Paul Piazza
June 13, 2018
Manchester Community College
Summer 2018
Task: Effectively compare and contrast Emile Durkheim’s Structural Functional theory with Karl Marx’s Social Conflict theory. Relate to education as well.
Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx are regarded as two of the most influential sociologists of all time and were important figures in the late nineteenth century. Both theories have some similarities between them, however they are mostly different. The difference lies between how each theory views the problems within society and if there is action required or not. Functionalism appears to want to help reform and adjust a society in order to continue to function properly, while Class conflict appears to want to dismantle society …show more content…
However, Marx focuses mainly on the conflicts between the Proletariats and the Bourgeoises. The Bourgeoises were “in charge” of the Proletariats in a sense according to Marx as they owned the “means to production”. He believed that this system was wrong and had to be changed, and a revolution was required. In comparison, while one theory emphasized change was required (Marx), the other one would adjust or change to meet the requirements for the system as a whole to change, which didn’t always benefit every group when a change was required. In Marx’s eyes, a change was needed regardless of what needed to be done in order to ensure that the lower class individuals or workers (Proletariats) were given the respect and proper treatment that they had been longing for in a capitalist society. If the Bourgeoises’ own the “means to production”, then what say the Proletariats? Marx makes a good point when noting the large contrast of powers and freedoms when it comes to the two groups of people in a work environment, which leads to a multitude of bad events including hostility towards management as well as towards fellow coworkers as those types of work environments begin to be seen as “competition” in order to keep one’s job in the …show more content…
This belief is made by stating that the wealthier you are, the better education you will get and this very action is what will create more inequality in our society. I believe this is true to an extent. For example, I know in my own personal life I had met people in my first year of college that were tremendously more wealthy than me, however, not only were they getting the same education as me, the ones that were lazy or did not posses good work ethic failed in comparison to everyone else, regardless of financial status. Marxism seems to believe that every single thing in society is driven by money which creates power and thus creates divides. This seems overly deterministic to me in terms of trying to plot exact reasons as to why there are inequalities such as in education, according to Karl Marx. I think other things that aren’t really mentioned by Marx, such as sexual orientation, gender, race, religion among other factors can also influence one’s position in society regardless of financial status. Yet still, I see society as the harder you work and the better educated you are, the more qualified you are to be an outstanding member of society and a great contributor towards your
June 13, 2018
Manchester Community College
Summer 2018
Task: Effectively compare and contrast Emile Durkheim’s Structural Functional theory with Karl Marx’s Social Conflict theory. Relate to education as well.
Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx are regarded as two of the most influential sociologists of all time and were important figures in the late nineteenth century. Both theories have some similarities between them, however they are mostly different. The difference lies between how each theory views the problems within society and if there is action required or not. Functionalism appears to want to help reform and adjust a society in order to continue to function properly, while Class conflict appears to want to dismantle society …show more content…
However, Marx focuses mainly on the conflicts between the Proletariats and the Bourgeoises. The Bourgeoises were “in charge” of the Proletariats in a sense according to Marx as they owned the “means to production”. He believed that this system was wrong and had to be changed, and a revolution was required. In comparison, while one theory emphasized change was required (Marx), the other one would adjust or change to meet the requirements for the system as a whole to change, which didn’t always benefit every group when a change was required. In Marx’s eyes, a change was needed regardless of what needed to be done in order to ensure that the lower class individuals or workers (Proletariats) were given the respect and proper treatment that they had been longing for in a capitalist society. If the Bourgeoises’ own the “means to production”, then what say the Proletariats? Marx makes a good point when noting the large contrast of powers and freedoms when it comes to the two groups of people in a work environment, which leads to a multitude of bad events including hostility towards management as well as towards fellow coworkers as those types of work environments begin to be seen as “competition” in order to keep one’s job in the …show more content…
This belief is made by stating that the wealthier you are, the better education you will get and this very action is what will create more inequality in our society. I believe this is true to an extent. For example, I know in my own personal life I had met people in my first year of college that were tremendously more wealthy than me, however, not only were they getting the same education as me, the ones that were lazy or did not posses good work ethic failed in comparison to everyone else, regardless of financial status. Marxism seems to believe that every single thing in society is driven by money which creates power and thus creates divides. This seems overly deterministic to me in terms of trying to plot exact reasons as to why there are inequalities such as in education, according to Karl Marx. I think other things that aren’t really mentioned by Marx, such as sexual orientation, gender, race, religion among other factors can also influence one’s position in society regardless of financial status. Yet still, I see society as the harder you work and the better educated you are, the more qualified you are to be an outstanding member of society and a great contributor towards your