Karl Marx, Max Weber And Emile Durkheim

Karl Marx and Max Weber were influential sociologists that paved the way for modern sociological school of thought. Both, Karl Marx and Max Weber contributed a lot to the study and foundation of sociology. Without their contributions sociology would not be as prominent as it is today. From the contribution of how sociology should be studied, to how they applied their theories to everyday life has influenced many sociologists. Predominantly, both of these theorists’ discussed the effects of capitalism, how it has developed, shaped and changed society into what it is today. Specifically, Karl Marx’s contribution of the bourgeoisie vs. the proletariat class and Max Weber’s social stratification has helped individuals to understand how modern day society has transformed into what it is today. Particularly, this paper will lie out Weber’s theory of social stratification and Marx’s theory of the bourgeoisie vs. the proletariat class; additionally this essay will also compare and contrast the ideas of these two influential sociologists. Finally this essay will criticize both of these sociologists’ theories and display that Marx and Weber do not explain how modern day society and classes have been formed.

Karl Marx is the founder of conflict theory which views a society that is capable of being a principle of competition and conflict. Conflict theory is simple to understand in which it suggests that society has inequality between people and social groups. Conflict theory would suggest that conflicts and tensions emerge when power, resources, and status are distributed unevenly between distinct groups in society. Its groups who are

Unlike symbolic interactionism, conflict theory is a macro-level approach. Conflict theory, founded by German Philosopher Karl Marx, can be defined as “a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of groups that are competing for scarce resources” (Henslin, 2014, p. 33). This perspective differs from symbolic interactionism in that it views society as a competition for limited resources. Marx argues that society is composed of individuals within different social classes that face economic inequalities. The focus of conflict theory is that economic inequalities increase social differences and also leads to differences in power. German sociologist Max Weber added that in addition to economic inequalities that these inequalities lead to conflict. Conflict arises because resources are limited.

The work of Emmanuel Kant as he discussed enlightenment and reason married with the turbulence of politics compounded the crises of faith. Hegel however, maintained his dogmatic approach that religion and philosophy had a duality in that, they were about discovering God. Marx became cynical of the German government and Hegel’s philosophy agreeing with the writings of Feuerbach which criticised the writings of Hegel. In the German Ideology Marx set out his opposition to the work of Hegel. The Young Hegelians believe that in order for man to move forward there needed to be a change in mind set, however, Marx argues that basic needs of life are to be attended to first before this process of thinking. Marx writing alludes to how the people should rise against the thoughts of the ruling classes as they falsely attribute the exploitative relationship as a result of the will of God rather than the will of the ruling classes. The elite have the ideas of how society should run and religion is firmly within the ruling strata. He condemns the division of labour as the reason that man does not have the ability to own property which is in opposition of Hegel’s stance. (Marx and Engels as cited in Calhoun et al. 2007) Marx preferred critical philosophy and support for the people in poverty and under Feuerbach’s influence he felt that to

With the theory of conflict it said, it is a social order that society has to abide by this order. With an order it establishes, the social class they are under also the economic class they fit into as well. Karl Marx has derived the theory, which Marx felt that supreme power was from groups. That had the best social resources, political, also economic with them with the conflict theory is exists of unfairness. For the reason the group that has the power that is, an unequal part of resources, within society and actively protect the advantages that they obtain. The groups not held by society from their values in their share, however, the coercion from those in control with conflict theory. It describes that everything is

Even though Marx acknowledged the comforting role of religion, he focused on its repressive, restraining qualities which help to maintain the 'status quo'. He suggested that often religion provides justification for inequalities of wealth and power and argues that we must free ourselves and not fear the gods we have created. He argued that religion prevents people from challenging the source of their oppression and provides them with a 'false consciousness'. People believe they will be compensated for their suffering in the next world. Like Functionalists, Marxists agree social institutions control and socialise individuals but

Where the positivist theory of Structural Functionalism focuses on the rigidity and stability of society, conflict theories focus on the chaotic, negative and unequal aspects. This perspective is constructed from the numerous hypotheses of Karl Marx, who saw society as intrinsically broken, and constantly in a state of disarray with social groups competing for a limited amount of social capitol and economic resources. According to Marx, society is constructed around two classes of people: the ruling class and the subject class. Those in the ruling class have a disproportionately large control over all resources, and use this power to subjugate the lower classes. This ensures that the ruling class never gives up power, due to the fact that the lower classes have to struggle to obtain

For him, religion can only be understood through economics. Religion it is only used as an excuse to keep society functioning. If people rely on religion for peace and to forget their worries, they the next day they are refreshed to continue with their work in society. It is stated in the Andersen textbook that, “religion is a form of false consciousness because it prevents people from rising up against oppression” (331). By promising a better tomorrow, inequality is more bearable. It may bring solace, but it is rather a simple illusion. As Marx once explained, “people are in distress and religion does provide solace, just as people who are physically injured receive relief from opiate-based drugs” (Cline 1). However, the opiate-based drugs only provide temporary relief. It does not get rid of the actual problem, which in this case is the suffering of inequality in a capitalist society.

One of the key ideologies be hide any social conflict theory is the conflict perspective. This standpoint states that societal or social conflict can never truly be resolved because it riddled with tension and strife (Turner, n.d.). One of the most notorious writers on social conflict was Karl Marx a nineteenth century sociologist. Marx was a revolutionist and heavily sought to dismantle big business and capitalism (History,

Conflict theory began with Karl Marx and his belief that capitalist societies are powered and controlled the conflict between social classes. Those who possessed a means of production, called the bourgeois, and and those that had to work for the bourgeois, called the proletariat. He felt that all elements of society were based around this struggle for control and for resources (Kendall 2014: 12 ). Conflict theorists believe that all humans behavior, all our social norms, all our systems of government, our employment, and our systems of education are the result of conflicts between competing groups. All of society is shaped by this great power struggle. Conflict theory depends on an unequal power balance, one group controls the other group, using their social power to keep the other group subjugated. Conflict theory has evolved past just considering class and has began to consider other competing groups. The struggles between men and women, rich and poor, whites and people of color, and LGBTQIA individuals and straight people are now taken into consideration by conflict theorists. Society is constantly changing because of the battles between conflicting interests (Kendall 2014: 17).

Karl Marx, a philosopher, journalist, and revolutionary socialist, is considered the father of conflict theory. He pointed out the continuous competition for power between different classes in society and how the powerful groups exploit those with less. He suggested social order is

Thus finally one can come to Marx's theory which was built along with Marcuse, Haberrmas called as Conflict Theory which defines how power structures work and how power disparities impact human lives, minds and behaviours, societies perpetuate some forms of oppression & injustice and structural inequity, power is unequally divided & some groups dominate others, but social order is based on manipulation and control by dominant groups. Theorists also highlight social change is driven by conflict, with periods of change interrupting periods of stability and also indicate life is characterized by conflict not

Karl Marx and Max Weber both identify economic position as being a key factor in social stratification. Marx uses the Materialist Conception of History as his basic premise to show that there exist two classes which are in opposition to one another, and that they are in constant social conflict with one another due to the structure of capitalism itself. Weber, on the other hand, describes class as being an objective measure of wealth, with conflict not between classes but within them. Although Marx and Weber both conclude that societies contain substantial economic class inequalities, their conclusions differ greatly. Marx defines class systematically, as a position within the mode of production, and Weber defines it comparatively, as the amount of wealth one owns, and thus they disagree on whether this economic stratification is a source of social conflict.

Even if in today’s society more numbers are in decline of practicing religion, Marx’s views on the subject are definitely the most valid. There expectations of people may not be as extreme as they were back in the 1800’s of their followers as they are now, but of the three, Marx’s views are the most realistic of what Religion truly is. His ability to see what religion was actually doing to people’s lives back then is remarkable and for his words to still have such relevance now in modern society shows that he was extremely perceptive of society. Marxism also assumes that Religion will eventually disappear and for someone to envisage that from over one hundred years ago is clearly someone who knew what they were talking about. And that is why I chose Marx.

Regarding Marx’s attitude toward religion, he thought that it was simply in the man’s conscious to worship a god. To Marx, the only reason a man would worship a god would be because society tells them that they are supposed to. The same could be said about some people who live in our society today. Our world tells us that we are supposed to worship a god, even though there are still people who choose not to. Though Marx celebrated Christian views at a younger age, he belief in a god diminished as he got older and started his work as a radical philosopher. Marx sums it all up in a famous quote, stating that religion is “an opium for the people.” With