Social Theorists – Karl Mark and Emile Durkheim
you will select two social theorists. Each from a different country. You can choose any two. I have included a list of theorists organized by country below. Feel free to choose two theorists from the list (each theorist you select must be from a different country). You can select any theorists as long as they are from different countries. If you choose theorists not on the list below, I recommend you begin your search based on what is written in chapter 1 of our book.
Part 1 – minimum 300 words
1. As described above, select two theorists. Each from a different country.
2. For theorist 1, state, discuss, and analyze the events/situations (emphasize anything from their country) that influenced their theorizing.
3. For theorist 2, state, discuss, and analyze the events/situations (emphasize anything from their country) that influenced their theorizing.
Part 2 – minimum 1000 words
1. Summarize, discuss, and analyze the theories of your first theorist.
2. Summarize, discuss, and analyze the theories of your second theorist.
Part 3 – minimum 175 words
1. Compare, contrast, and analyze theory from country one (based on the theorizing of your first theorist) and theory from country two (based on the work of your second theorist).
General requirements
1. Word documents only
2. All of your thoughts/evidence that supports parts 1-3 must be cited in the text using the following version of APA. (author(s) last name (et al. for more than two authors), year of publication, Pg. (page number).
3. If sources other than the textbook are used, they must be scholarly (ask me for guidance), and an APA reference page would be required.
List of theorist options (as stated above, the theorists on this list are only suggestions)
France
Durkheim Chapter 1 and 3
Germany
Karle Marx Chapters 1 and 2
Max Weber Chapters 1 and 4
George Simmel Chapters 1 and 5
Jurgen Habermas Chapters 6 and 8
England/British
Herbert Spencer Chapters 1 and 6
American
Charles Horton Cooley Chapters 6 and 9
George Herbert Mead Chapters 6 and 9
W. E. B. Du Bois Chapter 6
Talcott Parsons Chapter 6 and 7
C. Wright Mills Chapter 6
Erving Goffman Chapters 6 and 9
Robert Merton Chapters 6 and 7
Ralf Dahrendorf Chapters 6 and 7
Social Theorists – Karl Mark and Emile Durkheim
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February 21, 2023
Understanding the differences between philosophical theories in relation to the personal circumstances of these paradigms is essential for anyone. It allows him to appreciate better how a person's experiences, external circumstances, and theories are formed by interacting with these internal and external factors. Accordingly, this article will focus on understanding the similarities and differences between Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim, considered fathers of Sociology. In the succeeding sections of this article, the author will initially discuss their lives and upbringing. Subsequently, a summary and comparison of their theories will be discussed in detail. Overall, the author believes these deep analyses are essential for a better grasp of the relationship between personal experience and philosophical thinking patterns.
The Lives of Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim
Karl Marx
Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and sociologist born in 1818 in Trier, a town in the Rhineland region of Germany. Several historical and social events influenced Marx's work during his lifetime. One of the main factors that influenced Marx's thinking was the Industrial Revolution (Rühle, 2013). Germany was rapidly industrializing during the 19th century, and Marx was critical of the working conditions of the laborers, who he believed were being exploited by the capitalist system. Marx believed that the capitalist system was based on exploiting the working class and that workers should be able to control the means of production to ensure their economic well-being.
Another factor that influenced Marx's thinking was the political climate in Europe during the mid-19th century. Marx actively participated in the socialist movement related to the rising revolutionary movements in Europe (specifically, France) during those eras (Rühle, 2013).
Emile Durkheim
In contrast, Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist born in 1858 in the Lorraine region of France. Like Marx's development as thinking and scholar, Durkheim was influenced by several historical and sociological events during his lifetime. One of the main factors that influenced Durkheim's thinking was France's rapid social and economic changes during the late 19th century (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2021). It must be noted that during that period, France was undergoing a process of rapid industrialization, and Durkheim was interested in understanding how these changes affected French society.
Another factor that influenced Durkheim's thinking was the changing nature of religion in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During Durkheim's lifetime, the influence of the Catholic Church was declining, and new forms of religious expression were emerging. Durkheim was interested in understanding the social functions of religion, and he believed religion played an essential role in shaping the values and beliefs of French society (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2021).
Marx and Durkheim were heavily influenced by their time's social, economic, and political events. Notably, while Marx was primarily concerned with the exploitation of the working class and the capitalist system, Durkheim was interested in understanding the social and cultural changes that were taking place in France.
Summary of Theories
As discussed earlier, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim were two of the most influential sociologists of the 19th century. Their theories have significantly impacted sociology and continue to be studied and debated today. In the following sections, we will discuss a summary of their theories.
Karl Marx
Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and sociologist who lived from 1818 to 1883. Marx's theories focus on the relationship between the capitalist system and the working class (Rühle, 2013). He believed that capitalism was a system that was based on the exploitation of the working class and that the only way to create a fair society was to overthrow the capitalist system and establish a socialist system (Marx, 1986).
Marx's theory of class struggle is one of his most important contributions to sociology. He believed society was divided into two main classes: the capitalist and the working classes. The capitalist class owned the means of production, while the working class was forced to sell their labor to survive (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2021). Marx argued that the capitalist class could exploit the working class because they had the power to control the means of production. This led to a struggle between the two classes, with the working class attempting to gain more power and control over their lives.
Aside from the ongoing power struggle between the classes, Marx also believed that the capitalist system was based on a boom-and-bust cycle (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2021). He argued that the capitalist class would try to increase profits by cutting wages and reducing production costs. This would lead to a decline in demand for goods, which would, in turn, lead to a recession.
Marx's theory of alienation is another essential aspect of his work. He argued that the capitalist system alienated workers from the products of their labor, from each other, and themselves (Marx, 1986). This was because workers had no control over the means of production and were forced to sell their labor to survive. As a res...