Title: The Sociology of Karl Marx Part Two: Classical Social Theory
1The Sociology of Karl Marx Part Two Classical
Social Theory
- Agenda
- Objective
- 1. To understand the sociology of Karl Marx and
its contributions to the field of sociology. - Schedule
- Lecture, Discussion, and Video Clips developing
the social theory of Karl Marx -
- Homework
- 1. Country Boys Reflection Due Thurs 9/20
- 2. Read Marx Packet keep track of evidence
of your work. - 3. Critical Thinking Assignments Due Wed 10/17
- 4. Marx, Weber, Durkheim Paper Due Wed 10/24
2What is Classical Theory?
- Wrapping Up From Last Class
3What is Classical Social Theory? Background
- Many of the seeds for what would later become
sociology were first planted in the Enlightenment
(late 1600s to late 1700s). - During the Enlightenment, a number of
long-standing ideas and beliefs were turned
upside down. - One of the new ideas
- introduced was the
- notion that science and
- reason could be used to
- understand both the
- physical and natural
- world.
4What is Classical Social Theory? Background
- The rise of science in turn gave birth to
sociology in the mid 1800s. - The central idea behind the new discipline of
sociology was that society could be the subject
of scientific examination just like biological
organisms or the physical properties of material
objects. - In fact, sociology was originally called social
physics - The goal of early sociologists was to
uncover--rationally and scientifically--the laws
of the social world.
5What is Classical Social Theory? Background
- While sociology as a
- discipline arises out of the
- Enlightenment it is the
- changes brought on by the
- Industrial Revolution
- (late 1700s to early 1900s)
- that gave new impetus to
- the field.
- The new field of sociology sought to understand
the causes and effects of the dramatic economic,
social, and political developments occurring
during the Industrial Revolution. - The writings of these sociologists form the basis
of classical theory.
6What is Classical Social Theory?
- Classical social theory refers to the work of
early sociologists who sought to understand the
revolutionary change occurring in 19th century
society. - We will read works by three classical social
theorists - Karl Marx
- Emile Durkheim
- Max Weber
- Together they form the
- trinity of classical
- sociological thought.
Weber
Durkheim
Marx
7Why Study Classical Social Theory?
- Many students find it difficult to understand and
interpret what classical theorists have to say. - Many more wonder what the point is of studying
the ideas of old, dead, white guys how are their
ideas relevant to our world today. - There are two reasons why studying the works of
classical social theorists are important - The ideas articulated by classical theorists lay
the foundation of sociology as a discipline. - The theories they put forth still guide
contemporary theory and research. - For example, we are still concerned with the
nature of capitalism, the role of authority in
social life, the dynamics of gender and racial
oppression. - The concepts and ideas introduced by classical
theorists thus help us to better understand our
world today.
8Plan for Our Study of the Classical Theorists
- Discuss assignments
- and plan of study.
9The Social Theory of Karl Marx
10Karl Marx
- 1818-1883
- German
- Attended the University of Berlin and earned a
doctorate in Philosophy. - While in university he joined a radical leftist
group called the Young Hegelians. - After graduation he earned a reputation as a
radical and was exiled to London. - Spent most of his career living in poverty while
writing his famous works.
11Friederich Engels
- 1820 1895
- German
- Self-educated in philosophy
- Worked in England for his fathers textile firm
where he personally observed the working
conditions of industrial English workers - Financially supported Marx throughout his career
12 13Marxism
- Together, Marx and Engels are the founder of
Marxism - Set of political, economic, historical, and
sociological ideas put forth by Karl Marx and
Fredrich Engels. - Key Texts
- Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844
(1844) - The German Ideology (1845)
- The Communist Manifesto (1848)
- Das Capital (1867)
14Marxism Historical Context
- Like all of the classical theorists we will study
Marx and Engels are writing against the backdrop
of the Industrial Revolution. - They are particularly appalled at the development
of capitalism and the problems it created in an
industrial society. - What is capitalism?
- What problems did it create
- in an industrialized society?
- It is in their engagement
- with and thinking about this
- new capitalist and industrial
- world that drives the
- development of Marxist ideology.
15View of Human Nature and History
- Marxs view of human nature is the starting point
of his theory. - It is from his understanding of human nature that
all other assumptions derive. - Marx says that what is unique about human nature
is that humans possess species-being. - What is species-being?
16Species-Being
- What makes humans unique from animals is that
humans create. - Moreover, in the act of creating humans come to
see their own nature. - When we create, we come alive, we become most
human. - We relish in the act of creation, we see
ourselves - We achieve our Platonic Form
- Material production is supposed to be the
conduit through which human nature is expressed,
and the product ought to act as a mirror that
reflects back our own nature - Allen (p. 43)
17From Human Nature to Human History
- Because creating is what makes a human a human,
if we want o understand how man has experienced
life over time, we must understand his
relationship to production over time. - Marx is an Economic Determinist The economy is
the defining factor of human existence. - It is the substructure from
- which all other superstructures (politics,
education, art, culture, religion, etc) is
derived.
18Marxs Theory of History
- To understand mans experience across
time/history we have to understand mans
experience in the economy. - Marx Theory of History is Material Dialectic (or
Dialectical Materialism)
19Hegelian Dialectic
- Hegel saw history as a dialectic driven by ideas
(idealism). - For Hegel history was always moving forward
toward some end point by the clashing of old
ideas (thesis) with new ideas (antithesis) and
eventually settling at a new equilibrium (the
synthesis) until the whole process starts over
again.
20Hegelian Dialectic Example
Belief in the absolute rule of kings
The belief in the ideas of liberty, equality, and
fraternity generated by the French Revolution
The creation of constitutional monarchies
21Marxs Dialect Material Dialectic
- Marx, however, disagrees with Hegel that history
is driven by the clashing of ideas. - Instead, Marx believes that what drives history?
22Material Dialectic
- Changes in the
- means of
- production, not
- ideas, are what
- drive history
- The dynamics of
- history are to be found in the economic
system. In particular, class conflict and class
relations.
23Class Conflict
- What are classes?
- Economic groups defined in terms of their
relationship to the means of production - In any given society, there have always been two
groups - Oppressing Class
- Those that own the means of production
- Oppressed Class
- Those that do not own the means of production
- But use the means of production for the benefit
- of the oppressing class.
24(No Transcript)
25Stages of History and Class Conflict at Each Stage
26Marxs Dialectic
- Says, Yes Hegel, History is a dialectic process,
but class conflict, not the conflict of ideas,
drives history. - In any given society
- when those two
- opposing classes
- come into conflict
- it propels history
- forward into a new
- stage of history and
- new classes emerge.
- Ultimately these new classes will also come into
conflict until history reaches its end point the
classless society Marx and Engels call communism. - Scientific View of History
27Communism The End of History
- The final stage of history
- Temporarily ruled by a
- dictatorship of the
- proletariat.
- This gives way over time to
- rule by a loose association.
- In a communist society the state owns the means
of production, but they do not dictate
production. - Production is done from each according to his
abilities to each according to his needs.
28Social Life is Characterized by Conflict
- According to the material dialectic, the engine
of history is class conflict. - Thus for Marx, the engine of social change is
conflict. - Social change occurs episodically through social
upheaval. - For Marx, revolution is unavoidable.
29Economic Determinism (Again)
- Marx thus believes in Economic Determinism
economics determines the course of all human
history. - Clashes between classes over changes in the means
of production drive history forward. - Everything else in society comes from economics.
30ideology
31Two Important Pieces of Information Implied From
Marxs Theory of Knowledge
- Knowledge is socially constructed
- Power (both economic, intellectual, and
political) stems from the ownership of the means
of production
32Two Social Classes in the Industrial Age
Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat
- Marx argued that the emergence of capitalism had
ushered in a new stage of history in which there
were two new opposing social classes. - Bourgeoisie (Oppressing Class)
- Own the means of production
- Factory owners, bankers
- Proletariat (Oppressed Class)
- Sell their labor and do not own the means of
production - Factory workers
33View of Alienation
- Proletariat experience three
- types of alienation
- 1. Alienation from
- Species-Being
- 2. Alienation from their
- Product
- 3. Alienation from Fellow Worker
- Watch clip from Food Inc. Where do you see the
three types of alienation?
34False Consciousness
- George Carlin Clip
- (until 227)
- What is false consciousness?
- What does Marx argue is the role of religion in
false consciousness?
35Class Consciousness
- Marx argues that the communism revolution -- the
end of history -- will only come through the
attainment of class consciousness. - The awakening that
- comes when we overcome
- our false consciousness
- and recognize our class
- position.
- Clip The Philosophy
- of Fight Club
36Class Conflict in the Modern Age (Or the Coming
of the Communist Revolution)
2. Proletariat develop class consciousness and
come together as a class to realize their shared
interest in overthrowing capitalism
1. Individual members of the proletariat become
angry and may clash with individual members of
the bourgeoisie or may destroy the means of
production
3. Proletariat overthrow the bourgeoisie in a
violent and inevitable revolution leading the
creation of a communist society.
37(No Transcript)
38Marxs Contributions to Sociology
- View of the individual/human nature
- View of religion
- View of inequality/stratification
- View of knowledge/ideas
- View of alienation
- View of power
- Society as consensus or conflict
- View of the future (pessimist or optimist?)
- Method (Way of Doing Sociology)
- Aim of Sociology