Alienation

6 Pages 1597 Words

In this paper I will try and relate the ideas of two great European thinkers back to what have discussed so far in class. Both Marx and Weber saw the existing system of capitalism during their time, that is still in existence today, was based off the idea that the individual is an autonomous unit which lacks a connection to society which effects its progression and evolution. I will discuss how both of them saw the possibility of the individual becoming an integral part of society, one piece of a puzzle, and how this change in the definition or the perception of the individual could lead to the possibility of the dissolution of Capitalism as was seen then and still persists today. The question is whether the individual will ever fully see it in their best interest to perceive themselves as one piece of a large and elaborate system where everything is interconnected. Where they would base their actions off of what is best for society as whole and not just themselves. Or whether the autonomous individual will thrive right along with the capitalist ideas that are still being taught in school.
Marx and Weber may disagree about the rise of classes in a capitalist society, but they do have their similarities. Marx felt that history was based on the conflict between classes and this conflict would cause the downfall of capitalism. ”Hitherto, every form of society has been based, as we have already seen, on the antagonism of oppressing and oppressed classes.”(Marx-Engels Reader P.483) Weber does not agree that class conflict is what defines history, but he does say that a class, though not being a community, has the possibility for producing societal action. People of a community or group may have individual interests, but they put those aside to work as a whole. When individuals act in a societal movement they may do different things, but they are acting in cooperation because in the end it will serve in their individual interests....