midterm paper 1 social theory
Florida International University
Marx, Durkheim, and Weber Methodologies
Midterm
Danielle N. McGill
Sociology Theory 1148-SYA4010
Professor Richard Tardanico
December 8, 2014
McGill 1
Danielle McGill
Professor Richard Tardanico
SYA 4010
8 December 2014
Marx, Durkheim, and Weber Methodologies Marx, Durkheim, and Weber together comprise the historical core of the sociological tradition. While they each come from very different perspectives and offer profound contributions to the field, they each have tried to address problems associated with the advent of modernity. The economy is a fundamental part of contemporary society because it’s a social institution. It also contributes to every aspect of the superstructure of society in educational, ethical, legal, religious, an administrative organization. These classical sociologists Marx, Durkheim, and Weber were the first to explore the relationship between the economy and society in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; each developed different viewpoints based on their respective theoretical positions. Marx viewed the economy as the base that determines the social superstructure; Durkheim viewed the economy as one of a number of social institutions that make up a society, whereas Weber viewed the economy in part as an extension of religious belief. The following analyses will be informed by the classic texts of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. These include Marx’s Communist Manifesto (1988), The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte (1963), and The German Ideology (1998);
McGill 2
Durkheim’s Suicide (1951), The Rules of Sociological Method (1982), The Division of Labor in Society (1984), and The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1995); and Weber’s Economy and Society (1968), and The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1930). According to Marx earliest development of his social and economic theories can be found in The German Ideology (1998). In the text, he
Marx, Durkheim, and Weber Methodologies
Midterm
Danielle N. McGill
Sociology Theory 1148-SYA4010
Professor Richard Tardanico
December 8, 2014
McGill 1
Danielle McGill
Professor Richard Tardanico
SYA 4010
8 December 2014
Marx, Durkheim, and Weber Methodologies Marx, Durkheim, and Weber together comprise the historical core of the sociological tradition. While they each come from very different perspectives and offer profound contributions to the field, they each have tried to address problems associated with the advent of modernity. The economy is a fundamental part of contemporary society because it’s a social institution. It also contributes to every aspect of the superstructure of society in educational, ethical, legal, religious, an administrative organization. These classical sociologists Marx, Durkheim, and Weber were the first to explore the relationship between the economy and society in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; each developed different viewpoints based on their respective theoretical positions. Marx viewed the economy as the base that determines the social superstructure; Durkheim viewed the economy as one of a number of social institutions that make up a society, whereas Weber viewed the economy in part as an extension of religious belief. The following analyses will be informed by the classic texts of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. These include Marx’s Communist Manifesto (1988), The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte (1963), and The German Ideology (1998);
McGill 2
Durkheim’s Suicide (1951), The Rules of Sociological Method (1982), The Division of Labor in Society (1984), and The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1995); and Weber’s Economy and Society (1968), and The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1930). According to Marx earliest development of his social and economic theories can be found in The German Ideology (1998). In the text, he
References: Durkheim, Emile. 1951. Suicide: A Study in Sociology. NY, NY: The Free Press Durkheim, Emile. 1982. The Rules of Sociological Method , trans Durkheim, Emile. 1984. The Division of Labor in Society. NY, NY: The Free Press. Durkheim, Emile Marx, Karl. 1963. The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte Marx, Karl. 1998. The German Ideology. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. Weber, Max Weber, Max. 1930. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism , trans