Karl Marx and Max weber are two of the many great theorists in the history of sociology, economy as well as philosophy. A focus on at least four theoretical aspects concerning their different and similar approach to the analysis of class in the modern society is the sole base of this essay. Illustrative examples are used to substantiate our answer. Karl Marx and Max weber both analysed similar ideas or concepts in the 19th century but came to different conclusions. \\
Karl Marx (1818-1883) was born in a period where he witnessed some drastic changes such as the industrial revolution. The European revolution through the change from a feudalistic organisation to capitalistic societies. As being part of those societies his thoughts were highly …show more content…
The economy was for him the base structure or the sole reason of why that society was the way it was.\\
On the opposite side we see Max Weber (1864-1920) being influenced by Immanuel Kant, from whom he learnt to comprehend human sciences looking at the historical contexts as opposed to the free will possessed by the people involved. He was mostly influenced by ‘The German Model’ as well throughout his works.\\
Marx and Weber disagreed on the meaning of social class in modern society although they both acknowledged that people did not operate as individuals only in society.
For Marx, social class is determined by the relationship between the people and the means of production. For him human beings were firstly constrained to produce basic materials to satisfy their needs before anything else. The society’s economy therefore became the central focus or the base of his theory. The government, the work, the law, the politics, the religion, the education and the art (superstructure) of a society were all controlled by the societal economy, said …show more content…
With such influence on the economy by the bourgeoisie, Marx introduced the concept of exploitation. The proletariat suffered what Marx called a false consciousness where they believe that working harder could change their situations; it has to be noted that by exploitation we see the bourgeoisie making profits at the expenses of the proletariat’s work. This led to what Marx named a class struggle, this clear demarcation between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. If the proletariat could develop a class consciousness where they will stand as a group realising their own misery and alienation; and understand that they could take over the means of production like the bourgeoisie we could see a revolution through socialism and the concepts of class conflicts could be abolished.
Karl Marx (1818-1883) was born in a period where he witnessed some drastic changes such as the industrial revolution. The European revolution through the change from a feudalistic organisation to capitalistic societies. As being part of those societies his thoughts were highly …show more content…
The economy was for him the base structure or the sole reason of why that society was the way it was.\\
On the opposite side we see Max Weber (1864-1920) being influenced by Immanuel Kant, from whom he learnt to comprehend human sciences looking at the historical contexts as opposed to the free will possessed by the people involved. He was mostly influenced by ‘The German Model’ as well throughout his works.\\
Marx and Weber disagreed on the meaning of social class in modern society although they both acknowledged that people did not operate as individuals only in society.
For Marx, social class is determined by the relationship between the people and the means of production. For him human beings were firstly constrained to produce basic materials to satisfy their needs before anything else. The society’s economy therefore became the central focus or the base of his theory. The government, the work, the law, the politics, the religion, the education and the art (superstructure) of a society were all controlled by the societal economy, said …show more content…
With such influence on the economy by the bourgeoisie, Marx introduced the concept of exploitation. The proletariat suffered what Marx called a false consciousness where they believe that working harder could change their situations; it has to be noted that by exploitation we see the bourgeoisie making profits at the expenses of the proletariat’s work. This led to what Marx named a class struggle, this clear demarcation between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. If the proletariat could develop a class consciousness where they will stand as a group realising their own misery and alienation; and understand that they could take over the means of production like the bourgeoisie we could see a revolution through socialism and the concepts of class conflicts could be abolished.