This essay aims to examine the roles of ideas and interests in the political econ-omy by mainly drawing on theories developed by Karl Marx and Max Weber. The two authors have very different views on the drivers of historical development, the establishment of capitalism and the structure of modern society. Marx’s no-tion of historical materialism emphasizes the role of material interest in con-structing the boundaries and structure of the political economy. Max Weber’s notion of the Protestant Ethic emphasizes the role of ideas and norms in shaping rational action and modern society.
This essay will explore, contrast and discuss these two authors and their views. Initially, I will give brief definitions of the concepts of interests and ideas. The underlying ontological debates regarding the formation of these concepts will be avoided and the boundaries of the concepts will instead evolve throughout the essay. Second, I will examine the role of interests in Marx’s theories by looking at his notion of historical materialism, his structure of society and Marxist theories of state. Third, I will contrast Marx’s theories to Max Weber’s notion of the pro-cess of rationalization, his structure of society and the Protestant Ethic.
The concept of interest will here be defined as the real material needs or desires of principal actors, including individuals and groups, in society. (Hall, 1979, p. 176)
The concept of ideas will here be defined as a mental representational image of some object. (Audi, 1999, p. 411)
Marx and the role of interests
Marx begins his notion of historical materialism by distinguishing the existences of mankind to animals by the fact that mankind produce their own means of sub-sistence. This is what he calls ...
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Habermas believed that the tendency of Marxism to favor one-sided “materialist” social explanations accounted, in part, for its growing obsolescence in Western sciences” (Seidman 125). Habermas’ ideology better describes contemporary society in part because it attempts to look at society from as many different outlets as possible, whether it be economic, political, cultural or more. His ideology is ever changing and Habermas’ work is dynamic. His ability to abandon work he has already done in hopes of working towards ideas that are more in-depth shows his dynamism. Because Habermas’ reformed Marxist ideology is always changing and because he tries to look at society through a holistic lens, his work does a superior job than Collins in explaining society.
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Marx starts off stating that in order for men to make history they must be able to live. According to him a human beings needs for survival include food, water, shelter and clothes. All these things need to be produced therefore the first stage of history is the production of the goods needed for...
Max Weber was opposed to Marx and believed that his theory was an oversimplification of history. He thought Marx’s view of history was too focused on economics and was not considering the role of ideas and values as causes. Weber felt that scientific, historical, and philosophical causation was so connected with economic development that they can not be
In his Manifesto of the Communist Party Karl Marx created a radical theory revolving not around the man made institution of government itself, but around the ever present guiding vice of man that is materialism and the economic classes that stemmed from it. By unfolding the relat...
To Marx, history d... ... middle of paper ... ... 67 Jon Elster, Making sense of Marx, Cambridge University press 1985 C.Slaughter, Marxism and the class struggle, New Park Publications LTD 1975 Tony Bilton, Kevin Bonnett, Pip Jones etc.. Introductory Sociology 4th edition, Palgrave Macmillan 2002 Gregor McLennan, The Story of Sociology Ken Morrison, Marx Durkheim Weber, Sage publications LTD 1995 Fulcher&Scott, Sociology 2nd edition, Oxford university press 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] German Ideology, pp.8-13 [2] Karl Marx: Selected Writings in Sociology and Social Philosophy, p.150, Pelican books 1963 [3] ibid, p107 [4] Karl Marx: Selected Writings in Sociology and Social Philosophy, p.177, Pelican books 1963 [5] Essential writings of Karl Marx; p176; Panther Books Ltd ,1967
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, and Robert C. Tucker. The Marx-Engels reader . 2d ed. New York: Norton, 1978. Print.
Marx, in his theory of historical materialism, advocates that political and historical events result from the conflict of social forces. His theory focuses on the class struggles and the human attempts to control and dominate the natural environment. Profits obtained by the capitalists are a result of the workers being exploited. This conflict will lead to a revolution in which the workers control the state. Thus, capitalism will be replaced by socialism. The result is freedom for all. In the Soviet Union, the lower class overthrew the ruling class and created a new mode of production. This new economic base then determined political, social and ideological changes in its society. The failure of the Soviet Union impacts the validity of Marxian historical materialism because it discredits materialistic
"History is nothing but the succession of separate generations, each of which exploits the materials, capital, and productive forces handed down to it by all preceding generations." Marx resists any abstraction from this idea, believing that his materialistic ideas alone stand supported by empirical evidence which seems impossible to the Hegelian. His history then begin...
Taylor, Christopher L. "The Balancing Act: Economic Determinism and Humanism in Marxism." Thesis. University of Waterloo, 2007. Print.
Bendix, Richard. "Aspects of Economic Rationality in the West." Max Weber. New York: Anchor Books, 1962, pp. 49-79
Max Weber’s main contention in this work is that what he calls the “Protestant Ethic” played a vital role in fostering the development of industrial capitalism in Europe and the United States. The Protestant Ethic was the idea found in some sects of Protestantism that one had a duty to God to succeed in their life’s work, but were bound to a lifestyle of asceticism that prevented them from spending the wealth they earned on themselves. The wealth that was accumulated through this lifestyle was reinvested into the work process in order to create more wealth. This continual reinvestment of wealth provided the necessary capital and conditions that allowed for the development of modern capitalism.
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, and Robert C. Tucker. The Marx-Engels reader. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 1978. Print.
As one of greatest figures in human history, Karl Marx introduced not only Communism but also historical materialism to us. According to historical materialism, the mode of production would determine and foster mankind’s ideas, values, and beliefs. Many opponents of Marx attacked his “impossible” Communism but neglected his contribution in defining the relationship among important production elements. This paper would explain the theme of historical materialism and probed the relationship between consciousness and mode of production. Then, this paper would analyze how division of labor affect mode of production and conclude that historical materialism was realistic and applicable.
The emergence of this political philosophy started around the end of the nineteenth century with John Stuart Mill's ideas in his book Principles of Political Economy. The philosophy became an ideology in the twentieth century with the main points of enh...