the ability to work with just about anyone I come in contact with. As with anything in life, the effort and understanding that you apply to the situation is what you will get out of it. slfjsdfjlfjsldfjdlfkjas fj jfakfjfjaffjalkfj afjaflajfajfajfalsfjalfka kldfjafj akdfjafj;af ljdfafl;ajfWhile working in the Financial Aid field I have had the privilege of working with a number of different individuals of diverse backgrounds. I have come across people from all walks of life, including those with severe disabilities, individuals with limited resources, and even individuals with different cultural and ethical backgrounds. Each encounter has been unique in its own way with learning experiences that I have carried with me through my years of employment. Additionally when growing up I grew up in a very diverse area and have had personal experiences with working with people of various…

    • 1293 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    There are two main traditions within the concept of social class and its effect on identity. These traditions are in the works of Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Max Weber (1864-1920). While they differ in the understanding of class and society, they share views on classes structured out of economic relationships.…

    • 801 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sociology chapter 7

    • 408 Words
    • 2 Pages

    According to Karl Marx social class depends on a factor of a person’s relationship to the means of production. He distinguished two classes: owner of the means of production (bourgeoisie) and a worker who works on these factories, tools and land, proletariat. Marx believed that person’s life is shaped only with regard of what he owns and what he works on. Max Weber believed that social class is made up of three elements: property, power and prestige. According to Weber, property is the main source of power however, other components are interrelated too.…

    • 408 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Social Class Matters

    • 1372 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Approximately 100 years after the development of the class system, around the mid-nineteenth century, Karl Marx used class to support his explanation of the social organizational process. According to Marx’s theory, at that time, there were only two categories of social class, the owners who controlled the money, means, and industries, and the workers who labored for modest wages (Nesbit, 2005). In contrast to Marx’s theory, many other sociologists, including Max Weber, believe there were more than two distinct categories in the socially stratified system. Weber’s sociological perspective was that classes were not based solely on materialism, processes, or performances, but also on values, lifestyle, and culture. French philosopher, sociologist, and anthropologist, Pierre Bourdieu agreed with Weber in his more humanistic view, adding a few other stratifying factors such as age, race, gender, and ethnicity to the external class structure. Other supporters of the…

    • 1372 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Religion is a cultural universal and plays an important role in human societies. Emile Durkheim was perhaps the first sociologist to recognize the importance of religion in human societies. (Schaefer, R. T., 2003). In his research, Durkheim viewed religion as a set of beliefs and practices specifically connected to religion as opposed to other institutions. Following his direction, contemporary sociologists study the norms and values of religion through their own religious beliefs and through the interpretation of the Bible by Christians and the Koran by Muslim groups. Despite the widely spread discussions of conflict between Christians and other religions, most…

    • 2156 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Sociology - Class

    • 1837 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Both sociologists have agreed that economical factors were crucial in the shaping of social class and the inequalities of society. The key difference within these two theories is that Marx believes that two groups within society are important in understanding the workings of society, his groups are divided by the ownership of the means of production (property assets). Where Weber believes there are many more important groups and strata within those groups that need to be understood. Weber realised that there was other groups that needed to be recognised, as there is important conflict within Marx’s two classes, which needs to be understood to comprehend how the society operates.…

    • 1837 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religious Experience

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Marx’s challenges to religious experience arguments are sociological; he suggested that the origins of religious experience are to be found in society.…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are two primary views on the issue of whether religion is a force for social change in society. Certain theorists adopt the view that religion is a conservative force, maintaining the status quo, whereas other theorists have the belief that religion is a force for social change, bringing about revolutions in society. With all views, the lack of a universal definition of religion remains a problem. Marx for example would argue that religion inhibits social change as it legitimises and justifies the status quo, whereas this contrasts Weber’s belief would be that religion can cause social change as it helped the development of capitalism.…

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A religion can be seen as a unified system of beliefs and practices which are relative to sacred things and beliefs (Giddens 1972, p.224). It can shape ones thoughts and feelings and gives people a sense of hope and something to believe in. All three main sociologist writers Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim offer different perspectives on religion and how important it is to society. Some of the theorists chose to have a positive view whilst others argue the unimportance of religion. This essay attempts to discover which theorist has the most accurate perspective of religion in modern times. This is done by firstly explaining the basic ideas regarding to religion put forward by Marx, Weber and Durkheim. Then both Marx's and Durkheim's thought will be compared and contrasted in order to determine the differences and similarities between their ideas. Finally, it will be explained which one of the theorists views and ideas are the most relevant to contemporary times and why.…

    • 1387 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Max Weber Research Paper

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages

    I chose to write about Max Weber because of the three founding fathers of Sociology (Marx, Durkheim and Weber) I found Max Weber to be the most interesting and well-rounded sociologist. Max Weber had many influences in his life. These influences helped to develop his sociological theories. I will examine what I feel are the three main components of his sociological beliefs; Protestant Ethic, Capitalism and Rationalization. I will also discuss Weber’s background as I feel that it impacted his views and his Sociological theories.…

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion and religious institutions play a powerful role in influencing a society and the lives of its members. The sociological traditions of Marx and Durkheim view religion totally differently, yet they both agree that religion is a very important aspect of a society. During his career, Marx spoke little on the subject of religion. However, “what is lacking in volume is made up for in vigor and comprehensiveness. Some of Marx’s best-known obitera are about religion. It…

    • 3491 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Cited: Society. J. Macionis, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 10th edition, 2009. Exploring Religious Meaning. Robert C. Monk.Walter C. Hofheinz.Kenneth T.Lawrence.Joseph D. Stamey.Bert Affleck.Tetsunao Yamamori, Upper Saddle River, NJ:Prentice-Hall, 6th edition, 2003 "Sociology of religion." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 7 Nov 2009, 23:59 UTC. 18 Nov 2009 . William Ernest Hensley, “Invictus,”Poems( New York: Scribner, 1919), p.119 “Sociological Perspectives on Religion”…

    • 2095 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics