Sociology week 1 discussion question #1 - Research Paper Example

Compare the contributors of two pioneers in sociology. Max Weber and Karl Marx Max Weber and Karl Marx are two strong personalities who have had a deep impact on humanity. Both had radical differences in their thoughts and viewpoints however they also share a common ground. Both were fascinated by the changes taking place in society during industrialization. According to them these changes were not suitable for people but Weber was of the view that there was nothing that could be done to make things better whereas Marx believed that things had to change.

Marx was the father of socialist thoughts and people saw him as godless person and a devil whereas Weber was famous for his belief that capitalism and religion were essential ingredients of the social order. Both sociologists differed in their theories of social class. Weber supported industrialization and did not feel the need to take care of the laborers or the lower class for that matter while Marx had a completely different approach. He felt that a worker had total right over wealth that he had produced with his own hands (Wheen, 2000).

Weber thought that religion should be part of the new world whereas Marx believed that it had no place in the new scenario and the old dictates from God had to be replaced by sensible beliefs. Both founders of modern sociology agree on one thing; in the 1844 ‘Economics and Philosophical Manuscripts’ Marx states that capitalism makes a person a ‘wage-slave’. It isolates him from the society making everything materialistic and related to money. What Weber mentions in ‘Spirit of Capitalism’ is pretty much the same belief.

Both Marx and Weber have contributed towards the knowledge of social organizations but I believe that it is Weber who has made a greater influence as a sociological theorist of the 19th century with his empirical research and significant ideas for a modern society.REFERENCESTop of FormWheen, F. (2000). Karl Marx: A life. New York: Norton.Bottom of Form