Karl Marxs Ethnographic Report of the New Planet - Essay Example

Answer Karl Marx2’s ethnographic report of the new planet The humanoids residing on the newly discovered planet can be closely compared with the human beings of our earth. The development of humanoid society could be contributed to the same reason as that of man. To satisfy the basic needs of survival; food, cloth and shelter, the humanoids started productions activities that would help provide the subsistence. The productions activities led to material gains and more needs and thus society was conceived. The humanoids are divided into two distinct identities which are identifiable by the languages used. The humanoids seem to be in the advanced stages of their development and are characterized the means of their sustenance. Their modes of production, seems to be guided by the materialism and they seem to consciously promote material activities that would help to overcome the emerging new requirements of the increasing population. The most important feature that characterizes humanoids is their specific identity within a well defined societal framework. Although primary social identity of a male humanoid is gender specific and is followed by a distinct name by which he is addressed in the world, he is often bestowed with multiple social identities, some of which may acquire more forceful and intimidating perspective under certain given circumstances. The social identity seems to provide them with a distinct attribute and facilitates establishment of social status that physically represents him. Social identity of humanoids are not only vital representation of his self but it is also medium that significantly contributes to a knowledge base that others can instantly access to have a general idea of their orientation towards conflicts and other relevant issues. The humanoids have also a well defined division of labor that is dependent on the predefined constraints of the material conditions that determine the productions. The role of people at different level are labor specific and conform to specified exchange of service that are needed to perform at that level therefore what is being exchanged becomes more important to who is exchanging. They believed that everyone must get the opportunity to work and needs of each humanoid must be taken care. They seemed to promote classless society where social division of labor was characterized by complexities in the social hierarchy and traditions in any cultural production that is focused towards developing needs. They believed in equality and lacked gender bias but there seemed to be ideological differences amongst them at the various levels of labor. Marx’s report has been most emphatic on the visible ‘culture’ that is primarily focused on labor division and the belief that they are ‘products of consciousness’ (Marx) and therefore, their existences is a manifestation of the material activities that each needs to strive in his or her area of expertise. While the concept of God is absent from their life, they intrinsically conform to predetermined social order and believe one can mold oneself into any desired image that one can conceive for oneself. When a humanoid like man makes a choice, he needs to be responsible because he is also representative of humanoid and indirectly responsible for all humanoids. Hence, Marx thinks that the culture of the humanoids may significantly impact the coming generation of the humanoids. He also believes that they confidence in their own abilities to anticipate future needs and requirements may significantly impact the lives of the people of the earth, when they start looking beyond their own planet. Answer 2 Max Weber’s critique of Marx’s report Weber’s observation of humanoids in the new world did not coincide with that of Marx. He believed that the division of labor promoted segregation of labor force into hierarchical order that was based on varying degree of material benefits. The division of labor also contributed to the development of social hierarchy that was distinct and encouraged different set of code of conduct. The capitalistic attitude of the humanoids was visible in their living standard that was increasing becoming more flamboyant and less sensitive towards the humanoids who seemed to be less privileged. Capitalistic values seemed to be the major cause of historical changes in the new planet. Max also observed that humanoids never totally denied the existence of god and seemed to follow the doctrines of their peer which was primarily based on the teachings of the Catholicism. The concept of wrong doing was very much visible in the humanoid’s society and ‘forgiveness of their wrongdoing’ was very much like forgiveness of the sins of the Catholics whereby the Church seems to be tolerant of material gains and ‘lavish expenditure, that might be termed as having capitalistic outlook of ‘acquisitions’(Weber, 1905). Weber’s interpretation of the Humanoid civilization was basically based on their culture that was based on division of labor and promoting class differences and probably language differences also as the humanoids could be clearly identified into two distinct tribes or community based on language differences. The German and French humanoids were similar in their outlook towards division of labor according to the production, they differed in their beliefs. While German clearly were ambiguous regarding the existence of God, the French believed in the ‘superpower’ that guided their actions. Weber believed that humanoid nature is the basic way of conducting and projecting oneself while pursuing transcendental goals, incorporating ‘values’ in one’s actions that are universally accepted. His actions must be guided by those values. These cultural values seem to be the main propagator of historical changes in humanoid civilization because they became the main determinant of humanoid’s actions and beliefs. Answer 3 Emile Durkheim’s observation of religious paradigms in the new planet Durkheim’s study of the ethnography of the new planet was highly relevant because he attributed the transforming humanoid society to the religious beliefs and paradigms that might have governed the code of conduct of the generations of the humanoids. The overt and covert ramifications of the general code of behavior endorsed ethics that are important features of all religions. Durkheim believed that society is more important than individual and that humanoid civilization reflected exactly that. Since humanoids were free to choose, they chose what they believed to be right for themselves and those beliefs were based on certain criteria of ‘good or bad’, signifying the existence of religion. Hence according to Durkheim, the religious compulsions might have been the major causes for the historical changes within the humanoid civilization. Durkheim had based his observations on the predetermined code of conduct that had guided the principles of division of labor. He has stated that ‘all religions are instructive’ (Durkheim, p22). Hence, one can say that within a wider spectrum of social issues which focused on division of labor, conflicts might have come up because of varying interests of the individual humanoid during cultural production in a developmental process. These social issues primarily based on the ethical code of conduct and the social hierarchy based on the labor disparity, could have become catalyst to the historical changes in the humanoid civilization. Reference Durkheim, Emile. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. The free Press. p 22. Marx, Karl. German Ideology. Weber, Max. (1905). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Read More