WHITNEY HENRYTHEON GRAHAM

SOCIOLOGY Theories from Karl Marx

SUMMARY OF KARL MARX THEORY

The Conflict theory originated by Karl Marx presumed civilization as a fight for authority linking groups that are struggling for limited means. Marx believed there existed

two categories of people: capitalist and working class.The elite or capitalists class includes the power of wealth

that has access to the resources to manufacture or produce products. The working class on the other hand is individuals that have no power and their work is sold to the capitalist class to produce these products. The elite have an advantage over the working class in that they keep this class enslaved, so that they have to rely on the elite for income and they can maintain this power position of wealth.

WHAT IS COMMENSALISM?

Communism is the control of goods and services through a government that produces only to serve the people. It is total equality. Communism is the abolition of private property, meaning that the resources (minerals, oil, coal etc) and production(factories, plants, refineries etc.) are owned commonly by the people. There are generally no taxes except on a few extremely wealthy individuals.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TERMS CLASS AND CASTE SYSTEM STRATIFICATION.

The Class System of Stratification In the class system of stratification, achieved

statuses, as opposed to ascribe statuses, constitute the basis for the unequal distribution of resources. This system is categorized by large groups of people who share similar occupational opportunities, lifestyles, attitudes and behaviours. In the class system there is greater social mobility than slavery, caste system and estates.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TERMS CLASS AND CASTE SYSTEM STRATIFICATION CONT’D

The Caste system of Stratification In the Caste System of Stratification a person’s

position regarding occupation and social relationships is determined at birth by ascribed statuses such as skin colour. People who are born into the caste system spend their entire lives within their caste, with no little chance of changing their position. In the caste system, each position is defined in terms of purity or pollution relative to each other. The most pure Brahmins (priest caste) are allocated the highest status and are superior to all others in the hierarchy.

WHAT IS A STATUS?

A brand or label given to a social class or individual based on their lifestyle, power, economic ability and behaviour. This determines certain stereotypes or what is expected of the particular person or people.

WHAT IS A ROLE?

A role is the relation between the unwritten rules of society as in how one should behave in accordance to their status.

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