Overview
This lecture explains the expectations for the final paper and provides an in-depth discussion of Max Weber’s theory of class, differentiating it from Marx's theory and clarifying Weber’s concepts of class, status, and power.
Final Paper Expectations
- The final paper should link two or three course blocks/authors (e.g., compare Hobbes, Rousseau, Durkheim, Nietzsche, Weber).
- Focus on topics that excite you or relate to your life.
- Reuse earlier essay ideas if they are meaningfully linked to new material.
- Consult your discussion section leader (in-person or by email) before Thanksgiving break.
- Paper should be six to eight pages, ideally six.
Marx vs. Weber on Class
- Marx defines class by property relationships: owners of capital vs. owners of labor power.
- Weber defines classes by market situation: employer vs. employee, manager vs. worker.
- For Marx, class struggle increases over time, leading to revolution; for Weber, struggle is intense early in capitalism but subsides as capitalism becomes bureaucratic.
- Marx sees class as a force throughout all history; Weber sees class as a modern, market-based phenomenon.
Weber’s Three Dimensions: Class, Status, Power
- Common interpretation sees three dimensions: class (income/wealth), status (prestige), and power.
- Critique: Weber’s distinction between class and status is historical—status (Stand) is better understood as “estate.”
- Before capitalism, society was stratified by status/estate; under capitalism, by class.
- Power in Weber’s theory is not an independent dimension, but a dependent variable explained by class or status position.
Weber’s Definitions and Concepts
- Class situation is determined by market situation; property under capitalism only creates class if a market exists.
- In traditional societies, high status (estate) leads to wealth; in capitalism, market activity/property lead to class position.
- Class position affects “life chances”—positively privileged (good prospects) or negatively privileged (poor prospects).
- Main class distinction is between managers and employees, not just capital owners and laborers.
Class Interest & Action
- Classes are not communities; members act out of individual self-interest, not collective goals.
- Class exists when people act on shared interests as individuals in similar market positions.
Status Groups (Estates)
- Status groups (Stande) are genuine groups with shared honor and solidarity, often initiated through rituals (e.g., degrees, professional exams).
- Status is marked by lifestyles, dress, and behavior; certain professions (medicine, law, academia) function as modern status groups.
- Strong status groups can limit market function and hinder mobility.
Caste and Ethnicity
- Caste emerges when status group boundaries are sharply enforced (e.g., prohibition of intermarriage).
- Ethnic stratification relies on belief in blood relations, not actual biological differences.
Types of Classes in Weber
- Property classes: based on ownership of capital, as long as assets are market-traded.
- Commercial classes: defined by position in the labor market, especially management vs. employees.
- Social classes: groups with easy mobility within, shared lifestyles, values, and aspirations; overlaps with status group ideas.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Class — Group with shared market situation and life chances, typically employer/employee or manager/worker.
- Status/Stand (Estate) — Social groups marked by honor, lifestyle, and solidarity, often inherited or ritualized.
- Power — Capacity to realize one’s will, explained by position in class or status.
- Life Chances — Opportunities for improvement in life, shaped by class position.
- Caste — Rigid form of status group with strict boundaries (e.g., intermarriage prohibition).
- Social Class — Group with mobility, shared identity, and lifestyle, distinct from purely economic class.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Select a final paper topic connecting two or three course authors or themes.
- Discuss and confirm your paper topic with your discussion section leader before Thanksgiving break.
- Begin outlining and drafting your 6–8 page final paper over the break.