Weber Against Marx on Ideas and Social Change - Research Paper Example

WEBER VS. MARX ON IDEAS AND SOCIAL CHANGE Date: Introduction Knowledge and observation about great refinement and development has been inexistence in many parts of the world for a long time. In spite of this progress, development s has not been in equal direction and speed, in the West, rationalization in science, law and culture has seen development to such a great degree. People have grown to understand important concepts that are important in creating wealth, building social networks and interacting with different people in the society. All this is usually carried out through a well-trained and organized system of individuals who understand and hold on the political, technical and economic conditions of people. Most parts of the world have come o understand about the systems of technical, social and economic conditions by adoption of the western cultural practices. The motivation of establishing and acquiring wealth has been in existence for long across many generations and has nothing to do with the concept of capitalism (Foster & Clark, 2008). Capitalism is referred to as the continuous and aggressive pursuit of profit, with a continuous renewed interest that runs as long as the individual remain interested. In the spirit of capitalism, this enterprise has to be persistent, such that anybody who is not aggressive to exploit available opportunities for making profits is doomed to fail. A capitalist Economy A capitalist economy is that which is dependent on the expectation of making profits through the utilization of available opportunities for exchange. The pursuit of this motivation makes it possible for profits to be analysed and calculated in terms of money, this is done through modern approaches in bookkeeping or by the use of other primitive means of recording financial information. In this approach, everything is usually done in the basis of money income and money balances. Max Weber’s argument on the spirit of socialism and the influence of religious affiliations Max Weber was a German sociologist who played an important role in bringing important reforms in the religious thinking about wealth creation in relation to the western capitalist thoughts of wealth creation (Foster & Clark, 2008). His thoughts have been instrumental in influencing people’s religious affiliations and their desire for economic development. Through an analysis of the way people generated wealth and lived in the society, Max came up with a theory that sought to explain about social stratification in the society and how it influenced people’s desires to make wealth. According to Weber, stratification in any society is based on three main factors, which are commonly referred to as, “The three Ps of stratification.” He said that in general, people are usually motivated by Property, prestige and Power (Foster & Clark, 2008). This stratification usually comes about when people are involved in various interactions of wealth, prestige and power. It is the extent to which people interact with these three aspects that stratification comes bout in the society. Those people that are able to acquire much property and power become influential in the society and earn a lot of prestige. The three main Ps of social stratification interact in close connection to determine the different classes that people finally find themselves. Property; According to Weber, property refers to the material assets and possessions and the chances that they have to make money. If someone has any level of control over property in the society, he has power over other people, he also in better placed to use the property for his own benefit. Prestige; this is also another important factors that determines the system of stratification in the society. People who on different properties in the society are not only assured of power and status that comes along with it, but also prestige. Power; this is the ability of a person to do what he wants regards of the resources or concern for other people. In most cases, power refers to the ability of a person to command other people to do that which he wants done; this is making people conform to the commands of an individual. Power is of two types, it can be possession power, which comes from ownership of property or exercising power, as it is the case with people in government, though they have immense power, they may not be able to make such money. According to Max Weber, people’s belief in religious practices can largely influence their practices in the society as well as their drive for acquisition of material wealth. For instance, ne notes that Catholics have a susceptibility to remain in their crafts, and become master craftsmen while on the other hand; protestants are known to attract large extents of upper ranks of skilled labor and different positions in factories and other companies. Most of the people who have protestant religious affiliations own a good share of capital, when other factors are kept equal; Protestants are better placed to develop economic rationalism than their catholic friends do. Weber seeks this explanation through a enduring intrinsic of people’s disposition in their religion and not just in their provisional historical and political associations. Most of the thoughts and philosophical thoughts of Protestants have often been thought to be connected enlightenment, which in essence should not be thought so. This is because; early Protestants were not motivated by any enlightenment thoughts. At present, it is essential to note that not all protestant denominations have a strong influence on their member’s economic acumen growth as well as the spirit of hard work. Karl Max and the theory of historical materialism Karl Max is known to have different with Weber concerning the principles that determined the process of development and wealth creation in the society. Max is known to have been a great critic of the works and perspectives brought about by Weber through his historical materialism ideas. Historical materialism refers to the socioeconomic development that comes about through changes in the material conditions that enhances people production capacity (Stark, 2007). This concept focuses on various causes of development as well as changes in the human society that enhances the ability of humans to produce the necessities of life. Historical materialism also focuses on the existing social classes in the society as well as prevailing relationship political organizations and way of thinking. All this different factors play a big role in the contemporary economic activities that take place in the different human societies. After Karl proposed the theory, there have been much developments in it with several other thinkers that have continued to support this thinking. Max developed the historical materialism theory out of the basic reality that underpins the reason for human existence; that is, for human beings to survive and exist across many generations. According to Max, human beings are meant to produce and reproduce the materials and resources that are necessary for them to live their lives fully (Stark, 2007). In order to strengthen this fact, max says that across many societies, human beings are made to create, exist and operate in certain specific relations; most of these relations have the basic aim of enhancing production activities and increasing the economic welfare of humans. Production activities and processes are not usually carried out in the abstract or mere through entering random relations out of a free will, they have to be creatively done so that people derive maximum social benefit. According to Max, the desire to create wealth is not motivated by egocentric motives as it is the case with Weber’s social capitalism where one can improve his economic welfare irrespective of whether other people are fine with it or not. According to Max, human beings combine their efforts in order to work and improve their welfare, although they may not necessary do the same kind of work. In the society, there is the concept of specialization and division of labour, which enables people to perform different duties according to their skills endowment and abilities. However, there are other people who do not necessarily work, but they live on the efforts of others who have to work for them. These people own and control different factors of production, and therefore have to make people work and produce in order for them to get what they aspire. Max seemed to different with Weber especially in the way few people ended up developing power and manipulating others for their own self-gain. Conclusion The two perspectives of Max and Weber are both important in determining how people interact and engage in different activities in the societies (Stark, 2007). Although they differ in their explanation of how this is achieved, both theories have provided explanations about how societies have come to appreciate different productions processes and their impact on social, political and economic activities. While many societies have relied in Weber’s perspectives of wealth and social change, there are those that argue that Max approach is more liberal. In general, people have to understand that the society has to move on irrespective of whether Max and Weber’s theories of social change have to be adopted or not. The most important thing is for people to appreciate is that socio-economic and political systems have to be well developed in order for people to derive maximum social advantages from it. At one instance, Max predicted that there was to be a complete breakdown of the capitalism theory, this moment would usher in the communist society where a class based human conflict will be prevalent but would be overcome. During this time, production will have to rest in the common ownership of resources and used for the common good. References Foster, J, B & Clark, B. (2008). Critique of Intelligent Design: Materialism versus Creationism from Antiquity to the Present. New York: Monthly Review Press. Stark, R. (2007). Sociology. Stamford, USA: Thomson Wadsworth Press. Read More