Topic > Similarities between Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile...

Karl Marx and Max Weber both expressed interest in social class. Social class defined in class is the individual's relationship to the organization of production. (Nakhaie 2015) Weber discusses class in the context of social stratification, which can be defined by many resources as “a society's categorization of people into socioeconomic strata.” This social stratum is based on the person's occupation, income, wealth and social status. Weber's treatment of class and status indicates how the material basis of society is connected. It can be said that Weber identifies a multiplicity of social classes; with his class analysis overlapping with his theory that rationalization comes to dominate modern societies and class systems. “Weber and Marx both see society as characterized by conflicts over resources and power.” (Bratton and Denham 2014:255) Marx, on the other hand, had many views on social classes and class systems, however, his view of the capitalist stage of production consists of two classes which are considered the most influential. The first of the two classes is the bourgeoisie or "means of production"; these are the middle class citizens who are seen as having materialistic values. The second is called the proletariat, or "working class"; they are seen as having collective values. As mentioned above, Weber agreed with Marx's views on classes, however, ours