SOC 168 Test Two (Marx)

superstructure

For Marx, science is part of the __________.

BIASED

For Marx, all science is __________.

objective/neutral/transparent

Weber believed that having biases does not mean we cannot be as __________ as possible.

class

Marx says history is the history of __________ struggles.

Base

The __________ is the primary economic relationships revolving around the forces of production.

Superstructure

The __________ is everything else in society, including institutions and ideas that stem from the base.

material

Marx saw the unfolding of history as a product of __________ forces.

alienation

According to Marx, a major issue with capitalism is __________.

commodities

In Marx's perspective, the relationship between people becomes mediated by __________ and money.

labor

The proletariat is forced to sell their __________ in order to make ends meet.

opiate

Marx refers to the ideas protecting the base as the __________ of the masses.

base, means of production, superstructure, institutions, supports

BLANK:
The economic foundation of society, consisting of:

• BLANK (tools, technology, resources)

• Relations of production (how people organize to produce goods, such as class relationships)

The base determines the economic system (e.g., capitalism, feudalism) and shapes the overall structure of society.

BLANK:
The cultural, political, and ideological BLANK built upon the base. It includes:

• Legal systems

• Politics

• Religion

• Education

• Art and media

The superstructure reflects and BLANK the base, legitimizing the existing economic order.

Marxian

BLANK theory suggests that social science is biased and ideological, shaped by the social location of the scientists and the time period in which they operate. Science is part of the superstructure and is shaped by the material conditions of society.

Weberian

BLANK theory allows for biases but emphasizes that objectivity is possible through transparency and neutrality. It stresses that researchers must be aware of their biases and try to minimize them when conducting studies.

Hegel’s

BLANK philosophy focuses on the idea that history and social change are driven by dialectical dynamics—conflict and synthesis between opposing forces.

Kantian

BLANK theory emphasizes static categories, suggesting that human understanding is limited by categories such as time, space, and causality that shape our perception of the world.

Qualities

BLANK refer to the inherent attributes or characteristics of social phenomena, which may be influenced by both individual and societal factors.

social position

Marx argued that the findings and interpretations of science are shaped by the BLANK of the researchers, including the time and place in which they live.

According to Marx, science is not objective; it is influenced by the prevailing ideologies of the time and the class interests of those conducting research.

heart

Marx’s critique of capitalism set the stage for modern sociology, influencing theorists like Durkheim (soul), Weber (brain), and himself as the BLANK of sociological theory.

Engels

In Paris, Marx met Friedrich BLANK, became a socialist, and distanced himself from the Young Hegelians. He wrote "The German Ideology" (1845) and "The Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts" (1844), critiquing capitalism and its shortcomings.

dialectical

Hegel believed history progresses through a BLANK process—thesis, antithesis, and synthesis—driven by conflicting ideas. Marx agreed with Hegel's dialectical method but argued that material conditions, rather than ideas, were the primary drivers of social change.

material conditions

Marx rejected Hegel’s idealism and emphasized the importance of BLANK in shaping history. For Marx, economic power and class relations matter more than abstract ideas in understanding social dynamics.

economic, philosophical

• Marx critiques capitalism on two fronts:

  • BLANK: The exploitation of labor through the Labor Theory of Value and Surplus Value. Workers receive less than the value they produce, and the excess value (surplus) is appropriated by capitalists.

  • BLANK: Marx challenges the idealism of Hegel, promoting Dialectical Materialism instead of focusing on abstract ideas as the driving force of history

Labor Theory of Value

BLANK: The value of a commodity is determined by the labor required to produce it. For Marx, workers are paid only what is necessary for subsistence (to feed, shelter, and clothe themselves) and the rest is surplus value, which is extracted by capitalists as profit.

product, process, themselves

Alienation: In capitalism, workers become alienated in three ways:

• Alienation from the BLANK: Workers don’t control what they produce.

• Alienation from the BLANK: Workers don’t control the process of production.

• Alienation from BLANK: Workers cannot fully realize their human potential because they are reduced to commodities, selling their labor for survival rather than for creative fulfillment.

surplus value

BLANK: The difference between the value produced by labor and the wages paid to the laborer. This surplus is the source of profit for capitalists, generated by exploiting the worker.

Dialectical Materialism

BLANK: Marx’s view that history is driven by material conditions and class struggle, not ideas. The economic base of society (forces of production) shapes the political and ideological superstructure.

legitimize, reinforce

• Base: The economic structure, including forces of production and relations of production.

• Superstructure: The societal institutions, like law, politics, religion, and culture, that arise from and maintain the economic base. The superstructure helps BLANK and BLANK the power of the ruling class.

class consciousness

• BLANK: The awareness of one’s position in the class structure and the collective potential for class struggle. The proletariat (working class) must become conscious of its exploitation to overthrow the capitalist system.

false consciousness

• BLANK: A term Marx used to describe when the working class fails to recognize their exploitation. This happens when they accept ideologies that justify the capitalist system, like believing in individual merit rather than collective struggle.

Commodity Fetishism

• BLANK The process by which commodities are imbued with social power and value independent of the labor that produces them. This masks the exploitation behind the production of commodities, making consumers unaware of the human labor involved.

inherent contradictions

Marx predicted that capitalism would eventually collapse due to its BLANK particularly the exploitation of labor and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few capitalists, leading to a growing proletariat class with a revolutionary potential.

communism

BLANK A classless, stateless society where the means of production are collectively owned and controlled. Marx envisioned it as a gradual transition from capitalism, where people’s needs are met based on ability, not market value.

natural laws

Marx critiqued Smith and other classical economists for treating the economy as a set of BLANK (positivism) and for isolating the economy from the rest of society. Marx saw their theories as overlooking the exploitation and interconnection of different societal elements.

dialectical idealism, dialectical materialism

• BLANK (Hegel): History is driven by ideas (e.g., the Geist or “Spirit”).

• BLANK (Marx): History is driven by material conditions and class struggles, not ideas.

historical materialism

Q: What is BLANK?
A: A theory that material conditions, especially economic factors, are the primary drivers of historical development and societal change.

modes of production

Q: According to Marx, how do societies evolve?
A: Through stages based on changes in the BLANK (e.g., feudalism → capitalism → socialism → communism).

From the product, From the process, From their humanity, From others

Q: What are the four types of alienation according to Marx?

1. BLANK: Workers don’t own or control what they produce.

2. BLANK: They have no say in how they work, making it repetitive and monotonous.

3. BLANK: Work becomes dehumanizing, reducing creativity and self-expression.

4. BLANK: Capitalism fosters competition rather than cooperation among workers.

productive forces, relations

Q: What is a mode of production?
A: The combination of BLANK (labor, tools, resources) and BLANK of production (class relations, ownership structures).

competition

Q: How are workers alienated from each other?
A: Capitalism fosters BLANK rather than cooperation, breaking down social bonds among workers.

M-C-M'

Q: What is the formula Marx uses to explain surplus value?
A: BLANK (Money-Commodity-More Money): Capitalists invest money (M) to produce commodities (C) that generate more money (M') through surplus value.

C-M-C, use value, exchange

Q: What is the BLANK cycle in Marxist theory?
A: It represents the exchange process typical of pre-capitalist economies, where individuals sell a commodity (C) to obtain money (M) in order to buy another commodity (C) that fulfills a personal need.

Q: How is C-M-C different from M-C-M'?

• Purpose:

  • C-M-C: The goal is to satisfy personal needs (BLANK).

  • M-C-M': The goal is to generate profit (BLANK-value).

• Process:

  • C-M-C: Commodity → Money → Commodity (ends with consumption).

  • M-C-M': Money → Commodity → More Money (ends with accumulation).

1. Overproduction vs. Underconsumption

2. Accumulation of Wealth vs. Poverty

3. Expansion of Productivity vs. Decline in Profit Rates

Q: What are the key contradictions within capitalism?

1. BLANK: Capitalists produce more than people can afford to buy, leading to crises.

2. BLANK: As wealth concentrates, inequality grows, destabilizing society.

3. BLANK: Technological advances reduce the need for labor, cutting into surplus value.

The German Ideology (1846

BLANK: Co-written with Engels, discussing historical materialism.