Outline and Assess the Five Main Theoretical Perspectives of Sociology
Outline and assess the five main theoretical perspectives of sociology
Marxism
Marxism is the political philosophy and practice resulting from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Any political practice or theory that is based on an interpretation of the works of Marx and Engels may be called Marxism.
Under capitalism, the proletariat, the working class own only their capacity to work meaning they have the ability only to sell their own labour. According to Marx a class is defined by the relations of its members to the means of production. Under capitalism, the workers, in order to support their families are paid a minimum wage or salary. The worker is alienated because he has no control over the labour or product which he produces. The capitalists sell the products produced by the workers at a proportional value as related to the labour involved. Surplus value is the difference between what the worker is paid and the price for which the product is sold.
The increasing of the proletariat occurs as the result of economic decline. These recessions happen because the working class is unable to buy the full product of their labours and the ruling capitalists do not consume all of the surplus value. A proletariat or socialist revolution must occur, according to Marx, where the state is a dictatorship of the proletariat. Communism evolves from socialism out of this progression.
Marxist feminism is a sub-type of feminist theory which focuses on the breaking down of capitalism as a way to ‘free’ women. Marxist feminism states that capitalism, which gives rise to economic inequality, dependence, political confusion and unhealthy social relations between men and women, is the root of women 's oppression in the current social context.
While there are many theoretical and practical differences among the various forms of Marxism, most forms of Marxism share:
• a belief that capitalism is based on the exploitation of workers by the owners of capital.
Marxism
Marxism is the political philosophy and practice resulting from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Any political practice or theory that is based on an interpretation of the works of Marx and Engels may be called Marxism.
Under capitalism, the proletariat, the working class own only their capacity to work meaning they have the ability only to sell their own labour. According to Marx a class is defined by the relations of its members to the means of production. Under capitalism, the workers, in order to support their families are paid a minimum wage or salary. The worker is alienated because he has no control over the labour or product which he produces. The capitalists sell the products produced by the workers at a proportional value as related to the labour involved. Surplus value is the difference between what the worker is paid and the price for which the product is sold.
The increasing of the proletariat occurs as the result of economic decline. These recessions happen because the working class is unable to buy the full product of their labours and the ruling capitalists do not consume all of the surplus value. A proletariat or socialist revolution must occur, according to Marx, where the state is a dictatorship of the proletariat. Communism evolves from socialism out of this progression.
Marxist feminism is a sub-type of feminist theory which focuses on the breaking down of capitalism as a way to ‘free’ women. Marxist feminism states that capitalism, which gives rise to economic inequality, dependence, political confusion and unhealthy social relations between men and women, is the root of women 's oppression in the current social context.
While there are many theoretical and practical differences among the various forms of Marxism, most forms of Marxism share:
• a belief that capitalism is based on the exploitation of workers by the owners of capital.