Sociology

3 Parts Label the Question #’s that was answered Read the instructions and questions carefully before you answer. Part I. Short Essay (60% for Part I, 20% per question). Answer three of the following five questions (suggested length: 2 paragraphs each; est. time for this section: 35-40 mins).

1. According to Weber and Marx, why do people participate in capitalism? What are the main differences in their views?
2. Marx argued that capitalism has two main types of circulation: C-M-C and M-C-M’. How do these two types of circulation explain the widening inequality between workers (the proletariat) and capitalists (the bourgeoisie)?

 

3. Marx argued that the economic base of a society is the most important cause of the superstructure (the realm of ideas, culture, and the government). Does Du Bois agree, disagree, or both? How?

 

4. Smith and Marx both saw the division of labor as a key element of capitalism. Define the division of labor. Describe one way in which Smith and Marx agree about the consequences of the division of labor and one way in which Smith and Marx disagree about the consequences of the division of labor.

 

5. Marx argues that as capitalism develops, people should gain a clearer understanding of their class interests. Does Weber agree, disagree, or both? How?

  PART II. Text Commentary (30%). choose only one of these two texts. (suggested length: 3-4 paragraphs; est. time: 20-25 mins) Analyze one of the two texts below. Your analysis should have three parts: (1) Explain the meaning of each text in your own words. (2) Analyze its significance to the author’s general theory. (3) Tell us whether or not you believe this text is relevant for understanding social life today and why. IIA- FROM W. E. B. DU BOIS, BLACK RECONSTRUCTION IN AMERICA “The theory of laboring class unity rests upon the assumption that laborers, despite internal jealousies, will unite because of their opposition to exploitation by the capitalists. According to this, even after a part of the poor white laboring class became identified with the planters, and eventually displaced them, their interests would be diametrically opposed to those of the mass of white labor, and of course to those of the black laborers. This would throw white and black labor into one class, and precipitate a united fight for higher wage and better working conditions. Most persons do not realize how far this failed to work in the South, and it failed to work because the theory of race was supplemented by a carefully planned and slowly evolved method, which drove such a wedge between the white and black workers that there probably are not today in the world two groups of workers with practically identical interests who hate and fear each other so deeply and persistently and who are kept so far apart that neither sees anything of common interest. It must be remembered that the white group of laborers, while they received a low wage, were compensated in part by a sort of public and psychological wage” (700) OR IIB-FROM ADAM SMITH, THE WEALTH OF NATIONS “The difference of natural talents in different men is in reality, much less than we are aware of; and the very different genius which appears to distinguish men of different professions, when grown up to maturity, is not upon many occasions so much the cause, as the effect of the division of labour. The difference between the most dissimilar characters, between a philosopher and a common street porter, for example, seems to arise not so much from nature, as from habit, custom, and education. When they came into the world, and for the first six or eight years of their existence, they were, perhaps, very much alike, and neither their parents nor playfellows could perceive any remarkable difference. About that age, or soon after, they come to be employed in very different occupations. The difference of talents comes then to be taken notice of, and widens by degrees, till at last the vanity of the philosopher is willing to acknowledge scarce any resemblance” (17)   PART III. 10%, 5% per question [est. time: less than 5 mins]

1. Which of Max Weber’s three legitimate domination typesbest corresponds to each of the following sentences? If you cannot remember the name, for partial credit describe the type of domination briefly in your own words.
2. Stopping at a red light because you believe this traffic law protects you and others in California.

Weberian legitimate domination type = Legal (The rule is followed for a logical reason)  

1. Stopping at a red light without thinking about it because “that’s what everyone has always done.”

Weberian legitimate domination type = Traditional (The rule is followed because it “always has been”)  

1. Stopping at a red light because a special leader you are devoted to has reminded all residents of California that they should stop at red lights.

Weberian legitimate domination type = Charismatic (The rule is followed because of an emotion, rather than logical thought)  

2. Which of Max Weber’s four action types best corresponds to each of the following sentences? If you cannot remember the name, for partial credit describe the action type briefly in your own words.
3. Like Sociology 101 students have usually done, showing up for lecture every Tuesday and Thursday without really thinking about why.

Weberian action type = Traditional (The action is performed because it “always has been”)  

1. Attending lecture because you have developed a crush on one of the theorists.

Weberian action type = Affective (The action is performed because of an emotion, rather than logical thought)  

1. Attending lecture because you want to get a good grade and, consequently, a good job.

Weberian action type = Instrumental-Rational (The action is done to achieve a goal)  

1. Attending lecture because you believe education is intrinsically valuable.

Weberian action type = Value (The action is done because it has a value to the individual)