Cultural Anthro- Karl Marx
"Where some possess much, and the others nothing, there may arise an extreme- either out of the most rampant democracy, or out of an oligarchy." This was once said by Aristotle who was probably the first to recognize the importance of a middle class. A powerful debate whether the middle class is essentially defined by cultural or economic factors still remains an issue. A rich tradition is devoted to disentangling economic from cultural components of a class. According to Karl Marx, the middle class is an outgrowth of economic factors, primarily capitalism. Many people tend to disagree with Marx that capitalism is the only important factor in the outgrowth of the middle class. Judith R. Blau argues that her understanding of the middle class has much to do with inclusive cultural values. Blau demonstrates her opinion though her ethnography, Social Contract and Economic Markets. I believe that Karl Marx's economic factors and Judith Blau's cultural factors together define the middle class.Karl Marx believed class was a matter of economics, that is, how the individual fits into the pattern of modern capitalist society. Marx argued that the whole of capitalist society was constructed in order to support this idea including the soc
Karl Marx idea that the middle class is an outgrowth of economic factors is completely correct in my opinion. The idea that the development of social classes occur when one gains control of the means of production is understandable. This is an example of the way social hierarchies arise. According to the integrative theory of social stratification, a social hierarchy is necessary for the smooth functioning of modern society. In my opinion that statement is correct. Through economic factors this hierarchy constructs a class system. A class system is developed and the middle class is then derived. However, does this mean that the middle class is defined solely on economic factors? I believe that there is much more to the way a class system is established beyond the initial economic components. In my opinion economic factors create a society however the culture defines it. The idea of diversity that Judith Blau explains displays her point quite well. Diversity is what makes people different and allows people to explore their own culture and lifestyle. After the middle class was established people were able to explore their own heritage. Ethnicity and religion residentially segregated urban working class members. The middle class, which when first started, began growing in number were less divided by these lines. They were able to establish neighborhoods based more on life style by creating their own community. The middle class created it's own social institutions, such as public University's, newspapers, department stores, libraries and business clubs. This was a way that essentially defines a class. Using economic and institutional affiliations that of which requires cultural edgework defines the middle class system. The controversial debate as to whether the middle class is defined by cultural or economic factors has been supported successfully by both sides. Karl Marx states his op
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Approximate Word count = 1282
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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