How is max weber’s idea of social class different from karl marx’s?
- Weber did not believe that owning the means of production mattered in any way.
- Weber believed that class status was inherited and was an extension of the old feudal system.
- Weber believed that wealth was the only factor that mattered, regardless of how that wealth was acquired.
- Weber believed that wealth, power, and prestige could all affect a person’s social class.Weber did not have a theory of social class.
Answer: d. Weber believed that wealth, power, and prestige could all affect a person’s social class. Weber did not have a theory of social class.
Answer Explanation
While both Max Weber and Karl Marx studied social class in their respective works, their perspectives on it differed significantly. Although both theorists analyzed social stratification, their perspectives differed significantly. In contrast to Marx, Weber did not have a comprehensive theory of social class, but emphasized the importance of wealth, power, and prestige in determining an individual’s status.
Why the other options are not correct
a. Weber did not believe that owning the means of production mattered in any way.
Despite Weber’s emphasis on the means of production not being the sole determinant of social class, he recognized that it could have a significant impact on the position of an individual. Unlike Marx, who emphasized economic factors (such as ownership of the means of production) as the primary determinant of class, Weber argued for a more nuanced understanding that considered other dimensions as well.
b. Weber believed that class status was inherited and was an extension of the old feudal system:
This statement is also incorrect. Weber did not view class status as solely inherited, nor did he view it as an extension of feudalism. Rather than being a rigid concept, Weber’s concept of social class was fluid, acknowledging that individual status in society could change over time as a result of factors such as wealth accumulation, education, and social connections.
c. Weber believed that wealth was the only factor that mattered, regardless of how that wealth was acquired.
It is a mischaracterization of Weber’s ideas that wealth was the only factor that mattered, regardless of how it was acquired: This statement is inaccurate. Although Weber considered wealth in relation to social class, he did not claim that it was the only factor that matters.
He also considered power and prestige to be important. Additionally, he distinguished between inherited wealth and wealth earned through hard work.
Conclusion
A number of significant differences exist between Max Weber’s perspective and Karl Marx’s perspective on social class. According to Marx, social class was largely determined by economic factors and the ownership of the means of production, but Weber presented a more complex analysis. According to Weber, wealth, power, and prestige could all play a role in influencing social class.
As opposed to Marx, Weber focused on understanding the intricate interplay of a variety of factors that shape an individual’s social class rather than developing a comprehensive theory. Marx and Weber both contributed valuable insights to the study of social class, and their works remain influential in sociological discourse even today.
It is only through understanding their distinct perspectives that we can grasp the complexity of social stratification and its impact on societies around the world.
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