Reference no: EM134042876

Assignment:

1. In the introduction to this class, we discussed three kinds of sociological theory. Choose two of these and describe the main assumptions of each. Discuss, in your view, the advantages and disadvantages of each.

2. Define and describe the importance of the Enlightenment movement to modern society, and then define Romanticism and discuss the criticisms it made of Enlightenment. In your view, which of these philosophies is most appropriate for sociology and why?

3. Describe Marx's material dialectic and then discuss two of the contradictions of capitalism. If Marx is right, what are the implications of this analysis?

4. What, for Marx, is the human species being, and what happens to this species being under capitalism? Do you think it's possible to realize our species being in capitalism? If so how?

5. As discussed in class, and in your textbook, what, according to Marx, is capitalism? How is economic value created in capitalism and how is this related to exploitation? In your view, is it possible to create a better system? Why?

6. As discussed in class, place the following quotation in context where is it from? and what major issues does it address? and discuss its meaning what is it about? and why is it important for Marx's theory?

"All fixed, fast-frozen relations, with their train of ancient and venerable prejudices and opinions are swept away, the new-formed ones become antiquated before they can ossify. All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses, his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind."

7. As discussed in class, place the following quotation in context where is it from? what major issues does it address? and discuss its meaning (what is it about? and why is it important for Marx's theory?

"The object of labor is, therefore, the objectification of man's species-life: for he duplicates himself not only, as in consciousness, intellectually, but also actively, in reality, andtherefore he sees himself in a world that he has created. In tearing away from man the object of his production, therefore, estranged labor tears from him his species-life, his real objectivity as a member of the species and transforms his advantage over animals into the disadvantage that his inorganic body, nature, is taken from him."