Karl Marx Sociology 402 Sociological Theory Classical Theorists

Biography Frustrated Revolutionary – Born too late for bourgeois revolutions – Too early for proletarian revolution – Lived in exile through 19 th Century Civil Wars

Sociological Approach Perspective: radical – Optimistic about human nature – Pessimistic about instituted order Model: dialectical: student of Hegel – Holistic – Oppositional – Dynamic – progressive

Structure of Dialectical Model

Hegel’s Model of Western Philosophy ScienceTheologyMetaphysics

Sociological Approach (continued) Focus: economic (materialist: reaction to German Idealism)

Explanation of Social Change: Revolution – Exploitation – Alienation – Commodification – Economic and political crises – Revolution

Marx's Model of Western Political Exconomy master slave classless society lord peasant employer employee Plantation EstateFactory

Applying Marx to Your Topic Start with internal contradictions of capitalism: exploitation, alienation, etc. Maintain institutional focus – Focus on conflicts and contradictions: driving force of institutional change – Keep up your optimism about “the people” and pessimism about “the system”

Consider Purdue University A factory or a fast food restaurant? – What do we produce? – The major actors: students, faculty, administration – What are the relations of production? A Futures Market: speculation in student futures Conflicting interests Contradictions: overproduction and commodification