Does Karl Marx or Max Weber Offer a Realistic Analysis of Today’s Society?

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Dawn-Aleah Andrew.

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11/11/02

DOES KARL MARX OR MAX WEBER OFFER A REALISTIC ANALYSIS                                 OF TODAY’S SOCIETY?

Throughout this essay the writer will be questioning the analysis of society which German sociologists, Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Max Weber’s (1863-1920) both offer and come to a decision as to who offers a more realistic analysis of society today. Is society becoming deskilled? Is Capitalism maximising profit?  Are non-owners of the means of production becoming similar due to technology?

Marx suggests that there are many contradictions within society, he referred to the term contradictions to refer to the stresses and strains that weaken the social structure from within, he claims that such contradictions can not survive in their existing form.  One of these contradictions involves the class members of society and their relationship to the means of production, meaning the way in which things are produced in the economy.

Marx’s theory suggests that the Bourgeoisie (The Capitalist) who own the means of production (oomop) have the capital to invest.  Therefore the have the power to exploit the no owners of the means of production (noomop), the Proletariat.  They do this by paying the lowest price possible for their labour.  The waged labourer does not own the raw materials and machinery that are used to manufacture the products of industry, which are main aspects of the mop.  Resulting in the need for them to work for the Capitalist, gaining less profit than they are actually creating, causing a conflict of interests.

This, today, is unarguably true, as the Capitalists are not fulfilled unless profit is maximised.  There is proof of this as large companies like Dyson and Marks and Spenser have moved to the Far East, where there are no trade unions and workers have less rights and labour is much cheaper.  Capitalists will do anything to increase their profits and that is what they are doing in today’s society.

Marx predicted that the Petite Bourgeoisie, who is small owners of the mop (could be defined in today’s society as being the middle class), would slowly sink down and be come Proletariat.  The result of this would leave two true classes in society, the upper class (oomop) and the working class (noomop).  He defines these classes by asking one simple question, do they own the means of production.  Marx also suggests that any skill differentials within the Proletariat would be removed.  He predicted that the use of technology would take over labour.  This deskilling of the workforce would create a homogeneous working class. Therefore the gap between the Proletariat and the Bourgeoisie will get bigger and bigger. Marx called this Proletarianisation. Today there is some evidence to support this idea as computers have taken over many jobs.  For example, cash machines have taken over cashiers’ jobs and automated telephone services have replaced the jobs of telephonists.  However there is also evidence to support Weber’s ideas.

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Weber suggests that social class is much more complex.  Like Marx, Weber agrees that there are major differences between the oomop and the noomop.  However, he saw important differences in the groupings within the Proletariat.  He recognises that these grouping had extremely different life chances. He defines life chances as the chances of individuals achieving and gaining those things that society views as being desirable (good health, big house fast car, etc).  Although he agrees with Marx that the ownership of the mop indicates that there will be better life chances, he disagreed with the theories of homogenisation of the ...

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