Plan: To what extent does Max Weber agree with Karl Marx in his analysis of capitalism?
One of Marx’s core concerns is capitalism. In his book Capital: Volume 1 and many other articles, he provides an understanding of the nature of capitalism and describes how a capitalist society is designed to increase the exploitation of the proletariat to provide profit for the bourgeoisie. As well as, analysing how the “rule of the bourgeois democrats… will carry within it the seeds of its own destruction” (Marx and Engels, 2016). Marx’s analysis has inspired a great deal of sociological research and is fundamental in understanding contemporary society. However, there is some debate on the accuracy of Marx’s analysis of capitalism. Due to his moral point …show more content…
For instance, Weber agreed with Marx that there had to be structural conditions for capitalism. Weber also agreed with part of the analysis of the impersonal capitalist society and the commercialisation of economic life. Overall, this essay will show how Marx and Weber were both interested in the cultural significance and the consequences of modern western capitalism (Löwith 1993, p.34). However, this essay will further argue that Weber had partially different views to Marx in his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. In fact, Weber was considered by Salomon to be a “dialogue with Marx’s ghost” (1945, p. 596). One of the main differences which Weber had of Marx’s analysis of Capitalism was Marx focused more on material and economic factors which caused Capitalism; whereas, Weber concluded that cultural factors were needed as …show more content…
However, in Marx’s analysis of capitalism, Weber mostly agreed with Marx’s basic elements of his analysis. For instance, Weber’s concept of instrumental rational action, which is “strategic, cost-benefit action” (Dillon 2010, p.130), links with Marx’s ideas about surplus value. These theories highlight the process of accumulation of wealth/capital, which they then reinvest. Thus, Weber agrees with Marx’s analysis of the basic reproductive features of the capitalist system, and the economic determinism in modern capitalism. Moreover, Marx believed that similarly to other modes of production, capitalism was the result of material and economic conditions, and that economic life was vital for social development. Weber agreed on the importance of economic life, however, Weber believed that culture and ideas had a crucial role in social development as
One of Marx’s core concerns is capitalism. In his book Capital: Volume 1 and many other articles, he provides an understanding of the nature of capitalism and describes how a capitalist society is designed to increase the exploitation of the proletariat to provide profit for the bourgeoisie. As well as, analysing how the “rule of the bourgeois democrats… will carry within it the seeds of its own destruction” (Marx and Engels, 2016). Marx’s analysis has inspired a great deal of sociological research and is fundamental in understanding contemporary society. However, there is some debate on the accuracy of Marx’s analysis of capitalism. Due to his moral point …show more content…
For instance, Weber agreed with Marx that there had to be structural conditions for capitalism. Weber also agreed with part of the analysis of the impersonal capitalist society and the commercialisation of economic life. Overall, this essay will show how Marx and Weber were both interested in the cultural significance and the consequences of modern western capitalism (Löwith 1993, p.34). However, this essay will further argue that Weber had partially different views to Marx in his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. In fact, Weber was considered by Salomon to be a “dialogue with Marx’s ghost” (1945, p. 596). One of the main differences which Weber had of Marx’s analysis of Capitalism was Marx focused more on material and economic factors which caused Capitalism; whereas, Weber concluded that cultural factors were needed as …show more content…
However, in Marx’s analysis of capitalism, Weber mostly agreed with Marx’s basic elements of his analysis. For instance, Weber’s concept of instrumental rational action, which is “strategic, cost-benefit action” (Dillon 2010, p.130), links with Marx’s ideas about surplus value. These theories highlight the process of accumulation of wealth/capital, which they then reinvest. Thus, Weber agrees with Marx’s analysis of the basic reproductive features of the capitalist system, and the economic determinism in modern capitalism. Moreover, Marx believed that similarly to other modes of production, capitalism was the result of material and economic conditions, and that economic life was vital for social development. Weber agreed on the importance of economic life, however, Weber believed that culture and ideas had a crucial role in social development as