Karl Marx
Karl Marx, a German, is undoubtedly a significant figure in sociology. He was a creative writer, social thinker, and insightful scholar who provided the discipline of sociology with conflict theory, which revolved around how the society functions. Karl has little impact on developing the sociology discipline’s foundation though he made a vast influence on a significant number of sociologists. As Marx was developing the study of how society operates and the historical materialistic concept, he presented some of sociology’s basic concepts.
Vividly, some of Karl’s contributions are still influencing the realm of sociology. Through Karl’s philosophical writings, one can rationally point out that he contributed significantly to the realm of the “sociology of knowledge.” Further, the shaded light on the close connection amid philosophies and notions on one end and social arrangements and social contexts on the other end. An interest in Karl’s work has decreased though his ideas on social revolution, the capitalist system, class relationship and historical dynamics have made a lasting influence on sociology. With the practical ideas, Karl’s dialectical insight continues to lay the foundations for research programs concerning sociology. In England, Anthony Giddens embraced some ideas on Marx’s materialistic approach (Giddens, 1971). Further, Marx points out that in a capitalist system, production resources control leads to social power and comprehensive state policies. The works by Karl remains a source of intuition for all sociologists in pursuit to study the arrangements, origins, and nature of dynamics within the capitalist formation.
Marx’s ideas have contributed to current sociology research by providing a theoretical base on social class’s role. By linking identity, individual consciousness to the material base of economic production, Marx explained the nature of social division that leads to class conflicts ( Lefebvre, 1982). Class conflicts provide a coherent theory and model for understanding social dynamics. Karl Marx founded different sociology areas, such as methodology, sociological theories, political sociology, economic sociology, and sociological thoughts (Giddens, 1971). Later, scholars employed a Marxist approach to consider sociological questions, social classes’ influence on the state, and human sciences. Further researches were done on the dynamics of social stratification
Marx’s models are employed to analyze society through economic structures. The model seeks out to tackle several investigations. First, the control of the working class in society by using how money. Secondly, the determination of social classes by types of work. Thirdly, ascertain the relationship of workforces, society, and the government. Lastly, investigate the impact of inequality by the economy. According to Karl Marx, is a critical analysis of a current issue, some concepts play a vital role in its success. Some Marxist concepts such as false consciousness, alienation, materialism, class conflict and the bourgeois heroes form the basis of analyzing any current issues. Through materialism, we can detect the relationship present between consciousness and society. Marx points out that a base represents the economic system and a superstructure representing the values of a given society in any society (Marx& Sayer, 1989). Therefore, it stands crucial to understand the economic system and values of a society under the analysis of the current issue. Further, determine the ruling class’s ideas to influence the people’s consciousness to secure and uphold the status quo. This helps determine the false consciousness in the society, which gives rise to class conflict as the working force feels alienated. In capitalization, the actualities of subordinates are concealed by the governing. According to Pines (1997), a labour supplier hurts due to false consciousness.
Marx’s models moulded a sociological perception named conflict theory, which asserts that capitalist civilizations were founded on conflicts amid the workforce and the ruling class. In this concept, society depends on class conflict to maintain the rich in governance and the underprivileged as subordinates to the regime. Conflict theory has been employed to investigate several features of a civilization founded upon class conflict, which Marx claimed were devised to defend the well-off, not society as an entire. Karl’s main objective was to create classes based on justice and social harmony and achieve the welfare of the working class. This could only be achieved by eliminating or destroying the capitalist class. His efforts and determination to see the prevailing of justice created enlightenment among the labour force and served as a warning to the capitalists. Concurring with Karl Marx, the social class determined one’s societal life (Giddens, 1971). Therefore, Karl’s views remain essential to society due to the existence of labour legislation exist that prevents workforce exploitation. Hence, the exploitation of the workforce that existed in Marx’s time is not experienced today. Further, the idea of Marxism prevails in today’s society where there are two major classes: workers who exchange labour for wages to survive and the bourgeoisie who own the business.
However, some of Karl’s views, such as alienation, are irrelevant in today’s society. The alienation present in his time cannot be compared to today’s typical elimination as the capitalist system has evolved, and other social structures emerged. Further, Marx neglected the role of non-economic factors such as region beliefs that could cause the capitalist system’s emergence.
Conclusively, Marx is classically recalled for presenting to sociology a conflict theory of how the community functions. This concept stands out as an integral component of Marx’s theory of society and economy, making him a relevant philosopher in sociology. Notably, any enthusiastic student pursuing sociology should get involved in a close studying of the Marx’s written work that is quite huge, and interact with voluminous of his works as possible, since his theories remain significant today. Capitalism now runs on a global dimension, more complicated today than that which Marx hypothesized. Marx’s insights about commoditized labour’s perils and relationshipships between base and superstructure continue to serve as critical diagnostic tools. They help understand how the unbalanced status quo is sustained, and how one can go exactly disordering it.
References
Lefebvre, H. (1982). The sociology of Marx. New York: Columbia University Press.
Marx, K., & Sayer, D. (1989). Readings from Karl Marx. London: Routledge.
Giddens, A. (1971). Capitalism and modern social theory: An analysis of the writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber. Cambridge University Press.
Pines, C. L. (1997). Ideology and false consciousness: Marx and his historical progenitors. SUNY Press.