Social class is an important dimension of social organization and division. Yet different scholars have very distinct understandings of the meaning of social class, how it should be studied, and how it is related to the broader social order. Choose at least two scholars and analyze their conceptions of social class. What do their conceptions have in common? How are they different? Which understanding of social class is most useful for understanding the dynamics of stratification in contemporary society?
2. Introduction Every society is divided into many classes; there are number of ways to define them and to separate them. Even if it is not something society wants, the class division can be made without even doing anything, it is a normal …show more content…
The biggest difference between Marx and Weber is that for Weber the social classes don’t constitute a community itself (Intellego, 2006). He argues that when individuals know in which social class they are, this is when conflicts start to occur and problems start in a society. This is why he believes people can sense they are in one of the class because of their social interests and beliefs, but can also belong to another class for some other reasons. Marx for his part argues that people know in which class they are and for what reasons. They arrive at one point where they are clearly aware of what class they are part of and what they stand for. This develops their sense of solidarity. For Weber, the individual in the same social class are not aware that they are part of that class, there is no concrete sign, compare to Marx theory, where the class are clearly separated in two groups. Marx defines social class separation only based on interests and how to realize them; Weber sees it differently. He sees three more complex dimensions to separate society, as mentioned before, economic class, status groups, and political groups. Weber defines it more with competition than with the means of production (Allan, 2007). Therefore, Weber has a more complex view of division of classes since he takes more into account “how interests …show more content…
Marx thinking relies on the fact that social classes are separated in two different groups based mainly on the mean of productions and also on the economic interests. The first class is the bourgeoisie and the other one is the proletariat, which is the working class. The capitalist is the ruling class and it is considered as the privileged one, which is why conflicts occur. On the other hand, Weber agreed with Marx on the economic interest aspect, but added a more complex thought to it. For him, there are 2 other dimensions of social stratification, which are political and status group. This is one of their biggest opposition. The most useful understanding for contemporary society would be the more complex view that Weber adds to Marx’s thinking. The way he went more deep in how the society is separated into classes make more sense. The way he argues with Marx on the fact that individuals should have individual thinking and be able to define their own value without taking the value of the group or class they are part of would be the best way to do it. Even though Marx had a good way of thinking, Weber went more deep into it and that’s what makes it easier to understand the dynamics of stratification in a society. Both of these philosophers also had theories about other subjects in sociology and philosophy that could be further analyze and
2. Introduction Every society is divided into many classes; there are number of ways to define them and to separate them. Even if it is not something society wants, the class division can be made without even doing anything, it is a normal …show more content…
The biggest difference between Marx and Weber is that for Weber the social classes don’t constitute a community itself (Intellego, 2006). He argues that when individuals know in which social class they are, this is when conflicts start to occur and problems start in a society. This is why he believes people can sense they are in one of the class because of their social interests and beliefs, but can also belong to another class for some other reasons. Marx for his part argues that people know in which class they are and for what reasons. They arrive at one point where they are clearly aware of what class they are part of and what they stand for. This develops their sense of solidarity. For Weber, the individual in the same social class are not aware that they are part of that class, there is no concrete sign, compare to Marx theory, where the class are clearly separated in two groups. Marx defines social class separation only based on interests and how to realize them; Weber sees it differently. He sees three more complex dimensions to separate society, as mentioned before, economic class, status groups, and political groups. Weber defines it more with competition than with the means of production (Allan, 2007). Therefore, Weber has a more complex view of division of classes since he takes more into account “how interests …show more content…
Marx thinking relies on the fact that social classes are separated in two different groups based mainly on the mean of productions and also on the economic interests. The first class is the bourgeoisie and the other one is the proletariat, which is the working class. The capitalist is the ruling class and it is considered as the privileged one, which is why conflicts occur. On the other hand, Weber agreed with Marx on the economic interest aspect, but added a more complex thought to it. For him, there are 2 other dimensions of social stratification, which are political and status group. This is one of their biggest opposition. The most useful understanding for contemporary society would be the more complex view that Weber adds to Marx’s thinking. The way he went more deep in how the society is separated into classes make more sense. The way he argues with Marx on the fact that individuals should have individual thinking and be able to define their own value without taking the value of the group or class they are part of would be the best way to do it. Even though Marx had a good way of thinking, Weber went more deep into it and that’s what makes it easier to understand the dynamics of stratification in a society. Both of these philosophers also had theories about other subjects in sociology and philosophy that could be further analyze and